Alcohol and marijuana have always been alluring for youths and likened to a “rite of passage”. Compounding this problem is with the decriminalization and legalization of marijuana creating the false perception is that it is not harmful.
Even adults are confused about the conflicting literature and research. Some believe since it is legal you can “smoke and drive”.
They are under the misguided perception that if you have a “medical card” now called a “certification” you will not receive a DWI-D (Driving while intoxicated- Drug). Further, the adolescent may witness their own parent(s) or other friends’ parent(s) smoke or ingest THC and believe “it must be fine”. Children’s brains are “still under construction”.
Their delicate developmental systems, neurons, synapses, wiring and hormones make important connections. These systems are directly impacted and are disrupted by addictive substances, marijuana specifically, for this article: It is known that THC binds the Cannabinoid receptors which are expressed in high density in areas of the brain involved in executive functioning and memory such as the hippocampus, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex. These parts of the brain are responsible for memory, learning, attention, decision-making, coordination, emotions, reaction time and judgement.
These young people also believe that marijuana is not as bad as alcohol. Regular cannabis use can also be linked to an increased risk of anxiety and depression. But most research seems to have a focus on the link between psychosis and cannabis. Using cannabis can increase the risk of developing psychotic illness, including schizophrenia. So which substance is worse? Alcohol has more far-reaching consequences because it is consumed by so many more people. However, marijuana users—including medical marijuana users—are at higher risk when it comes to the direct impact of cannabis on brain development and brain aging.
Researchers tracked 3,000 middle-aged adults over 25 years old and found that those who used marijuana for more than five years cumulatively have worse verbal memory in middle age than do their peers who have smoked marijuana less often. The five cumulative “marijuana-years” could be broken down in different ways: using every day for five years, using every other day for 10 years, or using a couple times a week for 20 years.
Other studies include fetal development, showing that babies exposed to cannabis during pregnancy are more likely to be anxious, have depression, or to be more aggressive and impulsive in childhood and adolescence.
Below are some prevention and intervention strategies. Higher Ground Recovery provides guidance for parents and youths to navigate these turbulent times. We provide individual and/or group therapy in efforts to enhance knowledge, skills and understanding of living, coping and evolving to experience your best healthy self.
For continue self-education we recommend the PAN (Parent Action Network) subscription for updates or visit their website. Also, we recommend community self help group for parents FA (Families Anonymous) for parents concerned over substance abusing children. Many of these parents continue to remain in the program with their adult children’s continued use. If you or your loved one are needing to seek further help do not hesitate to contact us.
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