Research have established that marijuana is addictive and every year more teens are entering drug treatment programs with the diagnosis of marijuana dependence. Sixty percent of teens admitted for drug treatment say marijuana is their primary drug of choice. Marijuana has always been looked at as a gateway drug, and the lighter of illegal addictive drugs to use. The misrepresentation of the dangers of marijuana often get lost along the way when drug education is being delivered due to the way society ranks it amongst what they consider more hard core drugs such as heroin, crack, etc.
Researchers have found that heavy marijuana use impairs teenagers’ ability to retain information and concentrate. Regular marijuana use has been shown to be associated with poor academic performance. During the teens learning years, this is a huge issue. Their brains are not even fully developed at this time. There is an association between an increase in marijuana use and failure to complete a high school education.
Teens are receiving mixed messages about marijuana use. The fact is marijuana is an illegal substance that affects teens in many harmful ways. The early you start talking to your children about the facts behind marijuana use the better. Teens need to be told clearly and often that using marijuana and other illegal substances carries significant health, safety, and legal risks. Here are some facts about marijuana use to get you started talking to your youth about marijuana use:
• Regular marijuana use leads to breathing problems, such as chronic coughing and wheezing. Marijuana contains the same cancer causing chemicals as tobacco. The amount of tar inhaled by marijuana smokers and the level of carbon monoxide absorbed by those who smoke marijuana are three to five times greater than among tobacco smokers.
• The active ingredient in marijuana is THC (tetrahydrocannabinal). The behaviors exhibited by introducing THC to the brain are similar to those demonstrated by alcohol consumption. Marijuana can induce several emotional responses such as relaxation, introspection, feeling “in tune” with the world, and irrationality.
• Drug abuser use drugs such as marijuana as an attempt to deal with the demands of reality. This behavior is directed toward the pursuit of pleasure and reduction of pain.
• Teen marijuana abusers are often underdeveloped emotionally, academically, and vocationally.
• The use of marijuana affects school, sports, and other activities.
• Marijuana affects memory, judgment, and perception.
• Teens who smoke marijuana on a regular basis start to lose interest in their appearance and in every other aspect of their lives.
• The short-term effects of marijuana include memory problems, distorted perception, trouble problem solving, and loss of motor coordination.
If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center today. We are here to help.
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My son had a promising career in college basketball and he might have gone on the the big leagues, except for his marijuana habit. He was expelled from college for smoking in the bathroom. He had barely been holding it together and with that he decided he was done with school. Since then he has graduated to harder drugs and alcohol and today he lost his job. I'm giving him an ultimatum when he comes home. He either checks himself into rehab or he gets out of the house. I hope it wakes him up!
ReplyDeleteMy best friend has a 20 year old son who has asthma and smokes pot. She has had him to the doctor recently and is upset with the doctor that the asthma is not being controlled. She doesn't know about the pot. I'm wondering if I should tell her or just keep my nose out of it.
ReplyDeleteWhen will people get the message, ever? I'm so tired of hearing that marijuana should be legal and that it really doesn't hurt you. Bull, it does hurt you, unless you don't think you'll be needing all of your brain cells!
ReplyDeleteI started out with marijuana, lifted it from my parent's stash. They never even missed it. I moved on to harder drugs in college and after I flunked out I went for help. I've been clean for a while now and I'm thinking about going back to school. I can't believe I got so far off the path of life that I had for myself.
ReplyDeleteMy son has always nagged me about my smoking, telling me how bad they are for me, even complaining about 2nd hand smoke. This morning I walked in from work unexpectedly and caught him with a joint. His answer? This is different. Go figure.....
ReplyDeleteIf they only knew the risks they are taking by smoking pot, I like to think they would choose not to.
ReplyDelete