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Parents Beware: Signs Your Teenager is Using Cannabis

Is your teenager lethargic and missing a lot of school? Are they withdrawn and not taking care of themselves as much as they used to? This could be a warning that they are using cannabis or synthetic cannabis.

Cannabis has obviously been around for a long time.

However, the cannabis of today is much more potent than the cannabis of the past.

Although it is being legalized and normalized in the U.S., it is not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, so its composition, concentration, and potency can be inconsistent. Cannabis can also be labeled incorrectly.

If you were not certain what was in a certain food or knew it might be mislabeled, would you eat it?

A new synthetic cannabis (also known as synthetic cannabinoids, K2, or “spice”) is on the rise with adolescents.

Teens are drawn to it because they think it’s legal, safer, less harmful, and produces more intense effects.

Synthetic cannabis is more available to teens and its use is viewed as fashionable. When it is vaped, it is harder for adults to detect the smell, so vaping has become popular as well.

Synthetic cannabis is much more dangerous than natural cannabis. Because it synthetically mimics tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), it is much more potent and unpredictable than natural cannabis.

Synthetic cannabis carries with it health risks including psychosis, severe agitation, seizures, hallucinations, and even death. Long-term use can cause serious physical and mental issues.

Much like natural cannabis, it is unregulated.

You really have no idea what you are ingesting. Synthetic cannabis can also lead to dependency and withdrawal symptoms like other substances of abuse and the development of psychotic symptoms.

Don’t Be Fooled: It Is Dangerous

Natural or synthetic, cannabis use during adolescence can have a huge impact on brain development, since the brain is still developing until age 25.

During the teen years, white matter increases while gray matter decreases, influencing cognitive development. The brain is removing unnecessary synapses and neurons while maintaining others, which increases learning and brain performance.

The prefrontal cortex is developing and controls proper social behavior and impulse discipline.

Introducing cannabis during these developmental years can cause loss of too much gray matter, leading to issues with impulse discipline and decision making. Cannabis can also have a negative effect on memory, attention, learning, and working memory.

Cannabis use can cause amotivational syndrome, which is a chronic psychiatric disorder characterized by signs which are linked to cognitive and emotional states such as detachment, blunted emotion and drives, executive functions like memory and attention, disinterest, passivity, apathy, a general lack of motivation, and lessened goal-directed behavior.

Parents Beware: Signs Your Teenager is Using Cannabis

The effects of this syndrome can result in lessened productivity at work and a higher chance of not going to college. Think of the typical young adult living in their parents’ basement playing video games all day. Is this the future you want for your child?

Another risk with cannabis use is its effects on mental health. Regular cannabis use raises the risk of substance use disorders (SUDs) and psychosis, especially in patients who have preexisting psychosis. Cannabis use is riskier for teenagers in this regard since they are in the age bracket in which psychosis usually starts. It is thought cannabis may exacerbate psychosis because it alters glutamate and dopamine activity.

The current administration’s efforts to reschedule cannabis from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug is making matters worse.

This planned rescheduling will definitely impact people’s perception of the dangers of cannabis. What could it hurt if it’s just like Tylenol?

The point is, it’s not just like Tylenol!

If you look at states who have legalized medical cannabis use, their instances of cannabis use disorder (CUD) and illicit use have increased much more than the states who do not have legalized medical cannabis.

The numbers bear out the facts: cannabis use can have huge consequences on public health. In light of this, it has become much more important for there to be more (and more thorough) cannabis education, and for doctors to be screening for cannabis use and its associated disorders.

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Being Mindful Parents

Communicate with your teens.

Talking about the dangers of cannabis use and being an attentive parent is of the utmost importance.

Signs your teen may be smoking weed include:

  • Smelling like marijuana
  • Red or bloodshot eyes
  • Delayed reaction times
  • Mood swings
  • Laziness and tiredness
  • The presence of marijuana related paraphernalia
  • Paranoia or anxiousness
  • Hunger or the “munchies”
Parents Beware: Signs Your Teenager is Using Cannabis

With many different ways to consume cannabis these days, you may spot paraphernalia including:

  • Hand pipes and water pipes
  • Joints or blunts (wrapped like a cigarette)
  • Hookahs
  • Vaporizers
  • Oils
  • Edibles (i.e. brownies, cookies, etc.)
  • And more

As a society, we need to wise up. Before it’s too late for our kids.

If you or someone you love is using cannabis, please seek help. A facility like Sanctuary Clinics is well suited to offer the help you need.

Get Help Today.

We are here to help you through every aspect of recovery.
Let us call you to learn more about our treatment options.

We are here to help you through every aspect of recovery. Let us call you to learn more about our treatment options.

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