After years of decline, marijuana use rates among teenagers are rising rapidly: try an 80 percent increase in heavy use since 2008, according to a study released by MetLife Foundation and The Partnership at Drugfree.org.
What’s the definition of a heavy user? Someone who uses at least 20 times a month.
As a doc who treats young people with substance abuse and addiction problems, that’s a big deal. Those young people are in serious trouble. Consider that teenagers reporting “heavy” past-month marijuana use are significantly more likely than teens who have not used in the past year to:
use cocaine/crack (30 times more likely)
use Ecstasy (20 times more likely)
abuse prescription pain relievers (15 times more likely)
abuse over-the-counter medicines (14 times more likely).
Why the sharp rise in teen marijuana use? There are three main drivers:
Accessibility Marijuana is more accessible in large part because of the increase of marijuana dispensaries in states where so-called “medical” marijuana is legal. Medical researchers in Colorado have found that a significant number of young patients being treated for marijuana addiction have gotten/are getting the drug from adults who have marijuana licenses in this state. In other words, there’s a growing body of evidence that the “medical” marijuana we already legalize and regulate for use is landing in more kids’ hands.
Social acceptance Again, thanks to marijuana dispensaries and the bogus “marijuana-is-medicine” movement, kids receive very mixed messages about this addictive substance that is especially harmful to them. Take a look at materials I helped produce for the Colorado Department of Education about why marijuana is dangerous to the developing brain.
Perceived risk of harm The more accessible and socially acceptable something becomes, the less people recognize its potential for harm. As this study notes, more kids exhibit thinking that amounts to “It could never happen to me,” and “I won’t fall for that,” and “I know what I’m doing.”
Clearing the Haze is a guide designed to help parents determine whether their child may have a substance problem and, if so, how to begin to address it. This book includes the voices and insight of experts in substance abuse counseling, young people in recovery, and parents who have lived the nightmare of adolescent addiction.
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