The use of marijuana by
teens has often been seen as something to be unconcerned about. Many of those
who are now among the adult population remember their own days of using these
drugs and some may still use them to this day. They assume that if their own
children use then it will be “no big deal” and they will simply “outgrow” it.
Even if they don't, the
promotion of marijuana legalization of it can many assume that the drug cannot
harm them excessively. However, marijuana use is proving, to researchers, to be
a very big problem with today's youth and seems to be far worse than it was in
their parents' generation.
The levels of THC that
are continually rising have not helped this. Or the fact that some will mix the
drug with other substances like heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine.
What Studies Show
There are many different
conclusions being drawn from the data that's been discovered. For one thing
it's apparent that youth as young as 15 and possibly even younger are beginning
to use drugs such as marijuana. The ages at which teen's first try this drug
seems to be falling and the number that use seems to be rising. It's been found
however, that rates are higher amongst boys than girls though both rates are
very high.
Marijuana is available in
different 'levels' and in some areas of Canada it's available at some of the
highest levels recorded. Teens have also reported to using marijuana up to five
times per day though most claim only to use occasionally at recreational times.
Of course the majority of users fall into a middle-ground where they use
somewhat more frequently than at recreational times yet less frequently than
the five times per day of heavy users.
Another problem that
researchers have found is that less than 50% (41.7%) of eighth grade students
believe that using drugs such as marijuana only occasionally is harmful and
only 66.9% see regular use as harmful. These numbers get even lower as the age
of students surveyed goes up. In fact, only 20.6% of 12th graders think it
could be potentially harmful to use marijuana regularly.
What Teens Believe
Many teens that use
marijuana do not believe it to be harmful to them or believe that the benefits
outweigh the risks. For example, many teens believe that smoking marijuana
makes them cool, helps them focus, or makes them feel better talking away
unwanted feelings or sensations.
Others believe that this
is what keeps them “going throughout the day.” These teens are experiencing the
side effects that can come along with the use such as feeling more open,
relaxed or calm. This drug has also been compared to sleeping pills and ADHD
medications such as Ritalin and many believe it to be helpful to them in some
way even if it is done harm.
What Parents Should Do
It’s important for
parents to talk with their teens about drug use. It's also important to get
other people involved such as health care professionals or counselors or even
teachers. All of these people together can play an important role in helping
teens to overcome addictions or even to head them off before they start.
Being open discussing how
teens use, why they use and to what extent is, according to researchers,
crucial to helping them overcome their addictions and the destructive behaviors
that come along with it.
Source: http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2012/12/19/marijuana-use-holds-steady-among-u-s-teens/
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