What’s Up With Marijuana?

By Natasha McColl, Chemical Dependency Counselor

As a chemical dependency counselor, I have watched as the media and the political groups push to legalize medical marijuana. In the process, they seem to have opened a door to legitimize the use of recreational marijuana. Cannabis has been portrayed as the misunderstood drug that is really quite harmless when used occasionally for fun. Yet parents should take heed. While pot may find its place in the medical world that does not mean that its recreational use, among teenagers and young adults, is harmless.

What are the side effects of marijuana use?

According to NIDA (The National Institute on Drug Abuse), the short-term effects of marijuana include problems with memory and learning, distorted perception, increased problems with problem-solving, and loss of motor coordination.[i] These effects are hardly harmless when you think about the average teenager’s life. How many times does your teenager drive her car to school? Menial task you might think. Yet driving requires the ability to problem-solve say, a patch of ice on the road or navigate through traffic. A study preformed in Memphis, TN, showed that out of 150 reckless drivers tested for drugs at the scene of a wreck, 33% tested positive for pot and 12 % tested positive for pot and cocaine. Studies show that “while smoking marijuana, people show the same lack of coordination” as a person impaired by alcohol.[ii] Smoking marijuana and a teenage driver is a bad mix.

Students who smoke pot do poorly in school.

How does a teenager pass the SATs or the weekly math test for that matter, when ability to learn and remember has been impaired by drug use? According to the Research Report on Marijuana published by NIDA, students who smoke cannabis have lower grades and are less likely to graduate from high school than their non-drug using counterparts. In fact the more one used marijuana, the more they “fall behind in accumulating intellectual, job or social skills”.[iii]

Cannabis and Memory Loss

The negative impact on memory and learning for heavy marijuana users can last not just days but actually weeks. A study involving 129 college students found that those who had smoked cannabis within the past 27 of 30 days, showed impaired attention, memory, and learning ability. These same researchers also showed that heavy users had impaired ability to recall a list of words up to one week following the stop of their use. Normal memory returned by four weeks.[iv] Parents might see pot use as just a phase or kids having fun, but the chronic use of cannabis can have significant consequences on a teenager’s future.

How do you know if your teenager is smoking pot?

According to the 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, about 25.8 million Americans have tried marijuana at least once (ages 12 and up)[v] and a 2008 Monitoring the Future study showed that 32.4% of twelfth graders have tried marijuana at least once.[vi] This, by no means, indicates that every twelfth grader is abusing marijuana.

If your child is under the influence, look for odd behavior such as dizziness or trouble walking, they may seem silly, giggly and have a difficult time remembering recent events. Their eyes may be red and bloodshot. Over a short period of time, marijuana will make a person very sleepy.[vii]
Changes in behavior are a good indication that a teenager may be using more regularly. Look for withdrawal from family and maybe even old friends, depression, fatigue, a disregard for self-care and grooming. Their grades may go down, they may be skipping school, their sleeping habits change, and there may be a loss in interest in activities that was previously very important to them. Parents should look out for eye drops, pipes, bongs, rolling paper, or drugs stashes. Their clothing choices may change and they may use deodorizers to hide the smell.[viii]

What to do when you think your teen is smoking pot.

If you suspect that your teenager is using marijuana. Confront them with the evidence. It is very important that a parent use reason and concrete proof as their ally in this process. It is difficult for any parent to believe that “my child” could be involved in drug use and illegal activity. No one likes to entertain this idea, and if you react based on this denial and an emotional response, your teenager may not get the help they need as quickly as they need it. Consistent and chronic use of marijuana can become an addiction problem. A drug test will give parents an accurate and truthful understanding of their child’s activities. Urine analysis kits can be found at local drug stores. Depending on how much marijuana has been smoked, it can be found in the body for about a month. It can’t hurt to speak with you local drug and alcohol treatment facility about assessments, education and treatment options.

Talk with your teens about the consequences of pot use.

Talking to your children about the negative consequences of pot use is a great prevention strategy. Be involved in their sports, academic, and social lives. Get to know their friends. Encourage your children to express themselves in life-affirming activities such as sports, structured school activities, church groups, and volunteer work. Keep the lines of communication open. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help from professionals such as counselors. Even a child with high risk factors, such as a family history of drug addiction, can learn tools to stay away from dangerous people, places and circumstances. You are your child’s best resource and protection.

[i] NIDA Publication NO. 04-4037. Marijuana: Facts for Teens. March 2008.
[ii] NIDA Publication NO. 04-4037. Marijuana: Facts for Teens. March 2008.
[iii] NIH Publication NO. 05-3859 Research Report Series: Marijuana Abuse. July 2005.
[iv] NIH Publication NO. 05-3859 Research Report Series: Marijuana Abuse. July 2005.
[v] http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Marijuana.html
[vi] http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Marijuana.html
[vii] NIDA Publication NO. 07-4036. Marijuana: Facts Parents need to know. August 2007.
[viii] NIDA Publication NO. 07-4036. Marijuana: Facts Parents need to know. August 2007

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Trinity Teen Solutions, Inc. TTS is a licensed Christian Residential Treatment center for troubled teen girls, young adult women, and their families. Call 307-645-3384 for a free consultation.

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