do you suspect that your child is using marijuana?
TRANSCRIPT
DO YOU SUSPECT THAT YOUR CHILD
IS USING MARIJUANA?
TRUE FALSEOR
Marijuana today is over 10x more potent than the
marijuana of the past.
Marijuana today is engineered in labs with
THC concentrations of 25–30% for traditional
marijuana and upwards of 95% concentration in
wax form, which is consumed through “dabbing”
or using vape devices. In comparison, the
marijuana 20 years ago had a mere 2-3% THC
concentration. 1 joint today is the equivalent
to 10+ joints in prior years.
TRUE
TRUE FALSEOR
Marijuana use may cause depression.
TRUE
The Rhode Island state government reports
that frequent marijuana use doubles the risk
of depression and anxiety in children, which
contributes to self-loathing and lack
of motivation. Also, kids who smoke marijuana
are three times more likely to have suicidal
thoughts than peers who do not smoke.
TRUE FALSEOR
Marijuana affects my child differently than it
affects me.
TRUE
Unlike adults, the teen brain is actively developing
until the age of 25. Using marijuana or drinking
alcohol during this time can have a detrimental
and permanent impact on your child’s ability to
perform cognitive functions. They may experience
memory loss, a 5–10% reduction in IQ often leading
to a drop in a grades, decline in overall academic
performance, and struggles to get accepted
into college.
TRUE FALSEOR
Marijuana is addictive.
TRUEWhile this is a highly debated issue, the fact remains
that hundreds of thousands of people enter treatment
every year because they need professional help to
stop using marijuana. Common symptoms of marijuana
withdrawal include nervousness, restlessness,
insomnia, changes in appetite, anxiety and a craving
for the drug. THC is the active chemical in marijuana
which leads to addictive behavior including increased
tolerance with ongoing use and significant withdrawal
symptoms after chronic use.
TRUE FALSEOR
My teen is breaking the law.
TRUE
In Colorado, marijuana is still illegal for teens
and adults under the age of 21. If your child is
caught trying to buy, carry, sell or use marijuana
they can face a minor in-possession charge.
This can mean fines, public service, education
and intervention, loss of a driver’s license and
misdemeanor or felony charges.
TRUE FALSEOR
Marijuana is a “gateway” drug.
TRUEMost heroin users initiated their drug use early in their
teens, usually beginning with alcohol and marijuana.
There is ample evidence that early initiation of drug use
primes the brain for enhanced later responses to other
drugs. This does not mean that everyone who uses
marijuana will transition to using heroin or other drugs,
but it does mean that people who use marijuana also
consume more, not less, legal and illegal drugs than
do people who do not use marijuana.
TRUE FALSEOR
It’s possible to overdose on marijuana.
TRUEIn 2013, over 200 people were seen in hospitals located
around Denver and Colorado Springs with symptoms
of overdose due to synthetic marijuana during a one-
month period and the number of people hospitalized
has continued to increase significantly. Signs of an
overdose may include violent behavior, seizures, coma,
chest pain, repetitive hallucinations and a sense that
one might be dying. In certain instances, marijuana
use, especially through use of dabbing or vape devices,
has led to marijuana-induced psychosis amongst teens.
TRUE FALSEOR
My child might need professional help.
TRUE
There are several things you can look for to
make this decision. Has your child lost interest
in hobbies and activities? Is his school
performance or attendance suffering? Does
he seem depressed? Is he lying, cheating or
stealing? Does he have a new set of friends
who you suspect also use drugs? These are
all signs that your child needs help!
Call our confidential line and learn how to help your child
change their future:
(303) 552-9686
SOURCESwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2827693/
www.colorado.gov/pacific/marijuana/laws-and-youth
www.time.com/89835/synthetic-marijuana-overdoses-k2/
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.1360-0443.1996.911014696.x/abstract
www.barrington.ri.gov/documents/BAYTeam/MarijuanaTeenUse.pdf
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6249a7.htm
www.denverpost.com/2015/12/17/fed-study-says-pot-use-by-youth-on-rise-in-colorado-leads-nation/
www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/01/14/dangers-that-young-people-face-a-look-at-the-data/