Marijuana use in teenagers in the area seems to be on the rise, according to Marlo Roberts, coordinator of Community Connections Substance Abuse Prevention program. The organization Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) claims that usage may be fueled by the commercialization of the drug.
“There’s definitely been an increase since marijuana became legal in Colorado,” Roberts said. “We know that when the availability of a drug increases, perception of less or no harm and increased use also occur.”
Purchasing, selling and
possessing marijuana is still illegal on a federal level, but some
states have passed laws allowing the drug to be used as a medical
treatment; four states and Washington, D.C., have also legalized
marijuana for recreational use. In states where recreational use is
allowed, people under 21 are prohibited from using the drug.
According to the National
Institute on Drug Abuse, marijuana use can have negative impacts on
developing brains. The NIDA states that the effect of the drug on the
brain may lead to problems studying, learning new things and recalling
recent events. Parts of the brain that help with balance, coordination
and movement are also effected by THC.
Roberts said there is a risk for
addiction and that marijuana use has been shown to lead to the use of
other more dangerous drugs.
“One in six adolescents that use
marijuana develop an addiction, and use is associated with lower IQ,
lower grades and higher dropout rates in that same population,” said Dr.
Stu Gitlow, past president of the American Society of Addiction
Medicine in a statement released last month.
The potential risks don’t seem to
deter teens from using marijuana. The nation’s annual school survey of
drug use, called Monitoring the Future, reports that marijuana use among
adolescents including what they consider “heavy use” has risen
significantly since 2008.
“This year’s survey shows how, in
an era of falling overall drug, cigarette and alcohol use — an
achievement made possible by years of effort and millions of dollars of
public funding — marijuana use among kids remains strong,” said Dr.
Kevin A. Sabet in a December press release. Sabet is a former White
House drug policy advisor who now serves as president of SAM.
The survey numbers may be wrong,
because it didn’t include data from high school dropouts or the use of
products such as waxes or edibles, SAM officials said. The organization
stated the actual number of teens who are using the drug may be higher
than what the survey shows.
Sabet believes the
commercialization has played a significant role in the increased use,
despite efforts encouraging teens to say “no.” According to Sabet, part
of the blame belongs to the industry creating products that appeal to
teens, such as marijuana-laced candy.
“[The marijauna industry] has
counteracted the hard work and advances made by drug prevention
advocates, all in the favor of financial gain,” Sabet stated.
According to statements from
organizations such as the American Medical Association, American Society
of Addiction Medicine and the American Psychiatric Association,
marijuana use, especially among youth, should be avoided, and
legalization efforts opposed.
Roberts states that parents
should be asking their kids questions about where they are, what they’re
doing and who they are with. They should know what the drug looks and
smells like. If they suspect their child is using drugs, they should try
to have an open conversation and find out why. Roberts pointed out that
there are resources for parents in North Platte and across the state.
In an effort to encourage
prevention on a local level, Community Connections has partnered with
SAM and has invited Jeff Zinsmeister, SAM’s executive vice president, to
speak to local citizens about the dangers of medical marijuana.
However, a date has not yet been set for the presentation.
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