The Danger of Underage Marijuana Use
Underage marijuana use is something many parents worry about with their teens. The statistics show there’s good cause for this concern. Around 37% of students in high school reported lifetime marijuana use in 2019. ¹
The Danger of Underage Marijuana Use
Underage marijuana use is something many parents worry about with their teens. The statistics show there’s good cause for this concern. Around 37% of students in high school reported lifetime marijuana use in 2019.
Table of Contents
Since the early 2000s, there has been a decline in the stigma of marijuana use. Certain states started to legalize it for both recreational and medical uses. Adult use of marijuana may not be as problematic as once thought. However, it is still highly discouraged in teens, and for good reasons.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) conducted some research showing that marijuana use during childhood years can impact²:
- Memory
- Learning ability
- Coordination
- Attention
- Judgment
- Balance
- Decision-making
How Does Weed Affect the Brain of a Teenager?
The teenage brain continues to actively develop until around the age of 25 years old according to the CDC. The use of marijuana during the adolescent and young adult years could cause harm to the developing brain.¹
The CDC states that adverse effects of marijuana on the teenage brain can include:
- Problems with learning and memory
- Troubles problem-solving and thinking
- Troubles maintaining attention
- Reduced coordination
- Issues with social life and school
Why Teens Use Marijuana
Since younger individuals’ brains are still developing, making regular use of psychoactive compounds can put them at a unique risk. This is because it may negatively and permanently affect brain development.
Teens tend to make irrational decisions and engage in high-risk behaviors. This is mainly because they process data and information through the amygdala. In adults, information is processed through a completely developed prefrontal cortex. This is a control center that helps adults make more rational, balanced decisions and moderate their impulses.³
If a teen experiments with marijuana, it isn’t necessarily an indication that they have some underlying issues. And parents need to understand that their teen’s marijuana does not make them bad parents. What it does mean is that their teen is exploring and taking risks. This is a normal part of development and self-exploration on their journey toward becoming an adult.
But, of course, there are other reasons why teens use marijuana that don’t have to do with a developing brain. Two main reasons include:
Peer Pressure
Pressure from peers to smoke marijuana stays a very strong influence.⁴ If teens have friends who are smoking weed, they’re more likely to experiment with it themselves. Teenagers often adopt the “everybody is doing it” attitude, and it’s become a part of the normal teen experience. However, research points out that most teens get through their high school years without having used marijuana.⁵
Escape and Self-Medicating
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Anger
Teenagers will also start to use marijuana as a way to escape. One of the primary reasons why some teenagers report using marijuana is out of boredom.
What Are the Risks of Marijuana Use In Teens?
Some teens start to use marijuana because they do not realize the harm it may do to their brains. However, since teenage brains are still developing, marijuana usage can have a negative impact on their overall development and brain health.
The legalization movement for marijuana has also played role in a mixed message being sent to teenagers. Teens may believe that just because marijuana is “medicine” or because it’s legal, it must be safe. Because of these beliefs, they may rationalize that the substance is fine to use.
Parents who want to protect their teens from the potential dangers of early cannabis use should educate their children on the effects of this substance. This will equip teens with the knowledge they need to make an informed decision about the associated risks involved with early cannabis use.
Teens should know the consequences of marijuana use, such as:
Motor Vehicle Accidents
The use of marijuana can impair:
- Alertness
- Judgment
- Reaction time
- Coordination
- Concentration
Getting behind the wheel while under the influence of weed can double a teen’s risk of a motor vehicle accident. This risk is even greater if they have consumed even a small amount of alcohol.⁶
Addiction
Marijuana addiction is possible. While some people may view marijuana as a harmless drug. There is the risk of addiction to cannabis, similar to addiction to other substances. In fact, there is an even higher risk for addiction if the substance is used before the age of 18.5.
Mental Illness
Research shows high doses of THC in individuals with existing mental illness can lead to panic attacks or even severe psychosis. The symptoms of mental illness can be heightened by marijuana usage.
Some of these symptoms may include:
- Paranoia
- Hallucinations
- Disorganized thinking
If a person has genetic factors, the risk of psychosis is higher. Some research shows a link between chronic marijuana use in adolescents and a higher risk of schizophrenia.⁸
Reduced Quality of Life
Students who abuse marijuana not only have a higher likelihood of dropping out of high school, but they may also experience:
- Less career success
- Lower salaries
- Reduced life satisfaction later in their life
This could be linked with altered cognitive impairment and brain development.⁹
Activities Marijuana Can Impair in Teens
There are several primary areas where smoking and inhaling marijuana can impact teenagers’ day-to-day lives. These include learning, engaging in sports, and making judgments.
There are three main areas in which smoking marijuana can affect the daily lives of children and teens. They include learning, participating in sports, complex tasks, and making judgments.
Learning
Teens who are not engaged in school may think it is ideal to do their homework while smoking a bowl. However, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, studies show marijuana can negatively impact memory and attention. Therefore, smoking weed makes it hard to complete complex tasks that require concentration and focus and learning new things.¹⁰
Sports
Smoking marijuana can harm a teenager’s athletic performance since it impacts their:
- Movement
- Timing
- Coordination
If a teen athlete’s ability is even slightly impaired, it can make a huge difference in their performance and their outcome in a sports competition.¹⁰
Complex Tasks
Certain teens believe they can perform complex tasks better when they are stoned. They may believe that marijuana helps increase their ability to focus. For example, some teens may believe that they can drive a car better when they are under the influence of marijuana.
While marijuana use can temporarily cause the feeling of heightened sensory perception, perception isn’t the same as attention. Studies show weed users have difficulty in both multi-tasking and maintaining concentration while driving and carrying out similar tasks.¹¹
Judgment
Studies funded by NIDA show that smoking weed can change a teen’s ability to make clear and sound judgments.¹¹ If a teenager’s judgment is impaired, they have a higher risk of being involved in risky behaviors. These risky behaviors include driving a vehicle under the influence or having unsafe sex.
NIDA reports smoking marijuana can lead to issues in these and other areas of the teenager’s life since marijuana can cause.¹⁰
While marijuana use can temporarily cause the feeling of heightened sensory perception, perception isn’t the same as attention. Studies show weed users have difficulty in both multi-tasking and maintaining concentration while driving and carrying out similar tasks.¹¹
- Impaired thinking
- Loss of coordination
- Issues with learning and memory
- Distorted perceptions
Can Underage Marijuana Use Become Addictive?
Abusing cannabis can lead to dependence and turn into a marijuana use disorder. The National Institute on Drug Abuse states that in severe cases, it takes the form of addiction. Research shows around 30% of individuals who use weed may struggle with marijuana use disorder to some degree. Individuals who start to use marijuana before they turn 18 years old have a higher likelihood of developing marijuana use disorder.¹²
Dependence and marijuana use disorders are frequently linked in which the individual experiences symptoms of withdrawal when they stop using marijuana.
Individuals who use weed frequently report disturbances like:
- Sleep and mood difficulties
- Restlessness
- Decreased appetite
- Various types of physical discomfort
- Cravings
These symptoms tend to peak within the first week of the individual stopping the marijuana and last up to two weeks.¹² Dependence on cannabis occurs once the brain begins to adapt to big amounts of marijuana. The body adapts by decreasing sensitivity to and production of its endocannabinoid neurotransmitters.
When an individual is unable to stop using weed despite its interference with various aspects of their life, they may have full-blown addiction. Estimates of how many individuals are addicted to marijuana are debatable. This is because epidemiological research of substance use frequently uses dependence as an addiction “proxy.” Research does this despite there being a real possibility of experiencing dependence without actually being addicted.
Even so, research does suggest approximately 9% of individuals who use weed will become dependent on it. This number increases to about 17% in individuals who began using marijuana in their teen years.¹²
Other Medical Issues Caused By Marijuana Use
Smoking weed can lead to bronchitis, chronic cough, and asthmatic symptoms becoming worse. When individuals continue using marijuana, it can also increase their risk of lung problems and heart attack.
Chronic Bronchitis
Studies show that smoking weed can lead to chronic bronchitis. The smoke of marijuana can injure the large airway’s cell linings. This may explain why smoking weed results in symptoms such as ¹³:
- Phlegm production
- Chronic cough
- Acute bronchitis
- Wheezing
Carcinogenic Risks
Weed is made up of over 480 different compounds. However, the two primary compounds in weed are cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC):
- THC is marijuana's primary psychoactive component. It's what causes the "high" when individuals use the substance. THC interacts with the receptors in the brain and can reduce pain, make people feel more relaxed, and make people forgetful.
- CBD is a nonpsychoactive part of marijuana. Therefore, it won't get individuals high. CBD may help manage individuals' anxiety and lessen THC's effects. CBD comes in a variety of forms, including essential oils, beverages, and supplements.
Cannabis also includes benzanthracene and benzopyrene. Both of these are considered cancer-causing and are also in cigarette smoke.
It’s not necessarily these actual compounds in marijuana themselves that pose a problem to an individual’s lungs. It’s the way the compounds enter a person’s body.
For instance, when a person smokes weed, they’re inhaling the smoke, which contains carcinogens and toxins. Carcinogens are known to be cancer-causing substances. Carcinogens and toxins are produced when things are burned.
Various studies show that cannabis smoke contains the same cancer-causing agents and toxins that are found in cigarette smoke.¹⁴
Heart Attack
Whether a person smokes, eats, or vapes marijuana, it can substantially increase their risk of a heart attack. Teenagers who use certain substances have a higher risk of being hospitalized for a heart attack by early adulthood than do their peers who aren’t using these substances, according to a study.¹⁵
Researchers studied data on 1,694 individuals between the ages of 15 and 22 who ended up being hospitalized for heart attacks between the years 2010 through 2014. They also examined data for 9.4 million patients of the same age group who were hospitalized for different reasons. The data showed that the risk of being hospitalized for heart attacks was 30% higher for marijuana users than it was for non-marijuana users.
What Parents Can Do if Their Teen Is Using Marijuana
It’s essential for parents to talk with their teens about marijuana and specifically the effects of marijuana on the teenage brain. They should have these conversations not only if they suspect their teen is using but also to help prevent future use. If parents have found evidence that their teens are using, they should confront them about their findings. It is likely that their teen will deny their marijuana or get defensive.
If parents believe their teen is abusing marijuana, there is help available. Parents should consider reaching out to their teen’s doctor to discuss concerns. A family doctor may talk with their teen and recommend mental health or addiction professional.
Becoming addicted to marijuana is possible. And teens who are abusing marijuana may require outpatient counseling or maybe even inpatient residential treatment.
Addiction treatment programs are tailored to fit each client’s individual needs. They have specially trained staff who work closely with teens. These professionals will understand the challenges the teens will face in their addiction and recovery. Since young adults will differ in their addiction, they’ll receive an individualized and specific approach to meet their requirements.
Addiction rehab programs will help provide teens with the chance to become healthy. They will have the opportunity to experience lasting sobriety. Long-term recovery can set them up for a healthy mindset and lifestyle for the rest of their lives.
References
2. National Institute on Drug Abuse. Cannabis (Marijuana). Retrieved on July 19, 2022, from https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/cannabis-marijuana
3. University of Rochester Medical Center. Understanding the Teen Brain. Retrieved on July 19, 2022, from https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=1&ContentID=3051
4. SpringerLink. Recent Findings on Peer Group Influences on Adolescent Smoking. Bruce G. Simons-Morton & Tilda Farhat. The Journal of Primary Prevention volume 31, pages191–208 (2010) https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10935-010-0220-x
5. BMC (Part of Springer Nature). Perceived neighborhood illicit drug selling, peer illicit drug disapproval, and illicit drug use among U.S. high school seniors. Dustin T Duncan, Joseph J Palamar & James H Williams. Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy volume 9, Article number: 35 (2014) https://substanceabusepolicy.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1747-597X-9-35
6. Clinical Chemistry. Cannabis Effects on Driving Skills. Rebecca L Hartman, Marilyn A Huestis Clinical Chemistry, Volume 59, Issue 3, 1 March 2013, Pages 478–492, https://doi.org/10.1373/clinchem.2012.194381 https://academic.oup.com/clinchem/article/59/3/478/5621997?login=false
7. ScienceDirect. Likelihood of developing an alcohol and cannabis use disorder during youth: Association with recent use and age. Ken C.WintersChih-Yuan S.Lee Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, F282/2A West, 2450 Riverside Avenue, Minneapolis, MN, USA Received 28 December 2006, Revised 7 August 2007, Accepted 8 August 2007, Available online 20 September 2007. https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0376871607002979
8. thebmj. Continued cannabis use and risk of incidence and persistence of psychotic symptoms: 10 year follow-up cohort study. BMJ 2011; 342 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.d738 (Published 01 March 2011) https://www.bmj.com/content/342/bmj.d738
9. The Lancet. Psychological and social sequelae of cannabis and other illicit drug use by young people: a systematic review of longitudinal, general population studies. Dr John Macleod, PhD Rachel Oakes, BSc Alex Copello, PhD Prof Ilana Crome, MD Prof Matthias Egger, MD Mathew Hickman, PhD et al. Published:May 15, 2004DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(04)16200-4 https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0140673604162004
10. National Institute on Drug Abuse. Cannabis (Marijuana) Research Report. Retrieved July 24, 2022 from https://nida.nih.gov/download/1380/marijuana-research-report.pdf?v=d9e67cbd412ae5f340206c1a0d9c2bfd
11. Clinical Chemistry. Cannabis Effects on Driving Skills Rebecca L Hartman, Marilyn A Huestis. Clinical Chemistry, Volume 59, Issue 3, 1 March 2013, Pages 478–492, https://doi.org/10.1373/clinchem.2012.194381 https://academic.oup.com/clinchem/article/59/3/478/5621997
12. National Institute on Drug Abuse. Cannabis (Marijuana) Research Report: Is marijuana addictive? Retrieved on July 24, 2022 from https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana/marijuana-addictive
13. American Lung Association. Marijuana and Lung Health. Retrieved on July 24, 2022 from https://www.lung.org/quit-smoking/smoking-facts/health-effects/marijuana-and-lung-health#:~:text=Research%20shows%20that%20smoking%20marijuana,production%2C%20wheeze%20and%20acute%20bronchitis.
14. ATS Journals. Effects of Marijuana Smoking on the Lung. Donald P. Tashkin. https://doi.org/10.1513/AnnalsATS.201212-127FR PubMed: 23802821 Received: December 30, 2012 Accepted: February 20, 2013 https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/full/10.1513/AnnalsATS.201212-127FR?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori%3Arid%3Acrossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub++0pubmed&
15. Reuters. Cannabis tied to severe heart attack risk in younger adults. Retrieved on July 24, 2022 from https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-heart-marijuana/cannabis-tied-to-severe-heart-attack-risk-in-younger-adults-idUSKBN1XZ2J5
