Thanks to Legalization, My Teenager Thinks Marijuana is Safe

(How many parents have heard this before?)

Dear Your Teen:

My teen does not think that marijuana is dangerous. With more and more states making it legal, he’s even more convinced. And as far as he is concerned, everyone he knows uses it without any detrimental effect. So why shouldn’t he? What can I do to convince him otherwise?

ANSWER | Mark McConville, Ph.D.

What You’re Up Against

Yours is an increasingly common challenge for today’s parents, for several reasons.  One is that there exists a growing trend in our culture to view marijuana as relatively harmless.  Medical marijuana has been legalized in some states, for one thing.

For another, many pot smoking teens have been indoctrinated about the supposed “harmlessness” of marijuana, promoting the message peer-to-peer and visiting web sites that promote and support this idea.

I can attest that many of my adolescent counseling clients come to me parroting a uniform “party line” of statistics and arguments about pot’s saving graces and relative harmlessness.  An argument that is particularly appealing to teens is the one about adult hypocrisy for condemning marijuana while embracing their own drug of choice — which of course is alcohol (and let’s face it, they have a point!).

Real Dangers of Marijuana: Impact on Brain Function

What invariably gets left out of these self justifying arguments are the undeniable facts that marijuana’s active agent — tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) stores in the fat cells of the brain for quite some time, and that the brains of young people — specifically the pre-frontal cortex, which is the center for executive function and abstract reasoning — is still developing.

This is why we see so much interference among heavy pot smokers with these exact brain functions.  Any irony of ironies, the part of the brain most affected is exactly the part of the brain that allows people to mentally step outside themselves and reflectively evaluate their own functioning.  This is why heavy teen-age pot smokers often display shockingly little insight into the negative effects that their pot use is having on their own development.

The negative effects of marijuana in the developing adolescent brain have been convincingly documented by neurological research. Frances Jenson, Chair of the Department of Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania points out that THC disrupts the development of neural pathways in the adolescent brain and cites long term consequences of  smaller brain volume, reduced gray matter, and increase damage to white matter — changes that have been shown to persist well into adulthood. In one longitudinal study conducted in New Zealand, former moderate teenage pot users were shown, in their 30s, to have lost 8 to 10 IQ points relative to nonusers. Significant consequences indeed!

How to Discuss Marijuana With Your Teen:

There are three specific things I would advise as you talk to your teenager about marijuana:

1. Adjust your goals for the conversation.

Teenagers, just like adults, are rarely “persuaded” from a well entrenched belief in a single conversation. A more realistic and  productive goal would be to have him open his mind rather than going for the home-run of having him change it on the spot.

You can accomplish this by offering an open minded exchange of viewpoints: Offer the following deal:  “I’ll read and thoughtfully consider any reading material you can give me defending marijuana, if you’ll agree to do the same with any reading material I provide you on its potential dangers.”

Asking for an open minded exchange is far more likely to get your teen considering the other side of the argument than trying to steamroll him with persuasion.  Opening one’s mind is the first step to changing it.

2. State clearly that you are opposed.

Regardless of your willingness to enter into such a two sided discussion, make it unmistakably clear that until you think otherwise, your sacred obligation as a parent is to do everything within your power to prevent him from engaging in behavior that can interfere with brain development and affect his future. There’s plenty of evidence suggesting that early and frequent pot use among teens can have long lasting effects on intelligence, judgement, and motivation.

3. Walk the walk.

You’ve got to walk the walk if you’re going to take the strong position I am recommending: examine, curtail, and consider eliminating your own drug and/or alcohol use.  I recommend a bi-lateral no-use contract: you’ll both abstain at least until he reaches the age when his frontal lobes have completed their primary development — around age 21.

Post is contributed by Your Teen Mag.

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Read: 5 Benefits of Boarding Schools for Troubled Teens.

Contact us if you have exhausted your local resources with your troubled teen smoking pot. We help you make smart decisions for teen help programs, therapeutic boarding schools and other options for struggling teens.

The post My Teen Thinks It’s Safe to Smoke Marijuana first appeared on Help Your Teens.

Parents wondering how to best prevent drug use may only need to look in the mirror for their best answer. How parents approach their duties to their teenagers makes a major difference in whether their young teens will experiment, abuse, or become addicted to drugs.

Thomas Dishion in his article “Prevention of Early Adolescent Substance Abuse Among High-Risk Youth” [University of Hawaii, 1998] identifies certain patterns which prove problematic in increasing the risk of teens becoming drug users. Parent interventions and parenting styles have major impacts on these risks.

Parents need to focus on three primary areas. These include setting appropriate rules and guidelines for teen behavior outside of the family, expressing and enforcing appropriate rules with their adolescent in regards to school achievement, and setting strong boundaries by conveying education and limits about drug and alcohol use.

Drugs That Teenagers Commonly Use

Commonly used drugs by teenagers include marijuana, alcohol, ecstasy, cocaine, mushrooms, acid, and amphetamines. Some teenagers are exposed to drugs such as heroin, crack, and ketamine. These drugs all have different effects on the body, but each one can lead to dependency and a complete change in the teen’s behavior.

The Effects of Drugs on the Body

Drugs can have various effects on the body of teenagers. Some serious health effects come from using and abusing drugs. These include severe depression, mood swings, violence, heart problems, seizures, organ damage, anorexia, obesity, and brain damage. Drugs can also lead to overdoses, causing comas or death.

Signs That Your Teen is on Drugs

Signs that a teenager is on drugs vary depending on the drug being used. Signs that a teen is using marijuana include uncontrollable laughter, red or glossy eyes, slow and loud talking, eating large amounts of food, and sleeping a lot.

Signs of alcohol or downers – such as heroin and ketamine – abuse include slurred speech, difficulty standing or walking, anger, uncontrollable crying, vomiting, and passing out. Signs that a teen is on stimulants such as ecstasy, cocaine, and amphetamines include fast-talking, high energy levels, lack of appetite, weight loss, poor sleep habits, mood swings, anger, and euphoria. Upon signs of drug use in teens, parents should do their research to best help their teenagers get help for the problem.

Establishing Influence on the Behavior of Your Teen Outside the Family

Parents need to remember their teens will likely carry social skills learned within the family into their lives outside the family.

This means parents need to adopt a priority in helping teens learn to interact with others.

These skills include:

• The ability to express their opinion clearly.
• The ability to stand up to peers while feeling good about themselves.
• The ability to ask for help with questions and situations which confuse the teenager.
• The ability to find friends with supportive values.

These skills are communicated through everyday activities within the family. Parents may wish to consider specific exercises to increase these skills. Parents must also keep the channels of communication open, responding with empathy and information when a teenager seeks advice.

Encouraging School Achievement

Students’ performance in comparison to their peers seems to have a relation with drug behavior according to Dishion. Parents need to make homework and other school objectives a paramount concern.

Some ideas to focus on homework success include:

• Setting up specific times for homework and being available to teens during this time.
• Rewarding successful completion of homework projects.
• Providing discipline for failing to complete homework or projects.
• Contacting teachers and principals to clarify and verify assignments.

Setting Clear Limits about Drugs

Parents need to be very clear about their non-tolerance of drug and alcohol use by their teens. Discipline and punishments should be made clear to the teenager. Education about drug effects and dangers should also be reiterated. Many experts agree that education does not increase drug use, but rather may serve to provide teenagers more reasons to say no.

Parents should:

• Have a no-drug policy at home.
• Address drug dangers and effects with their teens.
• Reflect sober living to their teens.
• React immediately and seriously to any violations of the home’s no drug policy.
• Provide ongoing education to the teenager about drugs, especially those drugs receiving social or media attention.

Parents hold an incredible ability to influence their teens away from drug and alcohol abuse. By teaching teens to hold onto their values in the face of peer pressure, establishing good classroom habits, and providing clear boundaries on drug use, parents play an essential role in preventing drug abuse.

Read: 5 Benefits of Therapeutic Boarding Schools.

Read: Why Therapeutic Boarding Schools are Effective.

About the author: Nicholas H. Parker

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If you are struggling with your teenager that’s using or experimenting with drugs and you have exhausted your local resources, learn more about how residential treatment can help your troubled teen and your family. Contact us today for  a free consultation.

The post Preventing Teen Drug Use first appeared on Help Your Teens.

Imagine letting your teenage son or daughter go out for the night only to find out they have been hospitalized or even died due to an overdose of some illicit pill they were offered at a music festival.

If you’re ever put into such a tragic situation, it would be hard not to blame yourself. Unfortunately, this is exactly what happened to six families in New York just a few weeks ago. Two teenagers died and four others were hospitalized due to an overdose of ecstasy (also known as “Molly”) at the Electronic Zoo music festival. The increasing popularity of this party drug makes it imperative parents recognize, discuss and address the risks their children face every day due to drugs.

Increasing Danger of Ecstasy

Ecstasy is increasingly becoming a risk for teenagers and college students alike. According to a 2011 study by MetLife and DrugFree.org, ecstasy use has been increasing. The rising popularity of raves and music festivals is contributing significantly to the increased use of the drug.

In addition, “safer” alternatives, such as ecstasy in its pure MDMA form, are making teenagers think they are being safe and smart with their drug use. The unfortunate reality is these “safe” alternatives are neither pure nor safe. According to a report by DrugScope.org, some “pure” ecstasy tablets can have as little as zero percent purity. The Drug Enforcement Administration reports even 100 percent pure ecstasy can cause difficulty breathing and a decreased ability of the body to regulate its temperature. With the near certainty adulterants and impurities are mixed into the pills, this risk is multiplied dramatically.

How to Protect Your Child

Don’t pretend these issues don’t exist. This simply will not work. The popularity of ecstasy among today’s youth means you need to take an active role in informing your child of the risks. Speak with your children about the dangers and provide a safe place where they can be honest with you about their thoughts and any experimentation they have done.

According to the non-profit HelpGuide.org, there are a number of warning signs for ecstasy use, including:

• Sudden and chronic lethargy
• Neglecting responsibilities
• Run-ins with the law
• Rift in their relationships, parental or otherwise
• Abandoning activities they used to enjoy

If you think your child has already developed a drug problem, seriously consider seeking treatment. Not all rehabilitation clinics are the same, and you should find a treatment center that incorporates a variety of services and methods. Seek a center that only employs certified professionals who are quick to answer any questions or concerns you have.

Prevention is the best method in ensuring your teen stays safe and healthy, so consider having a discussion about ecstasy as soon as possible.

Read: 5 Benefits of Therapeutic Boarding Schools.

Read: Success in Therapeutic Boarding Schools.

Read: Why Residential Treatment Works When Home Therapy Fails.

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Contact us today for a free consultation for your troubled teen and the right therapeutic boarding school. 

The post Ecstasy Use Is on the Rise Among Teens first appeared on Help Your Teens.