Teenagers have been experimenting with marijuana for years, but recent studies show that the use of this drug has become more widespread than ever among junior high and high school students. At the same time, the perception of marijuana, or cannabis, as dangerous is declining among teens. While young people may acknowledge the risks of using drugs like heroin, cocaine, meth or alcohol, marijuana is often seen as a relatively harmless substance that produces a pleasant, “natural” high. In fact, marijuana can be addictive, and the drug may cause long-lasting damage to a teenager’s developing brain and body.

How Common Is Marijuana Use Among Teens?

According to the Monitoring the Future survey, a national effort to keep track of drug use among children and adolescents, marijuana use has been on the rise among teens for the past few years. In 2011, cannabis was the most widely used illicit drug among 10^th through 12^th graders. The survey also indicates that more teenagers perceive marijuana as reasonably safe — possibly because of the growing use of marijuana in medical settings. According to the 2011 survey:

• About 40 percent of 12^th graders who took the survey reported using marijuana in the past year.
• About 30 percent of 10^th graders reported using marijuana in the past year.
• Approximately 17 percent of 8^th graders reported using marijuana in the past year.
• About 80 percent of 12^th graders said that marijuana was fairly easy or easy to obtain.
• Approximately 70 percent of 10^th graders said that marijuana was fairly easy or easy to get.
• Close to 40 percent of 8^th graders said that they could get marijuana fairly easily or easily.

Many parents and educators, overwhelmed by the dangers of street drugs like meth and heroin, may agree with teens that marijuana is an acceptable risk. But clinical research suggests that the effects of cannabis may be more far-reaching than the public realizes.

Effects of Marijuana on Teenagers

During junior high and high school, the body and brain go through important developmental changes. Increasingly, medical research shows that marijuana can interfere with normal adolescent development, causing physical delays, cognitive deficits and social problems for young people. According to the Alcohol & Drug Abuse Institute at the University of Washington, the regular use of cannabis can affect teens in the following ways:

• By causing physical and psychological dependence, which can lead to addiction
• By interfering with the ability to acquire and retain information
• By causing poor concentration and difficulty learning in a school setting
• By interfering with motor coordination and judgment, increasing the risk of accidental injury and death
• By reducing the motivation to learn and develop socially
• By worsening mental health disorders like depression or anxiety
• By interfering with the normal production of sex hormones
• By increasing the risk of unsafe sex, unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease

Quitting marijuana may prevent some of the harmful effects of cannabis; however, some of the drug’s effects on the brain’s structure and function may continue to affect young users into adulthood. High school students who perform poorly in school because of marijuana use may have difficulty getting into college or pursuing satisfying careers. And WebMD notes that THC, the active chemical in marijuana, may lower fertility in young men and women, decreasing their chances of conceiving and having children.

Marijuana Recovery for Teens

Drug rehab programs that are tailored to the needs of adolescents can make an enormous difference in a teenager’s future. Rehab programs for teenagers focus on issues that are relevant to this age group, such as:

• Coping with peer pressure
• Building self-esteem
• Succeeding in school and extracurricular activities
• Dealing with dating and sexuality
• Building stronger family relationships
• Improving mental health

Marijuana use can affect a teenager’s academic performance, mood, behavior and social development. Fortunately, professional intervention may stop or reduce the long-term effects of abusing cannabis. For the sake of your teenager and your entire family, we encourage you to contact us here at Axis to discuss our personalized recovery services.