Mary Ann Kluga, RN, MPS, LCDC

Leander ISD Chemical Abuse Prevention Program (CAPP)

Coordinator maryann.kluga@leanderisd.org

512.570.0315

What do you KNOW about youth and marijuana use?

What do you WANT TO KNOW about youth and marijuana use?

Later I will ask, what did you LEARN about youth and marijuana use?

What do you know?

What you need to know!

Our brains are moldable or “plastic,” change throughout our lives, and are shaped by all of our experiences.

Our brain develops well when given adequate food, sleep, and stimulation.

Marijuana affects the developing brain.

Science – in the 1980’s scientists uncovered a link between marijuana and mental illness.

Daily use among adolescent girls is associated with a 5X increase in the risk of depression and anxiety. -source: learnaboutsam.org

Marijuana users have a 6X higher risk of schizophrenia (with a genetic predisposition).

Interferes with parts of the brain that process emotions, memories, and fear responses as well as motivation, learning, problem solving, decision making along with pain and pleasure. NIH, NIDA, Research Report Series – Marijuana, 2012 and Moore, A. S., This is Your Brain on Drugs, The New York Times, November 2, 2014

28 states plus the District of Columbia have either legalized medical or recreational marijuana (4 have legalized both) and/or decriminalized medical marijuana as of the November 2016 election. Arizona didn’t pass recreational marijuana in this election.

It is still illegal under federal law. What constitutes safe???

It’s BIG business. More research is wanted

for medical marijuana. You have to be 21 to use

marijuana in states where it is legal for recreational use.

If you grow your own, you can only grow 6 plants.

You can’t smoke in public.

"It is harmless and natural, it is only an herb, and it won't affect me long-term"

It is not addictive" "It doesn't hurt me as much as smoking

tobacco" "It makes me feel calm" It doesn't affect my thinking or my grades" "It's safe because it is used as medicine for

cancer and other diseases“

FACTS

What do you think?

Science: Marijuana may not produce overdoses, yet ER visits for marijuana now exceed those for heroin, the link between suicide and marijuana is strong, and marijuana intoxication doubles your risk of an automobile accident.

Inhaling more carbon monoxide and tar than cigarettes.

Source: www.learnaboutsam.org

Science has proven that marijuana is both addictive and harmful to the human brain, especially when used as an adolescent.

To your brain, addiction is addiction. Whether it is physical or psychological doesn’t matter, your brain likes the effects and wants more.

Chronic users will experience withdrawal symptoms.

1 in every 6 adolescents (and 1 in 12 adults) who try marijuana will become addicted.

-source: www.learnaboutsam.org (SAM=Smart Approaches to Marijuana)

Science: Regular marijuana use is associated with lower satisfaction with relationships, work, activities, and life in general.

In some people, cannabis can provoke anxiety or panic attacks or psychosis.

-Source: www.learnaboutSAM.org

The Mind is a terrible thing to waste.

Science: Research indicates that marijuana diminishes learning, impairs short-term memory, disrupts the ability to focus attention and concentration, affects coordination, inhibitions, and dumbs us down. If great, become good. If good, become not so good.

IQ can go down 8 pts -Source: NIDA

Some people lose their motivation too.

Science: True and those who use medical marijuana use a different chemical structure of marijuana that has no psychoactive effect. It is low tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and high cannabidiol (CBD) and therefore, they do not experience the high.

Those who use medical marijuana don’t smoke it. It is a pharmaceutically manufactured substance.

-source: www.learnaboutsam.org

Science: Actually 85% of those in treatment are there because of marijuana misuse, or abuse.

#1 reason for adolescent admission.

More people in prison and treatment due to marijuana.

-Source: NIDA, CASA

Science: most people won’t go on to using other drugs, yet 99% of people who are addicted to other drugs started with alcohol and marijuana.

-Source: NIDA, CASA

What do I say now?

There is nothing wrong with “it” You just don’t understand… Everybody is doing it… I will never get caught… It’s only marijuana… I’ll never do cocaine or heroin.. I can quit anytime, I just don’t want to… What’s the big deal? So and so did drugs,

and s/he is ok…

Adult: “Okay. Why did you do it once? Why did you stop or decide to not try it again? Will you tell me about your experience? I’m interested in what it was like?” (Genuine curiosity. Open-ended questions)

Follow-up with “even though your first experience was ok, the next time may not be. How do you know what will happen the next time you use it?”

-Source- Partnership for Drug-Free Kids: How to Talk with Your Teen About: Marijuana

Adult: ”You are right I did try it and I stopped. It wasn’t a good choice. My judgment was impaired and I could’ve had some serious consequences. I want you to be healthy and make positive choices, so you can be the best you possible.“

-Source- Partnership for Drug-Free Kids: How to Talk with Your Teen About: Marijuana

Adult: “What’s going on in your life that makes you feel like you want to do either? Truthfully, I don’t want you doing anything that can harm you – cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana or other drugs or behaving recklessly. I’m interested in knowing why you think weed is safer than alcohol.” (Being genuinely curious helps lower resistance.)

You may receive a response of “nothing“ to which you can say “I’m glad to hear there isn’t anything going on in your life that makes you want to drink or smoke, and I know it’s unrealistic to think that you won’t be offered something. I’m curious what you will say or do if that happens.” (Gets him/her thinking even if the conversation doesn’t go on.)

-Source- Partnership for Drug-Free Kids: How to Talk with Your Teen About: Marijuana

Adult: “I know we’ve had conversations about drugs before and I’m sorry if you feel that I am nagging you. I want us to be able to discuss difficult topics because I love you and I want to be of help during these years when you’re faced with some big and possibly life changing choices.”

“My concern is that the drug landscape is drastically changing, and that’s why it’s important that we talk about it. Would that be ok? (You are showing compassion and understanding of what your child is going through and you are empowering your child by asking permission. If you get a no, ask why and when you might be able to chat.)

-Source- Partnership for Drug-Free Kids: How to Talk with Your Teen About: Marijuana

Adult: “I’m happy to hear that this is not something you do on a regular basis.” (Opens the communication. Points out the positives.)

“My concern is using any drug can be harmful at your age since your brain is still developing.”

“What would it feel like to be a big deal? What are some of the things that keep you from using more often?” (Gets him/her thinking.)

-Source- Partnership for Drug-Free Kids: How to Talk with Your Teen About: Marijuana

Adult: “I know that, and I’m not saying that your life is going to go out of control or anything. I am thinking that when a person is high, that person’s judgment is not what it normally is, and that can be harmful.”

Arsenic is natural, but I am not going to smoke it. Would you?

“People I know who use alcohol or other drugs do it to escape or numb their feelings. I would rather you do other things to cope with any negative feelings or situations. Can we brainstorm some healthy ideas? (You see the effects of substance use in your own life and are realistic.)

-Source- Partnership for Drug-Free Kids: How to Talk with Your Teen About: Marijuana

VS.

Talk early and often. Ask permission to talk. Be genuinely curious about your child’s

thought process. Ask open-ended questions and actively listen. Acknowledge their feelings. Point out the positives. Remind them of the risks. Inform them of your values and that you

don’t want them to use.

Remind them that you are here to help. Be objective and realistic. Have empathy. Don’t lie about your use. Avoid using polarizing words: bad, stupid,

wrong, disapprove, etc. Strive for open & positive communication. Ask what they think over and over.

Substance abuse screening & assessments K-12 TEKS education Individual & group counseling Parent education Parenting classes (Love & Logic & others) Teacher and staff education Community coalition work Resources on our website CAPP video on our website State-mandated tobacco awareness classes

What have you LEARNED about youth

and marijuana use and/or how you can talk to youth about marijuana?

NIDA: National Institute on Drug Abuse SAMHSA: Substance Abuse and Mental Health

Services Administration learnaboutSAM.org: Smart Approaches to

Marijuana CASA: The National Center on Addictions and

Substance Abuse at Columbia University Partnership for Drug-Free Kids: How to Talk

with Your Teen About: Marijuana CAPP: Leander ISD’s Chemical Abuse Prevention

Program website –www.leanderisd.org