“This Is Not Your Parents’ Pot”

Written By: Youth Outreach Workers Leah Kaplan, Stephen Muggeo, Lauren Pomerantz, Emily Vallario and Andrew Weisfeld

“I just smoke on the weekends.”

“Marijuana is not addictive.”

“ I don’t drink, I am the designated driver, so tonight I will get high.”

“ I  get A’s, I am going to the college of my choice and I am the captain of my team.”

“My friend’s parents smoke, and they are successful.”

            Above are common misconceptions that teens and parents share about marijuana use.  An appropriate place to start addressing myths is through the eyes of an adolescent. Marijuana tends to be the first drug teens use, and it is the most widely used illicit drug in the US. 

The purpose of this article is not to address addiction, however we would be remiss not to mention the potential for marijuana dependency and its use as a gateway drug.  Long-term marijuana use can lead to dependency. The active ingredient in marijuana is Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).  More recent studies show that the potency of marijuana has increased as well as the possibility of it being laced with hallucinogens. Adolescents are at particular risk because puberty is a time of rapid physical and emotional change.  Research shows that marijuana is often viewed as a gateway drug. It is easier to try other substances once having used marijuana and not experienced major consequences. Young people who smoke marijuana are 2-5 times more likely to experiment with other drugs. 

The most dangerous misconception about marijuana use is that there are no significant consequences to driving under the influence. Marijuana has harmful effects on the skills required to drive safely: alertness, concentration, coordination and reaction time.  Data has also indicated that while smoking marijuana, users exhibit the same deficiency as drinking and driving. Culturally, we lack education about driving under the influence of drugs.  The more we change this perception, the greater chance we have to change the negative behaviors attached to marijuana and driving. Maybe another area that needs to change is the use of semantics, changing “driving drunk” to “driving under the influence of any drug.”  We often hear young people state that they never hear about death while driving high.

Since education and academic success is so highly valued in our community, it is important to address the influence of marijuana and the effects it has on the developing brain.  Youth often admit to using while still succeeding in academics and extracurricular activities.  Despite the belief that marijuana increases focus, it is known to affect judgment and short-term memory.  Many teens believe that recreational use is not harmful. However, experimentation can also lead to regular use.  A possible personality change for regular users has been called Amotivation Syndrome. Symptoms of this include loss of ambition, increased apathy, loss of interest, and lack of concern over the future.

Consistent with the mission of the Youth Service Project, we think it is important to look at the family as a whole, and not just the teenager as an individual.  Revealing a familial history of drug or alcohol dependency may well be one of the most important pieces of information you can provide your teen. Teenagers who say they’ve learned about the risks of drugs from their parents are much less likely to try marijuana than those who say they learned nothing from them. These difficult discussions can only have a positive effect. Parents hesitate to have this dialogue partly because they are fearful they will plant an idea in their children’s mind. Luckily, there is no proof that this is true.  As the statement above indicates, discussions and education are the primary tools of prevention.

The bottom line is despite other modes of education, it is up to the parents to educate their children about the dangers of marijuana use.  We recognize how difficult these conversations can be. Using specific teaching points can be helpful in initiating these discussions. Talking to your kids at pivotal times such as the transition to high school, when your child starts to drive, and leaving for college are great opportunities to initiate these discussions. There are vast opportunities within the community to raise awareness. Scarsdale & Edgemont Family Counseling Service provides drug and alcohol assessments, individual, and family therapy. Another community resource is the Drug and Alcohol Task Force (http://www.scarsdaletaskforce.com) and Parent Coffees designed to focus on the reality of alcohol and drugs. These resources work collaboratively with the Schools and the Village to form a “partnership for prevention.”  For more information, please visit our website, http://www.sfcsinc.org.