what to do when you find out your teenager is smoking weed

I recollect my child is smoking weed. What practise I exercise? For many parents, the idea of their child smoking weed is a nightmare. Information technology seems like only yesterday, y'all were educational activity them how to ride a bike and helping them get dressed for their kickoff twenty-four hour period of school. And now they're using drugs? This is a stressful situation. It can make parents feel a number of negative emotions. Well-nigh people are likely to feel angry, worried, and disappointed. Some parents may feel like they failed at their task. These are all reasonable emotions. Luckily, marijuana is not the almost dangerous drug on the market place. It'south extremely rare for anyone to suffer a fatal overdose from smoking pot. And, merely considering they use marijuana doesn't mean that they're an addict. In some cases, smoking weed can be normal teenage behavior . But, marijuana is a gateway drug. So in gild to prevent the problem from getting worse, yous have to accept the correct steps. In this article, we'll discuss everything you need to know about youth marijuana abuse. We'll explain the signs to look out for, how to handle the trouble, and where to find help.

Youth Marijuana Statistics

If you institute out your kid smokes pot, yous're not alone. Allow'southward have a look at America's youth weed crunch. Millions of immature Americans apply marijuana on a regular basis. Here are a few statistics that requite insight into America's youth marijuana trouble:

By the time they graduate high school, 45% of children volition accept tried smoking marijuana .

Around half-dozen% of high schoolhouse seniors are daily marijuana users .

After vaping and alcohol , marijuana remains the most popular drug amid children.

Interestingly plenty, a report conducted by the United States Department of Health and Human Services shows that 69% of high schoolhouse students disapprove of people who smoke pot. This is a 14% refuse from 2006 when 83% of students said that they disapproved of marijuana use.

Marijuana Use Among Teens in Washington State

As of June 2019, Washington State is one of 11 states that have legalized recreational marijuana for adults over the age of 21. As an organization that's located in Northpoint Seattle State, it'due south interesting for united states to look at how legalization has affected local teens. Here are a few interesting statistics we found about children smoking weed in Washington:

26% of high school seniors report smoking in the past month. 36% of them said it was very like shooting fish in a barrel to obtain.

53% of teens who admitted to using marijuana say they've driven a vehicle while high.

33% of Washington children in sixth-twelfth form believe there lilliputian to no risk in using marijuana regularly.

Signs to Look Out For

Non sure if your child smokes weed? Getting suspicious? Here's how to figure it out. Sometimes, it'south difficult to determine whether or non a child is using marijuana. At that place are a few signs of marijuana corruption :

Odor

If yous've ever been in the presence of weed, you'll be able to identify the smell correct away. If you've never smelled information technology, keep your nose peeled for a musky odor on their clothing or in their room. Weed smoke smells a lot like a skunk. While some teenagers tend to be stinky by nature, the smell of weed can be a sign that they're using drugs.

Bloodshot Eyes

Smoking weed makes your eyes turn cherry . This happens because marijuana decreases the user's blood pressure level. When a person'south blood pressure drops, their blood vessels dilate. Bloodshot optics are the result of the blood vessels in the optics dilating. And so, police officers often look for this sign when trying to determine whether or non someone has marijuana in their organisation. It'due south a helpful way for parents to figure out if their kids are smoking pot , too.

Changes in Mood

Marijuana affects everyone differently. It makes some people very depressed and lazy. It makes others very anxious and paranoid. Sometimes, pot smokers become back and forth between these ii emotional states. In many cases, kids kickoff smoking pot to self-medicate for preexisting mental health problems. They might suffer from undiagnosed depression disorder and utilise weed to brand them experience better. The problem here is that they return to existence depressed once they come down from being loftier. Pay close attention to your kid'due south mood. If their mood changes rapidly, it could exist a sign of drug use.

Social Withdrawal

Some marijuana users isolate themselves. Instead of going out with friends or spending fourth dimension with family unit, they withdraw from social situations to become high. While this isn't always the case, it happens to many kids. Marijuana becomes a source of joy that no other activity tin can compete with. If your child used to be outgoing but now prefers to be alone, they might be smoking pot. It's important to remember that teenagers are decumbent to bouts of depression. Just considering they want to be lonely doesn't mean that they use drugs. Don't blitz to judgment. But, social isolation is one of the potential signs of drug utilize , and so keep an middle out.

What Does Marijuana Look Like?

When trying to figure out if your child smokes weed, it helps to know what marijuana looks similar. If y'all go into your child's room looking for a five-leafed plant, yous're not probably not going to find information technology. So, here are some tips on what to look for: Typically, marijuana is a greenish, dark-brown substance that comes in small clumps, or "nuggets". Smokers commonly keep information technology in a sealed plastic handbag to preserve its freshness. Sometimes, they may keep it in a sealable metal container like an Altoids tin. If your kid has access to medical-grade marijuana, it might be plant an orange prescription bottle. Or, it might even come in a branded parcel similar candy. In some cases, your child might purchase pre-rolled cigarettes, or "joints". These are roughly the aforementioned size and shape as a normal cigarette but don't have an orange filter. They are unremarkably rolled up at the cease to prevent the weed from falling out. For pictures, check out the marijuana image gallery on the DEA website .

What Does Edible Marijuana Look Like?

These days, marijuana comes in many forms. In states like Washington where cannabis is legal, stores sell thousands of unlike edible, marijuana-based products. Many of these products look like food products you'd observe in a convenient store or health nutrient store. Some pop marijuana products include:

Vapes: Electronic devices that burn marijuana oil.
Foods: Candies and baked goods that contain THC , the psychoactive ingredient from cannabis.
Drinks: Juices and colas that contain THC.
Creams : Trunk lotions and oils that are applied to the skin.
Tinctures: Full-bodied THC oils that are swallowed in small-scale droplets, kind of similar cough medicine.

If you lot call up that your child might be using marijuana, continue an middle out for products similar these. Somewhere on the label, it should have the words "cannabis" or "THC". These are indicators that the production contains marijuana.

How to Help a Kid Who Smokes Pot

If yous discover that your child is smoking weed, the start thing to exercise is remain calm. Don't get upset. Yelling at them might but escalate the situation and cause them to rebel even more. Instead, y'all should confront them in a stable, mature manner. Tell them that you're enlightened of their habit ( only practice this if you're 100% sure). If they admit to using marijuana, ask them why. Endeavour to find out if there are any underlying depression, stress , or anxiety disorders driving them to use drugs. Let them know that you'll get them into therapy if they need assistance. Even if they acknowledge to it, tell them that you won't tolerate their behavior. If they refuse to end (or refuse to admit it), you lot might have to ground them or set an early curfew to prevent them from smoking. Additionally, you lot might take the following steps:

Explicate the Health Risks

A lot of young people don't understand that marijuana is dangerous. Considering it's legal in Washington and other states, many kids presume that it's safe to offset using as soon equally they desire to. Like alcohol , marijuana is a drug that tin can cause harmful side furnishings in young people. Information technology tin stunt their physical and mental development. Make sure that your child understands that information technology's a dangerous drug, fifty-fifty if information technology'southward legal for adults.

Paying Them to Exercise Chores

If your child is too young to get a part-time chore, you could pay them an allowance to do chores. This shows them that they have value and don't need to use drugs to feel good well-nigh themselves. If they're old plenty to piece of work subsequently school, help them find a job. This will instill a sense of responsibility and occupy a large portion of their time.

Complimenting Their Efforts to Quit

Encouragement works a lot amend than punishment. If your child makes a sincere try to finish smoking weed, let them know that you lot're proud of them. Early on, you might take to be stern. But, once they start making the attempt themselves, you should compliment them. If they only think of yous as the person who punishes them, you could sever your human relationship.

Achieve Out to Other People Involved

If your child smokes weed with their friends or gets weed from a friend, contact that person's parents. Your teen probably won't similar this, but it'll show them that you're taking the issue seriously. It also brings the problem to the friend's parents' attending. This may assist to facilitate a better social environs for your child.

Researching Handling Options

Sometimes, the best way to get a teen to terminate smoking weed is to get them into rehab . They don't have to move away and alive in an inpatient rehab facility. Instead, they could nourish an outpatient rehab program a few days per week. Many teens become to outpatient rehab for drug problems. This gives them access to therapists and counselors who can assistance them through their bug. Go your kid the assistance they deserve. Learn more than about our Intensive Outpatient Rehab Programme !

How Does Marijuana Work?

Non a user yourself? Here's a glimpse into why some kids smoke pot. If yous never smoked weed yourself, it can be difficult to understand why someone would exercise it. Simply, marijuana has many calming effects. Certain, it tin can be very dangerous and there are several risks associated with smoking weed . Early, yet, it can exist enjoyable for the user, causing them to experience euphoric. Information technology'due south only after that the drug becomes detrimental to their wellness. In the by, marijuana was consumed primarily through smoking. Users would roll it into a cigarette, or "articulation", or pack it into a glass piping called a "bong". While these are still pop ways to fume pot, the growing marijuana industry has popularized other forms into the marketplace. The drug releases THC into the user's bloodstream. The chemical eventually makes it to their brain and causes them to get high.

How Weed Affects the Encephalon

The human encephalon depends on its ability to send speedy signals from one role to another. If you're getting chased by a dog, your brain starts sending signals all over the identify, warning you to leave of the situation as soon equally possible. If you lot do something healthy like exercise, your brain sends out dopamine and serotonin , which makes you feel good, to reward yous for taking care of yourself. As mentioned, marijuana contains a chemical chosen THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), that slows down communication in the encephalon. It slows everything down. This is why people who are high on marijuana tend to think and speak slower than normal—their brain isn't firing equally hot. This quality is ane of the reasons why marijuana is an constructive painkiller for cancer patients and other terminally ill folks. Essentially, it interrupts the pain signals that the encephalon sends to the torso. That fashion, they aren't able to feel as much pain. At the same time, all the same, THC also tricks the user into thinking that they're doing something proficient. It generates dopamine, the pleasance chemical, which makes the user feel happy for a brusk time. For a more in-depth explanation, bank check out this podcast video from Scientific discipline Plus: https://youtu.be/bU8sNyANFW8

The Risks of Marijuana Corruption

Weed might make your kid feel good for a short corporeality of time. But, that feeling doesn't concluding long. Over fourth dimension, pot smokers develop a tolerance for the drug . Their body gets accustomed to pocket-size amounts, and they need higher doses to feel the same effect. This means that they'll have to inhale more smoke and spend more coin to go high. Information technology also means that they'll put themselves at serious take chances. Some of the health risks associated with marijuana abuse include: Slowed cognition: People who kickoff smoking at an early historic period can preclude their brain from developing properly. Over time, they might have problem problem solving or paying attention to single tasks. Retention problems: Marijuana may affect the user'south short-term and long-term memory, peculiarly if they start using when their brain is still in development. This can cause all kinds of problems in their academic and professional lives. Increased risk of mental illness: Studies show that pot smokers have a higher hazard of developing mental illnesses like anxiety disorder and schizophrenia . The risks are even college if the user is related to people who endure from such conditions.

The Risks of Edible Marijuana

Cannabis food products are very pop with teens. Particularly in states like Washington, where marijuana is legal and accessible, teens gravitate toward these digestible products. After all, teens aren't smoking cigarettes nearly as much as they used to. From 2011 to 2018, teen cigarette consumption dropped past nearly xvi% . So, why would a child fume marijuana if it grosses them out? Why wouldn't they simply opt for weed brownies or viscid bears instead? Unfortunately, edible marijuana is just as dangerous as smoking it. While information technology doesn't carry the obvious risks of fume inhalation (lung affliction, etc), it's just every bit impactful on the encephalon. In some cases, information technology's even more dangerous for the brain. The problem, of course, is that it's easier for kids to take too much. A single mucilaginous comport may contain as much as 500mg of THC, which is plenty to transport even the heaviest user into a mental spiral. If an inexperienced teen takes this (or multiple pasty bears) to become high, they could suffer from severe hallucinations and face up long-lasting side furnishings.

The Danger of "Dabs": Children Smoking Full-bodied THC

"Dabbing" has become an increasingly pop method of weed consumption over the past few years. This practice involves cooking marijuana into a soft, viscid oil. This oil is referred to past several names, including:

Dabs
Wax
Shatter
Butter
Budder
Butane hash oil (BHO)

In many ways, dabs are to marijuana what crack is to cocaine. It'south far more powerful than normal marijuana. It enables the user to get much higher, much faster. The teens who employ dabs are typically those who've been smoking pot for a while and accept developed a tolerance. If a new user tried to smoke dabs, they'd likely get very nauseous. They might also become extremely paranoid. There are several risks involved in smoking dabs . On top of the psychological risks associated with all marijuana, dabs pose a few boosted ones:

"Dirty" oil: Dabs is a street drug. The people who make them are normally not professionals. A pocketbook of hash oil can comprise all kinds of poisonous byproducts from the cooking process (butane, solvents, etc).

Increased run a risk of overdose: Marijuana overdoses are inappreciably ever fatal. However, some users experience panic attacks, hallucinations, and bouts of psychosis. Inexperienced teens are at a loftier risk of overdosing if they fume dabs.

The Gateway Drug: Why Child Marijuana Use is Something to Be Concerned Well-nigh

Some people contend that marijuana employ is nil to worry nearly. But, that's non truthful. While it'southward not equally dangerous as more illicit substances like heroin or crystal meth , it tin still have negative furnishings. As you may know, marijuana is widely considered to be a "gateway" drug . Oftentimes, young people smoke weed for a while before transitioning to heavier substances similar cocaine or ecstasy. While not all marijuana smokers motion onto heavier drugs, some of them practice. Ane study shows that young adults who used marijuana are far more likely to develop alcoholism down the line . Another study shows that people who are fond to marijuana are three times more likely to get fond to heroin . No one e'er plans to become a drug addict. It simply slowly happens through repeated use. Information technology'south important to sympathize that nigh 10% of people who utilize marijuana eventually become dependent on it. Roughly 17% of people who start using as teenagers develop an addiction . No affair how stiff-willed or intelligent a person is, they tin can easily skid into addiction.

Getting Help for Your Kid: Marijuana Rehab Programs

When nosotros retrieve about drug rehab, we don't normally think nearly marijuana. Typically, rehab is more associated with hard drugs similar heroin, cocaine , or even alcohol. But, rehab tin can be very beneficial for those who struggle with cannabis use disorder . It's especially helpful for teens. In a drug rehab program, teens spend time with therapists and counselors who help them overcome their behavior. They accost the psychological roots of their condition and develop healthy techniques for managing stress. They also run across in group therapy sessions with other kids who are overcoming pot habit. A lot of times, teens turn to drug use because they're stressed, depressed, or anxious. They might be overwhelmed by school or relationships. They might see drugs as a way to fit in with their peers and let loose. In rehab, they larn why drugs aren't the answer to their problems. They spend fourth dimension reflecting on their choices and piece of work to develop a plan for moving forrard without relapsing .

Inpatient vs. Outpatient Rehab

There are several different types of rehab. Some are inpatient programs, for example. These are the programs where addicts motion in for a month and live on-campus at the treatment middle. Typically, inpatient programs are better for heroin addicts, alcoholics, and people who've hit stone bottom in their lives. For marijuana addicts, outpatient rehab is commonly a meliorate option . In these programs, the addict attends therapy and counseling a few days each week. This allows them to keep up with school, work, and extracurricular activities. If your child smokes marijuana, they probably don't need to move abroad to become clean. A few months of intensive outpatient rehab could help them get better. Ready to get your child back on the right runway? Find out more about our Drug Rehab Program !

Marijuana Addiction and Mental Illness: Treatment for Co-Occurring Disorders

Many drug addicts suffer from co-occurring disorders. This means that they struggle with drug addiction and another mental disease at the same time. Mental illness is particularly common amongst marijuana users . Some people use weed as a way to self-medicate and bargain with their mental illness. Others trigger schizophrenia or anxiety disorder past smoking marijuana. Whatever the case, these individuals crave specialized treatment. They must attend a rehab facility that specializes in dual diagnosis disorders if they desire to get better. There, they receive treatment from doctors who understand how to care for co-occurring disorders . Does your son or daughter struggle with a mental condition? Larn how our Co-Occurring Disorder Plan could amend their life!

Do Marijuana Addicts Need Detox?

Typically, addicts go through a detox program earlier they attend rehab. This allows them to go through drug withdrawals before they try to focus on therapy. As you lot may know, drug withdrawals are ordinarily very painful. When someone tries to quit drinking alcohol or using heroin, they often get very sick. They don't slumber for weeks and vomit for days on end. Luckily, marijuana withdrawals are not normally equally intense. Recovering users may feel slightly anxious and might have difficulty sleeping. But, they don't feel nearly as painful equally alcohol withdrawal . So, it's unlikely that your child needs to go through detox if their only trouble is smoking weed. However… If they too struggle with alcoholism or are addicted to another drug, detox might exist necessary. Talk to a representative at the handling center to determine the best form of activity. Does your child need to detox? Our Medical Detox Program could be your best pick!

Northpoint Seattle: Helping Families Overcome Marijuana Addiction

The Northpoint Seattle is a drug and alcohol handling facility, located in Bellevue, WA. We provide detox and rehab services for all kinds of addicts. Throughout our years in the manufacture, nosotros've helped many addicts overcome their substance abuse problems. Information technology's our pleasure to see them go from abusing drugs to living healthy, productive lives. If your son or daughter is abusing marijuana, we want to talk. Contact us today . We'll assess the issue and determine whether our rehab plan can put them back on the right path.

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Source: https://www.northpointseattle.com/blog/caught-child-smoking-weed/