A young toddler in southeastern Nebraska was brought to a Lincoln hospital emergency room for becoming lethargic. The emergency room doctors discovered she had been exposed to THC, the chemical compound found in marijuana that makes people high.
The child’s daycare provider claimed she made marijuana brownies, then used the same pan to make cookies for her daycare. She was cited on suspicion of child abuse.
Marijuana or medical marijuana use is now legal in 28 states (Nebraska and Iowa are not among them). And while it may be legal in some places, it can be harmful to kids or teens. Despite that fact, one in five high school students has used marijuana in the last month. One in sixteen students uses marijuana daily.
Marijuana can be smoked or is also available in edibles, which can be especially dangerous. Edible forms of marijuana look like a dessert or candy, but the amount of THC can be several times the adult recommended dose.
What are the danger?
Overdose symptoms of marijuana can include:
- Altered perception
- Anxiety
- Panic
- Paranoia
- Dizziness
- Weakness
- Slurred speech
- Poor coordination
- Apnea (stopping breathing)
- Heart problems
Besides these symptoms, marijuana can also be dangerous for the teenage brain. During the teen years, the brain is still developing, and it continues to mature up until age 20. Research shows marijuana in teens can actually alter the course of their brain’s development. Regular to heavy marijuana use can most impact the regions of the brain involving memory, cognition, impulse control and executive functioning.
credit:Elizabeth Walenz, MD
Marijuana can make it difficult for teenagers to think clearly or concentrate. It can cause grades to drop and may cause heavy users to lose interest in school and quit. Regular use of marijuana can also lead to long term mental health issues in adolescents including depression, anxiety or schizophrenia.
Marijuana impairs coordination and impulse control. It impairs judgement and can be very risky for teens who use marijuana and drive. Teenagers who drive or take other risks after smoking marijuana are much more likely to be injured or killed.
In addition to these risks, marijuana isn’t good for lung health.
So what should parents do?
- Talk with your children about the dangers of drug use, including marijuana. Discuss the long term health effects and the risks.
- Help your child handle peer pressure. Do some role-playing where you make up scenarios of what your child or teen might do if faced with peer drug use at a party or a sleep over.
- Set a good example. Be a good role model for your children and teens. Our children learn from our actions as well as our words.
- If there is marijuana in the home, in the form of edibles or other products, keep them out of reach of children and locked away.
- Create a safe, open environment for you teen to ask you questions about drugs and alcohol. Be clear with your rules and expectations for your child.
credit:pediatrics.mhsblogs.com