Drugs: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (A Four Part Series for Parents with Teens)
Cannabis/Marijuana/Weed/Ganja
Cultivation of cannabis has been dated as far back as 12 000 years! It was used for food, medicine, fiber and recreation. The cannabis plant has many chemical compounds, with the most prominent being cannabinoids and terpenes. The two most well-known cannabinoids are THC, which is psychoactive, and CBD, which is not.
Since legalization in Canada, cannabis use has drastically increased from 21% in 2018 to 28% in 2022. The majority of cannabis users are ages 15-24. There is also a similar increase in psychosis directly related to cannabis use. Yes parents, cannabis use can cause permanent psychosis in our teens at an alarming rate.
What does this all mean?
Temporary or permanent psychosis caused by cannabis presents the same symptoms as schizophrenia. These symptoms include:
- Hallucinations
- Paranoid delusions
- Suspiciousness
- Sense of grandiosity
- Dissociation or a feeling of detachment and unreality
- Disorganized and disturbed thoughts
Unfortunately, once a teen has permanent psychosis, we cannot undo it. We can only medicate those symptoms in the hopes they will stop or lessen the symptoms.
Having a conversation with your teen about the dangers of regular use of cannabis is key for their safety and that of their friends. Most people use cannabis for various reasons like anxiety, socialization or sleep. All of these triggers can be addressed without cannabis and thus avoid psychotic symptoms.
These are difficult conversations to have with our teens but necessary in our current landscape of legal and illicit substances. Take care.
Becky Morrison is a Nurse Practitioner based out of Calgary who has specialized in mental health for over a decade. She is finally, after years of infertility, a mother of two busy little boys, and doting fur mom of her gentle giant, Stella. She is, and always will be, a strong advocate for mental wellness at all ages.
