More and more adolescent teenagers are smoking( “weed” ) marijuana. It is more available than alcohol,cigarettes, etc. Teens use marijuana for a variety of reasons however most use it to regulate mood. Initially marijuana may make a teen feel good however it is accompanied by: depression, anxiety, lack of motivation and more in a recent research study in the Journal of Drugs. Teens do not tend to link them feeling worse to the marijuana and it has a very vicious cycle.
Marijuana is the most common substance addiction being treated in adolescent’s in rehabilitation centers across the country. Like all addictive substances, marijuana is used to lessen uncomfortable feelings like anxiety and depression. Because the type of addiction is seen as less ‘intense’ in comparison to other substances such as cocaine or heroin, many people don’t realize that marijuana can cause dependence and has a withdrawal syndrome.
Marijuana Addiction for teens is not the only challenge adolescents face with frequent marijuana usage. Alteration of your teen’s brain and neurotoxicity are probable with frequent usage. Teenagers have impairment in their thought process and thinking due to increases in marijuana usage.
Research shows poor educational and academic outcomes for teens using marijuana. Marijuana use with teens is highly connected to dropping out of school. Anxiety, depression, and psychosis can result from increased marijuana use among adolescents and teens.
A recent research study in neuroscience states that casual or recreational use of marijuana “weed”, leads to brain changes in size and shape of the brain. The density and shape of the amygdala and nucleus accumbens are both impacted.
The parts of the brain that physically change with marijuana use are the parts of the brain that are involved in emotions and that are involved in motivation.
Marijuana strength today is 5-10 times as strong as it was decades ago and hence is more addictive than what parents experienced back in the day if they used. Marijuana use in teens impacts: motivation, attention, learning, memory, mood, and more.
Researchers have provided further evidence that marijuana use has a direct effect on executive function, and that both age of onset and magnitude of marijuana use can significantly influence cognitive processing. Marijuana use is connected with a ability to focus and follow rules or directions
There are numerous studies that link brain abnormalities to causal marijuana use. Studies have been done at many major universities throughout the USA and worldwide and they all support brain changes through neuro-imaging and brain research.
