Vaping/Nicotine is the most widely used illicit drug used by teens today. Approximately 60 percent of the kids who use drugs use vaping devices. Of the 14.6 million users in 2002, approximately 4.8 million used it on 20 or more days in any given month.
The marijuana/nicotine vapes that are available to teens today are much stronger than those that were available in the 1980s. Sometimes it is also laced with other, more potent drugs. Vaping is physically addictive. Each year, 100,000 teens are treated for marijuana and nicotine dependence. Teens who vape heavily experience much the same symptoms of withdrawal as users of cigarettes.
The potency of these vapes is powerful. Many believe that it medicates many ADHD symptoms seen in males. The problem is that psychological dependence develops rapidly, and upon the withdrawal of marijuana, the teen goes through anger and rage, which are hallmark symptoms of psychological drug withdrawal. Compound this with bad grades, disrespect, a sense of entitlement, laziness, and failure to obey authority we see a poorly functioning person.
Many North Texas area students begin their vaping habits in Middle School. It seems that by 10th grade, over 60 percent have tried nicotine/THC. Juniors and Seniors at the Senior High comprised the largest group of daily vapors. I would guess conservatively that close to 65% of these two grades vape nicotine/THC at least weekly.
MY KID IS A GOOD KID, S/HE JUST MAKES POOR CHOICES!
Really? Diagnostically, let’s examine the depth of this. Does your teen lie, steal, or have poor friends? Does your teen violate the rules of society? Does your teen perform behaviors that could be grounds for criminal prosecution? Does your teen deal drugs by proxy? Does your teen take parental support as a weakness? Are you used like an object- i.e., the parent is a supporting cast in the teen’s “play.” Substance use can play a role in the development of defects of character.
These are cornerstone attributes of a psychiatric Axis II character disorder. Character traits are more able to shift while the child/teen is young. However, hormones tend to harden neurological function as well as character function. Part of my treatment strategy directly addresses this “corrupt” character, before the teen lands in jail, or another institution or dies prematurely. I’ve worked with this population for 35 years and it pains me to see kids commit suicide or have to get “shipped” to an institution because they were quite simply, out of control. Allow me to help your family through this difficult time, possibly averting a more restrictive intervention upon your teen.
This practice treats MANY of these teens and young adults.
Let’s look at Published Studies/Marijuana Basics
The University of Michigan’s Monitoring the Future study, which assesses drug and alcohol use among American youth, reported substantial increases among eighth, tenth, and twelfth graders from 1992 to 1997. These statistics show a disturbing national trend in the increase of marijuana use by teenagers (Facts about Marijuana Use).
Between 1991 and 2001, the percentage of eighth graders who used marijuana doubled from one in ten to one in five. Kids are using marijuana at an earlier age. Research indicates that the earlier teens start using marijuana, the more likely they are to become dependent on this or other drugs later in life. Of teens admitted for treatment for marijuana dependence, 56 percent had first used the drug by fourteen years of age, and 26 percent had begun by twelve years of age (Kids and Marijuana).
There are many reasons why some teens start vaping/smoking THC. Many kids start using it because their older siblings or friends are consuming it in front of them. Often peer pressure plays a major role. Teens think it’s cool to use marijuana; they see their favorite movie stars smoking it in movies and their favorite bands sing songs about it. The problem becomes more severe when teens start relying on marijuana and think that they need it to escape from problems at school, in their home life, or with friends.
Some of the signs teenagers exhibit when using marijuana are dizziness and trouble walking, red bloodshot eyes, trouble remembering things that just happened, and they often appear silly and giggly for no apparent reason. The way marijuana affects each teen depends on several factors including:
- How strong the vape contents are;
- What the user expects to happen;
- Whether the user is drinking alcohol or using other drugs;
- The user’s previous marijuana consumption;
- Where the drug is used
Some teens feel no effects from marijuana the first few times they smoke it. Others may feel relaxed and somewhat giddy. Quite often THC makes the teen feel very hungry and thirsty. Others can sometimes experience bad effects from marijuana. They may become highly paranoid or have feelings of anxiety or dizziness (N.I.D.A.).
Regular vaping often causes breathing problems, such as chronic coughing and wheezing. THC contains the same cancer-causing chemicals as tobacco. The amount of tar inhaled by marijuana smokers and the level of carbon monoxide absorbed by those who smoke marijuana are three to five times greater than among tobacco smokers.
The active ingredient in marijuana is THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). The behaviors exhibited by introducing THC to the brain are similar to those demonstrated by alcohol consumption. Marijuana can induce several emotional responses such as relaxation, introspection, feeling “in tune” with the world, and irrationality.
The teen drug abuser attempts to reconcile his basic urges with the demands of reality through the use of marijuana and other drugs. This behavior is directed toward the pursuit of pleasure and the reduction of pain. If and when teen seeks treatment, they are often underdeveloped emotionally, academically, and vocationally (Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, pg. 350).
The use of vapes by teens can affect school, sports, and other activities; marijuana also affects memory, judgment, and perception. Teens who smoke marijuana regularly start to lose interest in their appearance and how they are doing in school, at work, and at home.
The short-term effects of THC include memory problems, distorted perception, trouble problem-solving, and loss of motor coordination. Vaping can have an odor that clings to teens’ hair and clothing and can remain on their breath despite efforts to mask it. The reactive properties of marijuana aren’t like other drugs. Not much is known for sure about the physical mechanisms of addiction and withdrawal. Some claim that THC/Nic vapes are non-addicting, while others say that it is just as addicting as harder drugs.
Since the reasons for THC/Nicotine addiction among teens are unclear, it is impossible to assess whether or not they may become hooked until it has already happened. Research has now established that THC is addictive. Every year more teens enter treatment with the diagnosis of marijuana dependence than for all other illicit drugs combined. Sixty percent of teens admitted for drug treatment say marijuana is their primary drug of choice.
Researchers have found that heavy THC and Nicotine use impair teenagers’ ability to retain information and concentrate. Regular THC use is associated with poor academic performance. This is a huge concern during teens’ peak learning years, as their brains are still developing. There is an association between an increase in marijuana use and a decrease in the likelihood of attaining at least a high school education. Students who vape are more than twice as likely to cut class than those who don’t vape.
Teens get a mixed message about vaping, but the message needs to be clear. Vaping contains substances that affect teens in many harmful ways. It is very important to begin talking with kids about it by at least twelve years of age. Magazines or newspaper articles are often a good place to start your discussion about drugs. Teens need to be told clearly and often that vaping nicotine, marijuana, and other illegal substances carries significant health, safety, and legal risks (Kids using Marijuana).
Don’t be fooled by the trickery of the legalization of marijuana/THC. Don’t let your teen con you into thinking that weed is ok. They’ll point fingers at an “A” student who smokes, or God forbid, point to a wealthy successful parent who smokes pot with their kids, etc.. and say, “See, they smoke and they are pillars of society.” This is a form of logical fallacy that is used in criminal courts (and beyond the scope of what I want to convey here). This is a symptom of psychological dependence upon marijuana.
The wonderful aspect of my approach is that I don’t judge clients. I establish a relationship and then gently educate them with the truth of vaping and THC dependence which is usually based on what they see in their own schools. Parents, the client and I all work together to hold the client accountable and become sober.
Works Cited
Bratter, Thomas E., and Gary G. Forrest. Alcoholism and Substance Abuse – Strategies for Clinical Intervention, New York: The Free Press, 1985.
“Facts about Marijuana use” Psych Central. 6 Feb. 2001. 17 Dec. 2004 http://psychcentral.com/library/sa_factsin.html
“Kids and Marijuana” Marijuana Prevention Initiative. 13 Sept. 2003. 17 Dec. 2004 http://www.mediacampaign.com/marijuana/kids_and_marijuana.html
“Kids Using Marijuana” Kids Using Drugs. Oct. 2003. 17 Dec. 2004 www.drugfreeatlast.com/kids-marijuana.html
“Marijuana Facts for Teens” N.I.D.A. 13, May 2003. 17 Dec. 2004 http://www.nida.nih.gov/marij/Broch/teenpghtml
http://www.adhd.co.il/pdf/TeenGuideFinal.pdf
