Parents and Guardians

Research shows that marijuana (and other drugs) use is higher in the late teens to early twenties. This is a crucial time in your child’s life for brain development and displaying personal autonomy. Youth may underestimate the dangers surrounding marijuana because it is legal in Nevada. They may also feel it is not as harmful as other illicit drugs because it is a plant, they cannot become addicted, and it is common for teens to experiment. The truth is recreational marijuana is illegal for anyone under the age of 21. Smoking and eating marijuana release toxic chemicals, and 1 in 6 youths who use marijuana will become addicted.

• Wanted to Know What it’s Like
  Curiosity is the number one reason most youth try marijuana for the first time. Many youth may feel they are immune to the danger and negative consequences of their actions, but it is important that they understand marijuana can harm their developing brain.
• Peer Pressure
  The second most common reason for marijuana use is “everyone else is.” The need to feel accepted and liked can cause youth to make poor decisions, including using marijuana and other illegal substances for those under 21.
• Boredom
  Studies show about 1/3 of youth who reported using marijuana do so because they are bored. This behavior is especially dangerous during this time, as youth have limited access to youth-focused activities due to Nevada’s pandemic restrictions.
• To Feel Better
  Youth may feel marijuana provides them with an escape from the problems they face daily. Studies from The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services show that 1 in 5 teens have a diagnosable mental disorder. Self-medicating or using alcohol and other substances to deal with physical or mental anguish can lead to other risky and harmful behaviors.
• To Just Get High                                              With social media and music supporting marijuana usage, it may seem like getting high is the fun thing to do. Unfortunately, youth may not realize that marijuana can cause permanent damage to their developing brain.

• Ask about what is happening in your child’s daily life.
  Get to know their interests, passions, friends, worries, and hopes. By asking about things that are important to them, you give a clear signal that you care and are approachable, and they can voluntarily tell you about challenges, struggles, or pressures that are present or looming.
• Discuss the risks of marijuana.
  A growing number of teens do not recognize the risks of marijuana, with many now believing it is relatively safe and less harmful than tobacco. This belief may be one reason marijuana is becoming one of the most used illegal drugs for teens. However, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, marijuana has the following risks:
  • Marijuana can change the way the brain processes sensory information and experiences, making it harder to learn, remember, and be motivated.
  • It affects the lungs in the same way that tobacco smoke affects them, creating a range of respiratory problems, including daily cough and phlegm, chronic bronchitis, and more frequent chest colds.
  • Using marijuana makes teens more likely to accept and participate in other risky behaviors, such as aggression, negative peer relationships, and unsafe and premature sexual activity.
• Highlight the benefits of abstaining from using marijuana. Teens who do not use marijuana before graduating from high school tend to do better than their peers who experimented. They tend to have more parental support, spend more time on homework and extracurricular activities, earn better grades, get in less trouble and are emotionally better off.
• The most direct approach for marijuana prevention is just talking. The tips below from the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids can help with getting the conversation started:
  • Keep an Open Mind
    Your teen may be more receptive if a judge-free attitude is adopted when talking about marijuana.
  • Put Yourself in Their Shoes
    If you keep in mind how you would prefer difficult subjects addressed and how having these conversations made you feel, you may appear more relatable and easier to talk to.
  • Clearly State Goal
    Take time to come up with the goals you want to reach through having the conversation.
  • Be Calm and Relaxed
    Creating an inviting atmosphere can help attain the goals you outlined for the conversation.
  • Be Positive
    A negative approach could be counter-productive, discouraging, and can decrease receptiveness.
  • Don’t Lecture
    Your teen may already know marijuana use is prohibited or had some level of drug prevention education. Lecturing could decrease the conversation’s effectiveness.
  • Find a Comfortable Environment
    Your teen may be more receptive in an informal setting. Look for ways to set the tone for a more casual conversation.
  • Observe Body Language
    Body language can be a good indication of how the conversation is going. Conversely, it is important that your body language is also appropriate. Be seated with your teen when speaking, try a relaxed seating arrangement, and be mindful of hand and finger gestures.

Knowing what to look for could help you prevent dangerous risks associated with youth marijuana use. Changes in your child’s behavior like neglecting hygiene, unusual mood shifts, stress or difficulties with close relationships, academic troubles, changes in diet and sleep routine, and loss of interest in hobbies and extracurricular activities could indicate substance use or other problems that need addressing. Other signs that your child may be using marijuana are:

• Appear to be unusually happy and giggly
• Uncoordinated movement
• Bloodshot or red eyes
• Forgetfulness
• Regular use of eye drops, incense, perfume, or other odor eliminating products
• Strange smells on clothes, personal items, or from bedroom
• Displaying and purchasing of drug paraphernalia or items that support drug use
• Unexplained lack of money

American Addiction Center Care Coalition Video PSA Clark County School District Resource Guide Marijuana Facts Nevada 211 Addiction Support Parent Engagement Partnership for Drug-Free Kids Talk with Kids about Marijuana Facts Talking with Your Child about Marijuana Teen Talk Illegal Drugs Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know Parent’s Marijuana Use May Increase Children’s Risk of Marijuana Use and Favorable Views or Marijuana