The Facts About Underage Marijuana Use

In a recent survey, alarming percentages of middle and high school students reported marijuana use in the past 30 days: 7.2% of eighth graders, 15.8% of 10th graders, and 25.8% of 12th graders. Almost 40% of high school students have reported trying marijuana, and 22% had used it in the last 30 days.

Unfortunately, marijuana use poses significant risk to physical and mental health, especially for teens.     

Health risks of marijuana use for teens

COPY: To help prevent underage marijuana use, be sure to communicate these serious health risks to the young people in your life:

• Impaired brain development: The brain continues to develop until about age 25. Marijuana use can interfere with this development, and cause memory and learning difficulties, trouble focusing, and problems at school.
• Increased heart rate: Marijuana use elevates the heart rate for as long as 3 hours afterward, which may increase risk of a heart attack for those with heart problems.
• Increased risk for mental health issues: The use of marijuana is a risk factor for mental health problems such as depression, social anxiety, and even schizophrenia.
• Injuries due to impaired driving: Because marijuana impairs important driving skills such as reaction time, coordination, and focus, driving under the influence of marijuana can lead to traffic crashes, injuries, and death. Also, driving while impaired is illegal in Michigan, and can result in fines and license suspension.
• Substance use disorder: It is possible to become dependent on marijuana; 3 in 10 who use it develop marijuana use disorder. The risk of dependency is greater for those who start marijuana use early and use it frequently.
• Breathing problems: Smoking marijuana can irritate the lungs in the same way that smoking cigarettes does, leading to breathing issues and a higher risk of lung infections.
• Serious lung problems due to vaping: There have been thousands of reports of serious lung illnesses and dozens of deaths associated with vaping products containing THC, the main psychotropic ingredient in marijuana. Another substance of concern is a thickening agent used in some vaping products called Vitamin E acetate.
  Pending further investigation, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given these recommendations:

• Do not use vaping products that contain THC
• Do not use vaping products — particularly those containing THC — obtained off the street or from other illicit or social sources.
• Do not use vaping or e-cigarette products containing Vitamin E acetate
• Do not modify or add any substances to vaping products, including those purchased through retail establishments.