By George Wilson, MD, psychiatrist at the Adolescent Partial Hospital Program at Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health
In recent months, the State of New Jersey has been working to expand approved uses for medical marijuana. Currently, patients with certain debilitating medical conditions—which now include anxiety—can obtain physician authorization to register with the Medicinal Marijuana Program and legally purchase marijuana at state-licensed dispensaries. This controlled substance has shown some potential therapeutic value in reducing anxiety and the perception of pain in those with chronic conditions like cancer.
Perhaps a source of greater debate, state legislators are also discussing the benefits and risks of decriminalizing and even legalizing recreational marijuana. For teens, however, aside from cases of medical necessity, nothing has changed—as it should be.
Marijuana Use in Adolescence
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 38 percent of high school students report having used marijuana. Research also shows that it can have permanent effects on the developing brain when use begins in adolescence, especially with regular or heavy use.
When compared to substances like alcohol or opiates, the potential consequences of marijuana use could be considered less deleterious. For example, the excessive use of alcohol in teens can cause an array of physical, emotional, and behavioral problems, with the added risk of alcohol poisoning. The first use of heroin can prime the brain for a higher risk of daily compulsive use, potentially leading to overdose.
While marijuana use does not present the same set of issues, it should still be taken seriously among teens—especially if it transitions from occasional social use to regular or compulsive use.
Regular use of marijuana in teens can impact emotional development, memory, concentration, motivation, and academic performance. It can lead to new social circles in which more dangerous drugs are much more accessible. In addition, when used to self-medicate for anxiety, it can mask underlying issues that require behavioral health treatment.
As we’ve done with alcohol in the past, realistic, honest education about marijuana is necessary for teens, especially when it may one day be legally available to them at age 21. Behavioral health professionals can assist in this effort and be vigilant for warning signs of excessive or compulsive use. These signs can include:
- Secretive behavior
- A breakdown in communication with parents
- Detachment from relationships
- A breakdown in optimal age-appropriate functioning
- Loss of motivation
- Isolation from healthy activities
- The loss of a prior peer group
It’s important to break a pattern of excessive use early to prevent ongoing limitations, which can negatively impact future relationships and career opportunities.
When intensive treatment is needed, Princeton House offers an Adolescent Program specifically geared to patients ages 13 to 18. The program provides behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment in both partial hospital and after-school intensive outpatient settings, giving young patients the tools they need to regain emotional stability and function in healthier ways.
For more information about the Adolescent Program at Princeton House, visit princetonhouse.org/teens or call 888.437.1610.
Article as seen in the Summer 2018 issue of Princeton House Behavioral Health Today.