what will you do if you kid was getting high?

[Anonymous]

15 years ago I would have said "So what? Not a big deal." But we've watched my DH's 35 year old nephew totally fail to launch, in large part thanks to smoking marijuana every day since high school. His mother should have done something when he was your DC's age. She didn't. Of course this kind of dependence and messed up life doesn't happen to everyone, but don't risk it.

Not sure what you should do, but just wanted to encourage you to figure it out and do something.

[Anonymous]

Pot is different nowadays. Kids are having mental issues, paranoia that is permanent from today’s weed. It even smells way worse than it did in the 80-90s. It’s more potent.

Read the studies. For this reason (and we know 5 kids with no mental health history have serious mental health issues 18-22–I’m strongly advocating against it and showing my kids the data).

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna84984

“Over the last decade of diagnosing countless young patients with new psychotic disorders, one striking result has stuck out for New York City psychiatrist Dr. Ryan Sultan.

“Of all the people I’ve diagnosed with a psychotic disorder,” he said, “I can’t think of a single one who wasn’t also positive for cannabis.”

And the evidence is growing of marijuana’s association with psychiatric disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, especially in young men.

[Anonymous]

^+1

Another study, led by Sultan and Columbia researchers published earlier this month, found that teenagers who use cannabis only recreationally are two to four times more likely to develop psychiatric disorders, including depression and suicidality, than teenagers who don’t use cannabis at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^+1

Another study, led by Sultan and Columbia researchers published earlier this month, found that teenagers who use cannabis only recreationally are two to four times more likely to develop psychiatric disorders, including depression and suicidality, than teenagers who don’t use cannabis at all.

Here’s the study:
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2804450

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pot is different nowadays. Kids are having mental issues, paranoia that is permanent from today’s weed. It even smells way worse than it did in the 80-90s. It’s more potent.

Read the studies. For this reason (and we know 5 kids with no mental health history have serious mental health issues 18-22–I’m strongly advocating against it and showing my kids the data).

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna84984

“Over the last decade of diagnosing countless young patients with new psychotic disorders, one striking result has stuck out for New York City psychiatrist Dr. Ryan Sultan.

“Of all the people I’ve diagnosed with a psychotic disorder,” he said, “I can’t think of a single one who wasn’t also positive for cannabis.”

And the evidence is growing of marijuana’s association with psychiatric disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, especially in young men.

My son developed psychosis after smoking weed (and not ever for that long). He will be on antipsychotic medication for the rest of his life. It’s not like the weed from the 60s.

[Anonymous]

I hit submit too soon. He bought it from a guy on Snapchat who bought it from a dispensary. Watch your kids closely. Luckily my son is doing well on his medication.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hey, hey, hey, smoke weed everyday. It is 2023 (almost 2024) now, y’all know that right?

Do you know it's still illegal? Do you know it impacts their brain and lungs and it's our job to make sure our kids develop properly? Yeah, all the info is out there in 2023!

It’s illegal? Bc in md you if you are over 21 you can walk into a store and buy it straight up. Reefer madness!

We are talking about a teen. The definition of a teen is not 21 or older. Yes, it's illegal. Duh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

You threatening an adult off at college is weird.

That adult is free to pay their own tuition, rent, cell phone, car, car insurance, etc. to avoid the weirdness.

+1
We use the resources at hand. You know they expression 'show me your budget and I'll tell you what you value'. When it comes to young adults money is one of the last strings to cut.

[Anonymous]

It’s legal now.

Nothing you can do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s legal now.

Nothing you can do.

Not true for teens and there's plenty you can do. Most parents just don't want to do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If his school work isn't suffering, nothing. It is natural to experiment with soft drugs. As long as it is an occasional thing.

You must be my permissive ex-in laws.
Both of their loser sons divorced and not by their own choice.

[Anonymous]

The permissive parents who are broadcasting and displaying their permissiveness in this thread but then in the same breath insisting they aren’t permissive, would be hilarious if their laissez-faire parenting styles didn’t ruin lives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It depends. My freshman has a friend who started vaping pot in MS. That kid has made some poor choices and been caught multiple times. That kid I would test.

In some ways I'm more concerned about pot than I am alcohol because of how incredibly easy it is to hide these days. Betwee vaping and edibles (and the "legal" options like Delta 8), these kids aren't really rolling joints or smoking from bongs (or homemade soda can bongs like we made in high school). They can use almost anytime/anywhere without detection and for some kids that is very seductive.

I realize that some people have life long relationships with pot that they find healthy and part of their lifestyle. To those I say Godspeed. But for kids, kids whose brains are still developing and who are in such a crucial time of social and emotional growth, I believe the risk of addiction (some argue it's not physically addictive, but if it's psychologically addictive is there really a difference?) is great and it's important to keep an eye on. Especially in these post-covid times when mental health issues are at an all time high (pun unintended).

Well said.

[Anonymous]

I have two friends (one with one son and one with two) all with the same story - high performing kids, then got to college and dropped out due to video games and weed all day, now total failure to launch. I wonder if there would have been an opportunity to intervene during high school if it could have made a difference. I feel like I got all of that out of my system during high school and was on a good path by the time I got to college, but I’m female and know that boys are slower maturationally. Not sure what the right answer is between giving them some room to experiment/fail and figure things out for themselves before they leave home, and being more interventional when they aren’t quite up to making good decisions for themselves.

[Anonymous]

Always be mindful of the neurological side of things.

There's a big difference between a 15 year old using THC and a 45 year old occasionally imbibing an edible.

Brains are in different places. I have never encountered a teenager that was a regular user to go on to be anything. Stoner lifestyle. And these were bright kids from privileged homes.

I come from the West Coast so I've seen this a lot. Bright, happy kids at 12. Dead inside by 19.

From what I've seen, I would not tolerate things if a kid was getting high habitually. Immediately the phone would be gone. That tends to be pretty serious for teenagers. And pretty effective. Then go from there. Whether it's therapy or a change of schools or even rehab.

But I would not let a kid become a stoner today. It never tuns out well.