It is undeniable that recreational marijuana use has gone through a massive sea change in the last few years. Not only has its recreational use become legal in over 20 U.S. states, but the perception of its negative effects has been substantially minimized. Unfortunately, perception is not the same as reality. The reality is that marijuana use can have devastating effects, not the least of which is a symptom known as cannabis-induced psychosis.

It is critical to remember that cannabis use can cause serious psychological, emotional, and physical harm. This is especially true with teenagers as they are still in the early stages of physiological, mental, and social development.

Understanding the Prevalence of Adolescent Cannabis Use

According to the most recent studies on marijuana use by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “Past-year, past-month, and daily marijuana use (use on 20 or more occasions in the past 30 days) reached the highest levels ever recorded since these trends were first monitored in 1988.” NIDA also found that “the proportion of young adults who reported past-year marijuana use reached 43% in 2021.”

Let that last statistic sink in for a moment. Nearly half of the young adults tried marijuana in the previous year. Based on population, that’s roughly 15 million young people. This number is even higher if you include younger adolescents.

How Cannabis Affects Young Brains

These statistics take on much more weight when one realizes the specific effects that cannabis use can have on adolescents. This, as we mentioned before, is because their brain is not fully developed. In fact, the brain is not fully developed until the mid to late 20s.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Marijuana use directly affects the brain, specifically the parts of the brain responsible for memory, learning, attention, decision-making, coordination, emotion, and reaction time. Infants, children, and teens (who still have developing brains) are especially susceptible to the adverse effects of marijuana.” This fact may help highlight the importance of spotting the warning signs of cannabis use and getting help as soon as possible.

What Are the Warning Signs and Symptoms of Cannabis Use?

Just because the negative effects of recreational cannabis use have been minimized in the public’s eyes does not mean that the effects are any less physically damaging in actual use. When people say it’s “harmless,” that does not make it so.

Being able to spot the warning signs of recreational cannabis use in adolescents can greatly reduce the chances of negative long-term developmental effects. The following are just a few of the red flags to watch for if you feel that your daughter may be abusing cannabis:

  • Exhibiting the physical appearance symptoms of marijuana use, such as red tired eyes, dry mouth, swollen tongue, and slowed motor skills
  • Having trouble concentrating on even simple tasks
  • Noticing an unexplained drop in academic performance, as well as sudden apathy toward academic achievement
  • Having clothes, belongings, and vehicles that often smell like cannabis or cannabis smoke
  • Acting paranoid and anxious for no justifiable reason
  • Having a noticeable change in sleeping patterns, including sleeping too much or sleeping too little
  • Losing interest in hobbies and friend groups
  • Exhibiting an overall lethargic demeanor

If any of these red flags come up, it is important not to ignore them. With cannabis abuse, what seems like a little issue now can quickly snowball into something more serious like cannabis-induced psychosis.

What Exactly Is Cannabis-Induced Psychosis?

While it is true that most people that use cannabis do not experience cannabis-induced psychosis, for those who do, the experience can be devastating and life-altering. Ultimately, cannabis-induced psychosis is very much what it sounds like. It is a psychotic episode brought about by cannabis intoxication. These episodes can include symptoms such as hallucinations, disordered thinking, delusions, and paranoia, just to name a few.

Also, it is important to note that cannabis-induced psychosis is prevalent enough to garner recognition in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). The DSM-5 states that “A diagnosis of Cannabis-Induced Psychotic Disorder is given when one or both of hallucinations and delusions are present, the hallucinations and/or delusions developed during or soon after cannabis intoxication, the disturbance does not occur exclusively during the course of a delirium, and the disturbance causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.”

Clearview Horizon’s Individualized Planning for Addiction Recovery

Regardless of the addiction, we here at Clearview make sure that our recovery plans are always created on an individualized basis for each of our students. A recovery plan should never rely solely on a diagnosis but on an individual’s whole backstory and future goals.

No addiction should be taken lightly, especially in adolescents. This includes cannabis use disorder. Just because public perception changes and says something is no longer harmful does not make it true. Cannabis use is still dangerous, especially for developing teenagers. Parents deserve to know this truth because their kids deserve to be safe.

Many people minimize the use of cannabis, especially as it is becoming more socially acceptable and prominently used in today’s society. However, the real dangers of cannabis use are often overlooked. These include dangers like delayed mental development, academic decline, and disrupted sleep patterns, just to name a few. These dangers also include cannabis-induced psychosis, which many people may not even know exists. However, it certainly does, and it can devastate a child’s success trajectory. If you think your daughter may have an issue with cannabis addiction, please know that you are not alone. We can help. For more information about the dangers of cannabis use, including cannabis-induced psychosis, please reach out to Clearview Horizon today at 866-584-4788.