Don't smoke your teens away: Marijuana may be the devil in disguise

Marijuana is the dried and shredded part of the cannabis plant and is commonly used and abused by teens. It has many potential short and long-term effects on the body. According to research by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) U.S., childhood marijuana use can affect learning ability, attention, memory, coordination, balance, judgment and decision-making.

But what makes a teen try marijuana? As per research in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, young people may use marijuana as a result of peer pressure or to ease boredom, relieve tension, escape problems and in some cases to increase (or decrease) the effects of other drugs.

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Teens rarely think they will end up with problems related to marijuana use, so it is important to begin talking about the risks with your child early and continue this discussion over time. Here are some short term effects of smoking pot, as suggested by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) U.S.:

Altered senses
Altered sense of time
Changes in mood
Slow reaction time
Increased appetite
Hallucinations
Delusions
Psychosis

Now let's talk about some long term effects of consuming weed as listed by the CDC:

Cognitive function

The teenage brain is not fully mature with neurodevelopment continuing until the mid-20s. During adolescence, the brain is particularly sensitive to drug exposure and marijuana consumption can impact cognitive function and the connections formed within the brain.

Increased heart rate

Marijuana consumption may increase or even double the heart rate (normally 70 to 80 beats per minute) especially if other drugs are taken along with it. This increases the risk of a heart attack and teens are more vulnerable to it.

Respiratory problems

Like tobacco smoke, marijuana smoke is an irritant to the throat and lungs and can cause a heavy cough during use. It also contains levels of volatile chemicals and tar that are similar to tobacco smoke, raising concerns about the risk for cancer and lung disease.

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Increased risk for mental health problems

Marijuana consumption has been linked with depression and anxiety as well as suicidal thoughts among teens. In addition, smoking marijuana during the teen years might increase the risk for developing psychosis in people with a genetic risk for developing schizophrenia.