Teen Marijuana Use
Parents hold strong beliefs that teens shouldn’t use marijuana, but that message often gets muddled somewhere in the communication from parent to teen. According to a national survey by the Hazelden Foundation, the vast majority of parents (98 percent) would be upset if they discovered their teens were using marijuana. However, less than half (40 percent) of parents advised against teen marijuana use and just one in five (20 percent) emphasized it’s illegal during the most recent dialog on the topic with their teens.”Parents need to communicate a clear no teen marijuana use message about early and often with their children,” says Ariel White-Kovach, executive director for Hazelden’s Center for Youth & Families (HCYF). “Parents can take comfort in knowing that their words are not falling on deaf ears; studies show the more teens hear about the risks of marijuana and other drugs at home, the less likely they are to smoke marijuana.”
The survey also found that while 84 percent of parents believe marijuana can be addictive, only one in five parents (19 percent) communicates that message with his/her teen.
“If parents believe marijuana is addictive, they should tell their kids that,” says Carol Falkowski, a senior research analyst for Hazelden. “Marijuana creates serious consequences — about 100,000 people seek treatment for marijuana use each year.”
As part of Hazelden’s effort to measure public opinion of important substance abuse issues during the organization’s 50th anniversary year, the survey asked parents about their attitudes and practices related to teenage marijuana use and found that parents may also underestimate the number of teens smoking pot.
According to the most recent figures from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, half of all teenagers try marijuana before they graduate high school; yet, according to the Hazelden poll, three-quarters of parents (74 percent) believe their teen has never smoked marijuana. Just 7 percent of those polled say they know their teen has smoked marijuana, 6 percent suspect their teen has smoked marijuana and 12 percent don’t know.
Teen marijuana has climbed significantly this decade, and references to its use are pervasive in pop culture. Marijuana is by far the most frequently mentioned/depicted illicit drug in teens’ favorite movies and songs, according to a recent study for the Office of National Drug Control Policy. And while the phrase “don’t drink and drive” is oft repeated, that same message virtually disappears where marijuana is concerned. Only one parent in the Hazelden survey has communicated a “don’t drive if you’re high” message to his teen.
“Marijuana use creates serious consequences for kids,” says Falkowski. “In some cities like Minneapolis, treatment admissions for marijuana outnumber admissions for cocaine, and half of the patients are under the age of 18.”
Not Their Parents’ Marijuana
Of the parents surveyed, 41 percent have smoked marijuana themselves at some point. These parents are more likely to believe today’s marijuana is stronger than that of previous generations (52 percent) vs. parents who have never smoked marijuana (31 percent), although they were less likely to think it’s addictive. Parents who have smoked marijuana themselves were also more likely to talk with their kids about marijuana (94 percent) vs. parents who had not smoked marijuana (82 percent).
“The potency of marijuana today is greater than it was in the 1970s, and increased potency means increased addiction potential,” states White-Kovach. “The implications for a teen’s growing body are long-term and dangerous.”
Marijuana, like cigarettes, contains many carcinogens. In addition, the active component of marijuana — THC — causes impairment of short-term memory, learning and coordination.
What Should Parents Do?
The Hazelden poll found that while most parents (86 percent) have talked with their teen about marijuana, just over half of parents (55 percent) have made their teen aware of disciplinary consequences stemming from marijuana use. Revoking privileges was the most commonly cited consequence (61 percent), followed by grounding (58 percent), forbidding interaction with certain friends (56 percent), and sending their teen to counseling (51 percent).
“It’s crucial for parents to stay on top of and understand what’s happening in their sons’ and daughters’ lives,” says White-Kovach. “When teens make a poor decision, such as using marijuana, it’s critical that parents immediately show concern via an open dialog and follow through with consequences.
“If parents become overwhelmed with their teens’ behavior and/or concerned about drug use, they should seek help from experts. There are many resources available for parents.”
Other Survey Findings
- The younger the teen, the more recently his/her parents have broached the topic of marijuana. On average, parents of 13, 14 and 15 year olds had discussed it just over three months earlier; parents of 16 year olds discussed it nearly four months earlier; parents of 17 year olds discussed it just over four months earlier; and parents of 18 year olds discussed it just over six months previously.
- 14 percent of parents haven’t talked with their teens about marijuana. Younger parents are more likely to talk with their teenage sons and daughters about marijuana.
- 92 percent of parents under the age of 40 have discussed marijuana vs. 88 percent of parents aged 40 - 49, and 77 percent of parents aged 50 and over.
From the Hazelden Foundation
Additional Resources:
This anthology presents an examination of the causes of teen addiction and various proposals to reduce or solve the problem, as well as the personal narratives of teens struggling to overcome their addictions.
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