Ricky Tosh (Photo courtesy of Maycomb County Community Mental Health)
A quick Google search returns more than 10 results for recreational marijuana dispensaries in Macomb County, with dozens more within a short drive.
On the other hand, the legalization of recreational marijuana more than five years ago has been an economic boon. Just last year Cannabis sales generated more tax revenue Better than beer, wine, and liquor combined (Source: Crain's Detroit Business).
Meanwhile, ongoing efforts to destigmatize marijuana use even before it became legal in Michigan have significantly reduced perceptions of the risks associated with marijuana use among youth and young adults in Macomb County .
The 2008 Michigan Profile of Healthy Youth (MiPHY) survey found that nearly 76% of Macomb County ninth graders believed there were physical or mental health risks associated with smoking marijuana once or twice a week. It turned out that there was. By 2022, that percentage has dropped to less than 50%.
The same study showed that for seventh-graders in Macomb County, the perceived risk of marijuana use decreased by 22%, from 80% to 58%, over the same period, and for 11th-graders, it decreased by 29%, from 68% to just 39%. I did. %.
The fact that so few young people across Macomb County are actually aware of the physical and mental health concerns associated with marijuana use is concerning on many levels.
Our brains continue to develop into our 20s, and cannabis use during this formative period can negatively impact brain function and development, particularly memory, learning, and thinking, resulting in lasting negative effects. may give.a Research from Columbia University Psychiatry Teenagers who use cannabis are “2 to 2.5 times more likely to have negative mental health and behavioral problems than teenagers who never used cannabis.” is showing.
As a public provider of mental health, substance use, and developmental disability treatment services in Macomb County, we also see youth using cannabis to cope with feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and depression. . In reality, high doses of the THC found in cannabis are likely to cause these feelings in addition to agitation, paranoia, and psychosis, all of which actually address underlying mental health issues. This may delay professional intervention or treatment.
It's also worth noting that leaf marijuana samples produced 80% to 90% higher THC levels than in the 1980s. Despite the common belief that cannabis is not addictive, these higher levels of potency can contribute to dependence or dependence on cannabis.Data presented by National Institute on Drug Abuse found that 30% of cannabis users experience a cannabis use disorder, and that “those who begin using cannabis before the age of 18 are four to seven times more likely to develop a cannabis use disorder than adults.” is shown.
For parents concerned about their youth and adolescents, it's important to have open and honest conversations not only about marijuana use, but also about vaping, smoking, and underage drinking. Find out what they already know. Ask open-ended questions, listen to children's concerns, and build on previous conversations to make them regular discussion items to address children's concerns as they evolve and change as they age. And avoid lectures. When it comes to cannabis and other dangerous activities, it's better to have several small stories than one big story.
If you suspect that your child is using cannabis to self-medicate an underlying mental health concern, seek professional help to intervene and develop an appropriate treatment plan. please. For more information about the risks of youth drug use, please visit: mccmh.net/substance use disorder.
Ricki Torsch is the SUD Coordinator for Macomb County Community Mental Health. She has nearly 20 years of experience in public health and drug use prevention. She is a dual graduate of the University of Michigan with a bachelor's degree in public health education and health promotion and a master's degree in management with an emphasis in public administration, and she is a member of the Michigan Addiction Specialist Certification Board. He is also a certified prevention consultant.
