Delta-8 THC taps into rising number of teenagers, experts worry about lax rules

health

by alex mitchell

Teens are stooping to new lows to get high.

A new medical study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association finds that 11% of high school seniors admit to using the popular and easily available synthetic marijuana known as delta-8 THC. found.

Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, said the numbers mean “at least one or two students in an average-sized high school class.”

A lack of federal regulation means there are no age restrictions on over-the-counter products, which are easily found at gas stations, online and convenience stores in many states, and experts are concerned.

And it's not just easy access that's keeping them up at night. There are also concerns about the effectiveness and ingredients of variants like Delta-8, which are typically packaged to target young people.

Teens are especially susceptible because the human brain is not fully formed until the age of 25.

“With teenagers [these products] have a much more significant impact [compared to] What's going on in the adult brain?'' Heather Hugelmeyer, director of behavioral health at Northwell Health's Garden City Patient Center, told the Post.

In other words, young users could be in for a lot more serious trouble than just a bad case of munchies.

“I can tell you that there are multiple documented situations across the country where people have used these synthetic derivatives and then had severe reactions,” she said, adding that the realistic number of 12th grade users is 11. It added that it is likely to be much higher than %.

“Whether it's psychotic symptoms, fainting, or various other types of reactions that are potentially medically dangerous to the person, or becoming agitated or behaving in a way that puts others at risk. I did.”

Two years ago, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning about serious health risks associated with the use of Delta-8.

Delta 8 is not authorized for sale in New York state and only in parts of New Jersey, while Connecticut is cracking down on the sale of large doses.

However, Hugelmeyer cautioned that due to a lack of transparency, regulations and deceptive packaging, there is no guarantee that Delta-8 is not contaminated with other products.

“You don't know what's in these products when you actually use them,” he said, comparing Delta 8 to how fentanyl is laced into other substances without the user's knowledge. However, she spoke.

“For me, that’s a big concern.”

Available in a variety of forms, including e-cigarettes and edibles, the drug is commonly known as “diet weed” among users due to its reputation as a weaker alternative to the similar delta-9.

Teens who use it can be blindsided by unexpected and powerful effects, including depression, anxiety, or a condition called cannabis hyperemesis, which causes periodic vomiting.

Hugelmeyer said the latter has been on the rise in recent years, compared to 20 to 30 years ago when it was “something you'd only read about but never seen.”

Delta-8 and other synthetic marijuana can also cause learning disorders related to memory development, attention and sleep problems, Hugelmeier explained.

She added that teens who explore substances before age 21 are “significantly more likely” to develop a substance disorder as adults. The difference is approximately 1 in 4 versus 1 in 20.

A new study found that 91% of 12th grade Delta-8 users also used marijuana.

Frustratingly for parents, behavioral health experts say it's very difficult to distinguish between typical symptoms of use, such as stress and anxiety, and typical teenage developmental issues.

The only real physical indication was that fragments of e-cigarette cartridges were found in their belongings.

Parents also need to stay aware of who their teens are spending time with and who they are not spending time with. If a high school student is trading time for good influence with a bad crowd, that could be a red flag.

“What I can tell parents is that if you see big changes during adolescence, there's a good chance something is going on,” Hugelmeyer says. She added that it's important to use the moment to connect with teens and open up a support system of trust, even if their struggles aren't drug-related.

“I'd like to have a conversation that would raise a red flag, but in reality I'm just voicing concern. 'I've noticed that X, Y, and Z is happening. It doesn't seem right.' It's okay. mosquito? ' Just start a potential conversation. ”