Kids & Marijuana: What’s a Parent to Do?

Blog-Kids & Marijuana What’s a Parent to Do

As marijuana continues to be legalized state after state, the use of marijuana during adolescence and early adulthood is continuing to rise. With decriminalization of marijuana occurring in U.S. states, the tide is turning on public opinion. Many people — particularly adolescents — falsely believe that marijuana is a harmless source of mood alteration.

How do you stop your kids/teens from using marijuana?

By age 14, most young adults have started developing life goals, such as going to college or pursuing a particular career. The most important thing is to encourage your kids to begin thinking about how their brain health will affect their life and their ability to reach those goals, But how?

If you tell your teen what to do, they won’t listen. If you ask the right questions and get your teen to critically think about what they want in their life, they’ll come up with their own solutions — and act on them.

Here’s a place to start:

1. Wait for a time when he/she is open to talking. Be patient — it can take weeks.

2. Don’t lecture! Establish a strong connection by demonstrating an attitude of curiosity.

3. Have them talk about their values/goals, asking open-ended questions such as:

What is most important to you?
You’ve talked about wanting to do [fill in the blank] — How does your current behavior fit with that?

4. If he/she is engaging in behaviors that don’t compliment their goals (such as marijuana/alcohol), ask:

How would things be different a year from now if you made a change?
Suppose you keep engaging in [behavior]. How will things be a year from now?

5. Listen with the intent to understand, repeat what they’ve said and give NO advice.

Using these methods, most teens will come around to their own solutions. We also show kids brain SPECT images of drug users and then asked them: “Which brain do you want?”

We Can Help

At Amen Clinics, we can help you and your loved ones overcome the stigma and suffering associated with ADD/ADHD, anxiety, depression, brain injury, weight loss, addictions, memory issues, brain fog, and other emotional and cognitive issues. If you are ready to regain control over your life or help a loved one do the same, call our Care Coordinators at 1-888-288-9834 or click here to ask a question.

3 Comments »

  1. Hello, I’m very interested in seeing what the spect scans and literature show about the effects of marijuana on the brain. I’ve heard of some folks proposing that marijuana is a good way to treat concussions. Is that what the literature is showing? Thank you.

    Comment by Kathleen Schwan — March 9, 2018 @ 4:00 AM

  2. My grandson uses weed and doesn’t think it is bad for him! It seems all of his friends also use weed! He has add/adhd! So does his daddy! He is almost 19 and works at a fast food chicken place! According to him almost all of the ones that work there smoke weed!!! I worry about him all the time!!! He doesn’t have drivers license and his paycheck goes for cigarettes and weed!!! He says he will never use any other drug other than weed which he feels is harmless!!! He will talk to me about what he does etc, but I’m at my wits end on how to help him!

    Comment by Gloria — March 9, 2018 @ 4:03 AM

  3. Can you share with US some SPECT Scans of casual marihuana users and heavy users?
    I use marijuana daily in micro doses to help manage the pain associated with my severe arthrosis.

    Comment by Jeff — March 10, 2018 @ 4:17 AM

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