Cannabis Usage in Children and Young People
September 14, 2024
Contents
- What is Cannabis?
- Prevalence rate
- Short-term impact
- Is cannabis addictive
- Long-term impact of regular cannabis usage
- How to support a child struggling with cannabis usage
A note from the author: It is important to note that cannabis is used in the UK for its medicinal properties in the NHS in rare circumstances. There can be benefits to using cannabis such as helping children with epilepsy and it can be life-changing in those circumstances. However, the current NHS guidelines on this are very strict. There are only a handful of paediatricians licensed to prescribe cannabis and it must only be used if all other treatments have been tried. The evidence base for the risks and benefits is still developing.
So please note this article will explore the risk of cannabis usage among children without physical medical conditions.
What is Cannabis?
Cannabis (also known as marijuana, weed, ganja and pot) is a psychoactive drug. This means it alters the mind and how it works, causing changes in feelings, awareness and behaviour. It can look like tobacco but is greener in colour.
In the UK cannabis is illegal and considered a class B drug alongside ketamine and amphetamines. This means that the maximum penalty for possession is five years in prison and for supply and distribution is 14 years in prison.
There are two main well-known compounds within cannabis. CBD (cannabidiol) and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). CBD is not a psychoactive substance and is often used with oils and creams as medicinal. THC, however, is a psychoactive substance and this is the part that creates the feeling of being ‘high’.
It can be smoked within a cigarette (a joint), inhaled using bongs and vapes as well as drunk and eaten.
The prevalence of cannabis
- The usage of cannabis can start as early as 13 years old.
- 6% of schoolchildren said they have tried cannabis
- Cannabis is the most common drug that young people reach out to drug and alcohol services for help with
- Children who experienced adverse childhood experiences are more likely to regularly use cannabis
- Cannabis being sold today is stronger than previously, with a 14% increase in THC levels from 1970-2017
The short-term impact of cannabis on children
Alike to what occurs with oxygen in respiration, THC when inhaled also passes into the bloodstream from the lung where it is transported to the organs including the brain. In the brain, THC activates cannabinoid receptors on nerve cells, causing changes in the activity of those nerve cells. The areas of the brain that have the most cannabinoid receptors, therefore are influenced the most, are the areas responsible for pleasure, concentration, memory, sensory perception and co-ordination of movement.
Physically people experience:
- Bloodshot eyes
- Sedation
- Increased heart rate
- Increased appetite
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Dry mouth
Cognitively people experience:
- Loss of coordination
- Issues with memory
- Poor time perception
- Poor problem solving
- Poor thinking abilities
- Changes in mood
When taken in high doses or high potency of cannabis can even cause hallucinations and delusions.
Is cannabis addictive?
There has been a lot of debate as to whether or not cannabis is addictive. Cannabis is addictive with an estimated 9% of users becoming addicted to it either physically, psychologically or both. It is estimated to be the most prevalent drug dependence.
A risk factor for this addiction is regular usage when in the teenage years.
How this addiction occurs is as the usage of cannabis increases, there are physiological alterations in the brain that contribute to the feeling of needing to use cannabis in the future. In the same way, as those using it use more and more, they build up a tolerance to cannabis and therefore need more of the drug to experience the original effects.
For a young person, this can impact numerous areas of your life, including social, educational, financial and health.
The long-term impact of cannabis usage in children
Cannabis usage has been shown in numerous studies to have a long-term harmful impact on users, this does have to be everyday chronic usage of the drug. For young people and children under the age of 25, as the brain has not fully developed, they are at elevated risk for these harmful and in some cases permanent impacts.
Impact on the brain
As highlighted above before the age of 25, the brain is not fully developed. As a result, the receptors in the brain that the THC activates are very susceptible to the toxic impact and there is a widespread impact. It can cause irreversible changes structurally and functionally in the memory, attention, social skills and verbal learning areas of the brain. As a result, it can lead to numerous impacts such as cognitive decline and decreased lifetime achievement.
Physical Impact
Sometimes this area is less talked about compared to the impact on the brain but it is not less significant. Those who use cannabis products are at elevated risk for cardiovascular diseases, for example, the risk of ischemic strokes and myocardial infarctions. This is because the receptors discussed earlier are found in the cardiovascular system as well as the brain and they can become damaged, as well as the fact that it causes increased heart rate and blood pressure.
Cannabis smoke can also irritate the lungs, leading to a higher risk of lung infections and illness. Another illness that can develop from long-term cannabis usage is Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome, where people experience severe nausea and vomiting.
Co-morbidities
Cannabis usage in children under 25 can be co-morbid with numerous other difficulties in children and can cause and/or worsen symptoms in these other difficulties. These include:
- Anxiety disorders
- Depression
- Suicidal Ideation
- ADHD
- Psychotic disorders (including schizophrenia and psychosis)
How to support a child struggling with cannabis usage
Talking to a parent or a carer about cannabis usage can be incredibly daunting for a child. There can be questions that get asked such as ‘Do your friends do it?’ and ‘Where are you getting it from?’ that can make the child feel like they are being interrogated. If a child opens up to you about cannabis usage or you find a child who is using cannabis, the most important thing is to create a safe space for the child to talk to you about it.
Asking questions as to if they need support with cannabis usage and if not, what makes them think they don’t are two questions that can help to create a conversation around the usage. The reasons why the child is using cannabis are really important to find out, but that might be in another conversation that you come back to so it does not seem like an interrogation.
It is important to highlight the risks and boundaries of drug usage but in a non-judgmental way. For example, if you are speaking to your 18-year-old, highlighting that if they smoke cannabis and feel unwell they can call you and you will support them. It is a great way of building trust.
The warning signs to notice are if your child is using them alone, frequently and feeling like they need them e.g. to sleep. We always recommend reaching out to your GP if you are concerned about your child’s drug usage. They will work with you to find the most appropriate approach for you and your child.
Below there is a list of resources specifically for helping to manage children struggling with drug usage problems. If you would like further support we at Mindsum have counsellors that can help and you can look at those resources below as well.
Resources
Young Minds
There is a page on alcohol and drug use, including a checklist of warning signs to look out for that is useful.
Frank
An educational website on drugs and alcohol. They have a helpline available for anyone wanting advice on drugs and alcohol, as well as a live chat.
Addiction Family Support
A website that supports families and friends affected by someone’s drug usage.
We are with you
A website that offers advice to those concerned about someone else’s drug usage.
Bernardo’s
A children’s charity that supports children and their families with numerous issues including drug misuse.