nine parent tips for talking about marijuana with your teen€¦ · remind your child to always...
TRANSCRIPT
Fall 2018
Nine Parent Tips for Talking About Marijuana with Your Teen
1 Discuss How Laws are Different for Young PeopleSimilar to alcohol laws, marijuana laws differ between adults and children. Recreational use laws apply to adults 21+ with medicinal use laws typically applying to adults 18+. If using, buying or possessing marijuana while underage, there can be serious consequences with a possible criminal record, fines or disciplinary action at school.
2 Set Clear ExpectationsHave agreed-upon expectations and an understanding that it is not okay for children to use marijuana. We need to re-inforce that even in a state with legal use — that does not apply for those underage.
3 Teach About the Unique Dangers to Young PeopleYoung people don’t often think about the impact of marijuana on their develop-
ing brains. Marijuana not only makes it harder to think clearly, learn and solve problems effectively, but regular use can cause lasting changes to the brain. 1 in 6 teens who use marijuana become addicted and the younger they start the greater the likelihood of addiction. Mari-juana use is also linked to depression, anxiety, paranoia, school drop-outs and lower test scores.
4 Discuss Other Health EffectsMarijuana smoke contains toxic chemi-cals that impact not only those smoking, but those around the smoker. There is a misconception that hookah or vaporizers eliminate these risks. The dangers of street drugs are real as you don’t often know what you are truly buying. It could be laced with other drugs or have an unexpected intensity. Edibles made with marijuana can also lead to dangerous impacts. Food and drink
With the legalization of marijuana in many states including Massachusetts — our children might be getting mixed messages on the risks, impact and dangers.
made with marijuana can lead to overdose and emergency room visits. People may consume too much because it can take hours to feel the effects.
5 Talk About Safety RisksDriving under the influence of mari-juana creates increased risk of injury with the decrease in reaction times, and impaired coordination and judgment. Remind your child to always call you or find a safe ride home if someone is under the influence.
6 Encourage QuestionsCreate an environment where your child can trust you to be a source to answer questions about things they are hearing in school or the media.
7 Be Honest About Your Own UseIf your child asks, be honest and provide context. Reinforce your decisions were
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When families gather together around a dinner table they do a lot more than eat. They prevent alcohol and substance abuse, improve academic performance and reduce the risk of marijuana use, ac-cording to The Importance of Family Din-ners IV, published by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Co-lumbia University.
Take a look at some of the findings...and then set the table for healthier kids.
Compared to teens who have five to sev-en family dinners per week, those who have fewer than 3 per week are:
1. more than twice as likely to say they expect to try drugs in the future.
2. more likely to have friends who abuse prescription drugs (to get high.)
3. more than one and a half times likelier to have friends who drink regularly and use marijuana.
4. twice as likely to have used tobacco, nearly twice as likely to have used alcohol, and one and a half times likelier to have used marijuana.
5. nearly twice as likely to report receiving mostly C’s or lower grades in school. Teens who report typically receiving mostly C’s or lower grades in school are likelier to smoke, drink and use drugs compared to teens who typically receive all A’s or A’s and B’s in school.
Practicing Prevention 5 Good Reasons
To HaveFamily Dinners
made before you understood the risks and with a reminder that marijuana is dramatically stronger today. If you are using now, don’t smoke in front of your children, secure its access and never drive when under the influence.
8 Stay InformedMarijuana research and laws are changing. Keep up-to-date so you can communicate and support your child.
9 Keep the Conversation GoingYour child will continually be faced with making decisions about marijuana use so make sure you support their growth and good choices with ongoing dialogue. Find teachable moments based on news stories, consequences of bad choices and new developments. Serving as your child’s guide and trusted advisor will be invaluable for their safety and best health.Source: Channing-Bete Company; “Talking to your Child About Marijuana”; 2018 edition.
Nine Parent Tips – continued from page 1
Juuling – A Dangerous Trend on the RiseThe Juul was created by two Stanford graduate students who wanted to create an e-cigarette alternative for adults that provided a cigarette experience. Fast forward 10+ years, and the Juul is the best-selling e-cigarette in America.
To give perspective, Juul Labs generated $224 million in sales (according to Nielsen data) and the company saw growth of 621% year-over-year(1) with the Juul holding 68% of the e-cigarette market share.
So what is a Juul? It’s a sleek USB designed e-cigarette vaporizer with a replaceable nicotine juice cartridge, marketed in youthful colors and flavors. The cartridge can be charged in a laptop’s USB slot and often not recognized as an e-cigarette. Juuls are now easily purchased online, and at vaping shops, gas stations and convenient stores. The vaporizer costs around $35, with a four-pack of pods at $16.
Juuling has the addictive qualities of nicotine as it delivers a powerful buzz of more than double the nicotine of other vaping products. It is estimated that one Juul cartridge equals the same nicotine as a pack of cigarettes. With the pervasiveness of use, our youth are getting addicted at alarming rates so as parents we need to quickly learn about this dangerous trend.(1) Business Insider; November 21, 2017 report by Melia Robinson; http://www.businessinsider.com/juul-e-cigarette-one-million-units-sold-2017-11
Teens Can Recharge with Sleep
For the first time, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASMnet.org) has released official recommendations for the amount of sleep needed to promote optimal health in teenagers.
Teenagers 13 to 18 years of age should sleep eight to 10 hours per 24 hours on a regular basis to promote optimal health.
For preteens, it’s nine to 12 hours. AASM’s research showed that sleeping the number of recommended hours on a regular basis leads to improved attention, behavior, learning, memory, emotional regulation, quality of life, and mental and physical health. The research also found that sleeping fewer than the recommend-ed hours is associated with attention, behavior and learning problems. It also increases the risk of accidents, injuries, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, depres-sion and in some cases even increases the risk of self-harm, suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts. Getting the recom-mended number of hours on a regular basis is the key. It takes days to catch up on “sleep debt.”
“Making sure there is ample time for sleep is one of the best ways to promote a healthy lifestyle for a child,” said Dr. Nathaniel Watson, the recent AASM president.
Why not discuss these facts with your family? Maybe instead of BEDTIME, you can get everyone (including you) to say, Recharge Time!
Stress is extremely common among teenagers. According to a 2013 survey conducted by American Psychological Association, teens reported that they’re experiencing what they think are unhealthy levels of stress, especially during the school year. School is the top source of stress for teens. Getting into a good college or deciding what to do after high school is the second-biggest source of tension.
Stress can affect the body from head to toe. The survey found teens experience both emotional and physical symp-toms of stress. Common symptoms include feeling nervous or anxious, feeling tired, procrastinating or neglecting responsibilities, feeling overwhelmed, having negative thoughts and experiencing changes in sleeping habits. Problems with concentrating and changes in eating hab-its (eating too much or too little) are also linked to stress.
It’s normal to have some stress in life. But if stress persists at high levels for a long time, it can have last-ing negative effects on health. Chronic (long-term) stress can cause anxiety, high blood pressure and a weakened immune system, and can contribute to diseases such as depression, obesity and heart disease.
Everyone is affected by stress at one time or another, and it can feel overwhelming, the APA reports. With the right tools, though, teens can learn to manage stress before it takes a toll on their health. Managing daily stress can also lead to a more overall positive outlook on your life and well-being. For more information, log on to apa.org/helpcenter/stress-teens.aspx.
Managing Stress: Key to a Successful School Year
5 Stress Buster Tips for Teens By American Psychological Association
Move your body. Physical activity is one of the most effective stress bust-ers. It’s even better when you do it with friends. You’re more likely to have fun — and keep at it.
Enjoy yourself. Besides physi-cal activities, find other hobbies or activities that bring you joy, like listening to mu-sic, going to the mov-ies or drawing. Make a point to keep doing these things even when you’re stressed and busy.
Strike a balance. School is important, but it’s not
everything. When you plan your week, schedule time to get schoolwork done,
but also schedule time to have fun.
Let yourself shine. Spend some time really thinking about the things you’re good at, and find ways to do more of those
things.
Talk through it. It’s so much easier to manage stress when you let oth-ers lend a hand. Talk to
a parent, teacher or other trusted adult. They may be
able to help you find new ways to manage stress.
Creative: COTDesign
For more information contact NCPC Director Rebecca Elwell at 401-835-5311 or [email protected]. www.riprevention.orgNCPC is a federally funded organization providing regional leadership for youth substance abuse prevention and mental health promotion.
Newport County MeetingsSeptember 18, October 16, November 20, December 1810am – Middletown Town HallDirector: Rebecca [email protected]
Little Compton MeetingsSeptember 13, October 11, November 8, December 13 1pm – Little Compton Town HallCoordinator: Polly [email protected]
Middletown MeetingsSeptember 27, October 25, November TBD, December TBD 6pm – Middletown Town HallDirector: Lori [email protected]
Newport MeetingsSeptember 17, October 15, November 191pm – Newport Police StationCoordinator: James [email protected]
Portsmouth MeetingsSeptember 19, October 10, November 14, December 12 8:30am – Portsmouth Town HallCoordinator: Corey [email protected]
Tiverton MeetingsSeptember 17th at 10am, October 5–10am, November 5–6pm, December 10–10amTiverton Public LibraryCoordinator: Jenni [email protected]
Coalition MeetingsThe Newport County Prevention Coalition is
comprised of the Litttle Compton, Middletown, Newport, Portsmouth & Tiverton Coalitions.
Five Signs of Emotional SufferingNearly one in every five people, or 43.8 million American adults, has a diagnosable mental health condition.(1) Half of all lifetime cases of mental disorders begin by age 14.(2) In addition, 1.7M Americans sustain a traumatic brain injury each year — which may affect their cognitive and emotional functioning. Drug use is on the rise in this country and 23.5 million Americans are addicted to alcohol and drugs. That’s approximately one in every 10 Americans over the age of 12.
Often our friends, neighbors, co-workers, and even family members are suffering emotionally and don’t recognize the symptoms or won’t ask for help.
5 Signs that may mean someone is in emotional pain and might need help:
Personality changes. You may notice sudden or gradual changes in the way that someone typically behaves. People in this situation may behave in ways that don’t seem to fit their values, or the person may just seem different.
Uncharacteristically angry, anxious, agitated, or moody. You may notice the person has more frequent problems controlling his or her temper and seems irritable or unable to calm down. People in more extreme situations of this kind may be unable to sleep or may explode in anger at a minor problem.
Withdrawal or isolation from other people. Someone who used to be socially engaged may pull away from family and friends and stop taking part in activities that used to be enjoyable. In more severe cases the person may start failing to make it to work or school. Not to be con-fused with the behavior of someone who is more introverted, this sign is marked by a change in a person’s typical sociability, as when someone pulls away from the social support typically available.
May neglect self-care and engage in risky behavior. You may notice a change in the person’s level of personal care or an act of poor judgment. For instance, someone may let personal hygiene deteriorate, or the person may start abusing alcohol or illicit substances or engaging in other self-destructive behavior that may alienate loved ones.
Overcome with hopelessness and overwhelmed by circumstances.Have you noticed someone who used to be optimistic and now can’t find anything to be hopeful about? That person may be suffering from extreme or prolonged grief, or feelings of worthlessness or guilt. People in this situation may say that the world would be better off without them, suggesting suicidal thinking.
(1) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Results from the 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Mental Health Findings, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (as of 11/24/14).(2) R. C. Kessler, W. T. Chiu, O. Demler, K.R. Merikangas, E. E. Walters. “Prevalence, Severity, and Comorbidity of Twelve-Month DSM-IV Disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication.” Arch. Gen. Psych. June 2005 62(6):617-627.