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Unintended Consequences: The Rise of High-Potency Cannabis
“Users across all ages and experience levels are noticing that a drug they once turned to for fun and relaxation now triggers existential dread and paranoia,” Malcolm Ferguson wrote in The Atlantic in 2024. Ferguson has realized what many mental health professionals have known for many years: Cannabis products in the U.S. have been weaponized on an industrial scale.
“In 2022, the federal government reported that, in samples seized by the Drug Enforcement Administration, average levels of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC — the psychoactive compound in weed that makes you feel high — had more than tripled compared with 25 years earlier, from 5 to 16 percent,” Ferguson reported. “That may understate how strong weed has gotten.”
The “fun and relaxation” was never meant for minors; the legal sale and use of cannabis has been limited to adults over 21 in all states and territories but as before legalization, marijuana products frequently find their way into the hands of teenagers — and it’s popular.
Changing Perceptions on Cannabis
“Cannabis is in and alcohol is out,” a preference change likely driven by Gen Z, Nikki Battiste reported for CBS News. The cannabis industry has convinced large numbers of Americans, particularly young people, that their potent products are harmless if not beneficial for their well-being. As a consequence, young people often think of alcohol as harmful and marijuana as healthy.
According to the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “There are real risks for people who use marijuana, especially youth and young adults… . Today’s marijuana is stronger than ever before. People can and do become addicted to marijuana. Approximately 1 in 10 people who use marijuana will become addicted. When they start before age 18, the rate of addiction rises to 1 in 6.”
Using marijuana can affect performance and how well people do in life. Research shows people who use marijuana are more likely to have relationship problems, worse educational outcomes, lower career achievement, and reduced life satisfaction.
A new systematic review and meta-analysis of collected data on marijuana use by teenagers found that it can put their academic performance on a downward trajectory.
Cannabis and Brain Architecture
Data from almost 440,000 youths found higher rates of school absenteeism, lower grades, and other poor outcomes. “Chronic use among adolescents has been linked to long-term changes in brain architecture,” the study authors say, “resulting in impaired information processing and decreased cognitive, memory, and attentive capacity in adulthood.”
Around 18 million Americans now report using marijuana daily or almost daily, more than the number of people who drink alcohol that often. At the same time, cannabis products have become much more potent than in decades past, and more kids are using them.
Teenage substance misuse is not an isolated phenomenon but is strongly correlated with the mental health crisis among young people. New research confirms that teens who use cannabis, alcohol, nicotine, and other substances often attempt to self-medicate mental health issues.
Cannabis and Co-Occurring Mental Health Conditions
The term dual diagnosis is used to describe co-occurring substance use disorders and mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, or trauma. BasePoint Academy is a trusted leader in specialized treatment for adolescents with a dual diagnosis. Our evidence-based assessments help us develop a personalized roadmap that guides teens toward healing, recovery, and a fulfilling life.
Getting Teen Mental Health Treatment With BasePoint Academy
BasePoint Academy carefully crafts our specialized Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHPs) and Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOPs) near Dallas, Texas, to address the mental health challenges today’s teens face. These dynamic programs tackle the multifaceted and complex teen experience, setting a new standard for care.
We offer a confidential mental health assessment with a licensed clinician to guide your teen toward the appropriate level of care, whether they need depression treatment, anger management therapy, or care for another condition. Our expert team of teen therapists in the Dallas area is here to help.
BasePoint ensures transparency about pricing, including the cost of a partial hospitalization program, outpatient therapy sessions, intensive outpatient programs, or other services. Additionally, we can help you navigate your insurance coverage, whether you have UMR, Aetna, United Healthcare, Cigna, and Blue Cross Blue Shield, or a plan from another provider. Explore our offerings to find teen group therapy or individual counseling near you and help your child take the first step toward healing today.
Call us at (469) 754-9379 or complete our inquiry form to schedule a complimentary same-day assessment.
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