Pot, weed, marijuana, bud…whatever you may know it as, cannabis is more popular than ever. In our state, the use of cannabis is higher than the national average. And in our town, it’s the second most commonly used substance by Wethersfield youth ages 11-18.
Even if you know adults who use cannabis to relax, or whose doctors have prescribed it for a specific reason, it’s important to understand that cannabis affects younger brains differently than adults’ brains.
Consequences associated with youth cannabis use include:
One drink can’t hurt, right? When you’re underage, the answer is yes, it can.
Alcohol is the most commonly used substance in Connecticut, with a higher reported use than the national average. Here in Wethersfield, kids as young as 7th grade have reported using alcohol in their lifetime.
Underage drinking is associated with many risks such as:
Just because it’s not a cigarette doesn’t mean it’s safe. The FDA doesn’t regulate vaping products, so we don’t even know the full extent of what’s in those little devices. We do know that whether you’re inhaling nicotine, cannabis, or flavored liquid, you’re also inhaling traces of nasty chemicals–including formaldehyde–that can affect learning and brain development and cause cancer.
If that wasn’t enough to say “no thanks” to vaping, here’s another breakdown to consider: 98% of all vaping products sold in the US contain nicotine. Nicotine is one of the top 5 most addictive substances. Nicotine is also the leading preventable cause of death in the country.
Consequences associated with vaping include:
Teenage life is stressful. Pressure at school, home, and with friends can feel overwhelming, and many kids don’t know how to manage. In fact, nearly a quarter of Wethersfield 7th-12th graders reported feeling anxious at least most of the time, and 30.4% of kids in those same grades reported feeling so sad or hopeless that it stopped them from doing their usual activities.
There’s a direct correlation between these kinds of feelings and substance use. Kids who have used any substance in their lifetime are also more likely to have experienced the following:
Volunteers are always welcome! There are so many opportunities for residents to get involved in our community. Contact us or give us a call at 860.721.2880. Let’s make a difference together!
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