The National Institute on Drug Abuse has released an updated set of resources to help parents "sort out marijuana myths from science based facts," according to a statement released May 20 by the National Institutes of Health.
Two updated booklets are being released in conjunction with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Prevention Week 2014, which takes place May 18-24.
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"Marijuana Facts for Teens" covers the wide range of effects marijuana can have on teenage users.
"Marijuana Facts for Teens" covers the topics of marijuana’s health consequences in teens, its effect on the developing brain, addiction risk, and updated information about its potential medical benefits. "Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know" contains updated guidelines for parents on how to tell if their child is using marijuana and how to discuss the topic with their children.
Both publications have been updated to include new sections on the dangers of synthetic marijuana, the effect of marijuana use on teens’ IQ, and potential therapeutic uses of the drug.
According to the 2013 Monitoring the Future survey, 45.5% of teens will have tried marijuana at least once by the time they graduate high school, and more than 6% of high school seniors report smoking daily.
For more information, visit http://teens.drugabuse.gov/.