Effects Of School Drug Policies On Student Marijuana Use

There has been an extensive amount of research done on risk factors and marijuana use. Among adolescents the vast majority of the research has identified five major risk factors associated with adolescent marijuana use, family relations (parent-child attachment), peer associations, substance abuse programs, gender, and race. Some researchers have found that the family is the best predictor of adolescent marijuana use, while others claim that peer associations are predictors of adolescent marijuana use. Others believe that substance abuse programs are the key to deterring adolescent drug use. The final groups of researchers believe gender and race are the underlining predictors. The following studies will give a quick overview of the prior research on risk factors and adolescent marijuana use.

Research has found that teenagers who used cigarettes were twelve times more likely to graduate to marijuana use. A similar study conducted by Denise Kandel (1992) revealed that use of marijuana affects dopamine levels in the brain in a similar way to nicotine. Cigarette smoking facilitates consumption of other substances. Smoking cigarettes initiate juveniles into the sensation of drug inhalation, which desensitizes them from the feeling of smoke clouding their lungs. This paper finds that marijuana pervades the life of a juvenile tobacco smoker. Teenagers who smoke cigarettes

In order to pay for drug use, teens engage in criminal behavior, motor vehicle theft, and breaking-and-entering offenses (University of Washington ADAI). Teen Marijuana users need money to pay for drug use, and in order to obtain money, teens engage in problematic behaviors. There are also legal aspects when selling, using, or possessing marijuana, involving fines, jail time, and possibly a criminal record (Teens Health 2). Teen marijuana users’ problematic behaviors involving the law can lead to consequences, sometimes with the potential to damage the teen’s future. Laws against growing, possessing, and selling marijuana exist in all states but Washington and Colorado (2). Over 7.2 million Americans have been arrested on marijuana charges since 1990, many of which were teenagers (NORML). Marijuana association damages the lives of many teens who get caught engaging in marijuana associated problematic behaviors. The problematic behaviors associated with teen marijuana use can potentially damage not only a teen’s future, but also society.

Marijuana is one of the most commonly used drugs in the Nation and the world. In an article by Gray (2007) he states that “42% of high school seniors have tried marijuana, 18% have used it in the past 30 days, and 5% use it daily. Among adolescents aged 12 to 17, 3.6% met criteria for cannabis use disorder (abuse or dependence) and 2% met criteria for cannabis dependence”. Gray (2007) also explains how easily adolescents say it is to obtain marijuana these days. The article also states that there is evidence to prove that marijuana use may lead to “hard” drug use, academic failure, and more. With those who use marijuana chronically it may lead to impairing of the immune

The University of Michigan “annually survey in 2010 ” identified that adolescents nationwide, will start using drugs from 8, 10, and 12-grade use drugs, which include alcohol, Tabaco, marijuana, and other drugs; the survey shows the increased of marijuana use among high school seniors to daily basis. Consumption is the highest in comparison with the previous study nearly 65% of those students use marijuana as their primary drug of choice.

Despite all of the efforts put fourth in attempting to better educate and stop drug use in America studies show that drug use by juveniles has substantially increased within recent years. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) juveniles as young as eighth grade are using drugs such as marijuana on a daily basis. Unfortunately, most of these juveniles have also experimented with alcohol at this age as a gateway drug to start using marijuana and so forth. (NIDA) There are many aspects that could impact why children so young are getting access to these drugs. The NIDA Director Dr. Nora Volkow states that, “Marijuana use not only places teens at risk of addiction but also impairs their memory, judgment, and ability to learn.” These drugs are now so easily accessible at such a vulnerable and impressionable age that it could have devastating impacts on the juvenile’s future in the criminal justice system. Important factors that go alongside in drug abuse with juveniles would be peer pressure, family factors, and lastly emotional problems they are experiencing in their young years of life.

Many researchers and voters believe “Mary Jane” will cause Californian students’ academic performance to decline if marijuana becomes legalized; however, some do not accept this theory. While “Mary Jane” is constantly put down, new sources have proven that since the legalization of cannabis, teenagers have not increased their use of medical marijuana (Borchardt). “One of the biggest worries about legalized medical marijuana was that teenagers would smoke more pot, but it turns out those fears were wrong” (Borchardt). Since the legalization, the unincreased use of marijuana has not affected the academic performance of students. On a report from a National Survey on Drug Use, says other sources believe that the use of marijuana is increasing,

The New York Times article speaks to various studies that were performed relating to the adolescence use of marijuana nationwide and how users are getting younger and younger, from 8-12th graders. Poison control center has seen an increase in calls ad younger users are now experiencing marijuana and mixing herbs to create a new drug. Dr. Christian Thurstone, medical director of adolescent substance abuse treatment program at Denver Health and Hospital states “we’re clearly seeing an increase in teenage

Among adolescents aged 12 to 17 years, 9.8 % are estimated to be current users of illicit drugs, with 4.9 % using drugs other than marijuana. Nearly three quarters of students have started to drink alcohol and nearly half (47%) have tried using an illicit drug (not including alcohol or tobacco) by the senior year of high school.” (Hassan, Harris, Sherritt, Van Hook, & Brooks, 2009)

Drug use is an increasing problem among teenagers in today's high schools. Most drug use begins in the teenage years, these years are the most crucial in the maturing process. During these years adolescents are faced with the difficult tasks of discovering their self identity, clarifying their sexual roles, assenting independence, learning to cope with authority figures and searching for goals that would give their lives meaning. Drugs are readily available, adolescents are curious and venerable, and there is peer pressure to experiment, and there is a temptation to escape from conflicts. The use of drugs by teenagers is the result of a combination of factors such as peer pressure, curiosity, and

(S) This worker met with the Goodman family, Diana parent A, Shannon parent B, and their child Derek, for a follow up due the original reported concerns of substance (marijuana) use by the child. During this meeting, Parent A reported further concerns of substance use, and states that she had discovered, “An ounce” of marijuana within Derek’s belongings. Parent A also reported continued concerns of low academic and recreational activity performance from Derek, and states, “He just doesn’t care.” Parent A, also mentioned that she is feeling unsupported by Parent B, stating that parent B and the child, Derek, are smoking marijuana together. Parent B, reported that she did not see any areas of concern in regards to Derek’s continued drug use,

This is the statistic of 2014 for 8th and 12th drug use under high schoolers age. For the past few years use of Illicit drug started declining. But the percentage show that Marijuana use among 8th graders at 6.5 percent, among 10th graders 16.6 percent, and among 12th graders at 21.2 percent for the past month. My topic is Drug Legalization which I am against off, because as we can see in this statistic more and more people even students are becoming addicted to drug use. Years before the statistic percentage was way smaller, because Drug use such as Marijuana was illegal which was harder to find. But now this days, when Marijuana is legal in 24 states of America it is easier to buy and became addicted. The Student Athlete Drug policy that

Even though it is illegal if the drug abusers have not been caught they will continue to use the drug and use others. Many adolescences experiment with marijuana due to curiosity and peer pressure studies have shown that the use of marijuana at a young age causes the adolescences to want to try more dangerous narcotics such as cocaine and heroin. An article titled “Evidence That Marijuana Is a Gateway to other Illicit Drug Use” by Joseph Gfoerer, Li-Tzy Wu, and Michael Penne states that, “the highest prevalence of use of heroin, cocaine, and psychotherapeutics in the lifetime was noted among those who initiated marijuana before they were 15 years old. With many young people trying strong narcotics illegally it is no surprise that other young people will also become more apt to try these heavier drugs. The article, “Marijuana is a Dangerous Drug for Teens” by Joseph Calfifano discuses why marijuana is so dangerous for teens and how the gateway effect plays part in this problem. The article states that marijuana use is a “signal of trouble”, the troubles include lack of growth, focus, and motor skills. He also brings up the gateway effect in the article the statistics he uses include, “Twelve to seventeen year olds who smoke marijuana are eighty five times more likely to use cocaine than those who would not.” These statists are very strong in

During my eighth grade year I had a close companion who I continuously found doing weed in the bathroom. At first I did not say much due to my ignorance; however I did take notice of all the negativity that seemed to surround weed. Thereafter I would occasionally mention how deadly smoking weed could be and expressed my distaste for the smell. Yet, everyday during fifth period he would slip out of class to go and smoke a joint. Even though my companion's beliefs and approach to life differed from mine, they later helped me to be more open to others ideas and perceptions.

Regardless of the healing abilities that Marijuana can produce it is believed that Marijuana, can also be linked to school failure. Marijuana can cause negative effects on memory, attention, and learning can last for days or weeks. A person who smokes Marijuana daily may have a dimmer brain then the normal person who doesn’t use any drugs. Teenagers who smoke Marijuana, tend to receive lower graders and also is more likely to drop out of high-school. Research shows that it can lower your IQ level if used a lot in your teen years. Research also indicate that longtime marijuana users report lower life satisfaction. It affects memory, relationships also affects a person mentally, physically, and your health is affected also. This can