The High Never Lasts

THC in Vapes Causes health problems for Teens

Vaping has been deemed a pandemic over the past few years, now another problem has popped up. THC. Tetrahydrocannabinol is the chemical responsible for most of the psychological effects of Marijuana.

THC is what makes people feel “high.” More and more people have been purchasing vapes with this chemical recently, meaning more are teens getting access to it.

For people under the age of 25, THC has a negative impact on mental and physical health. Some negative effects include;

• Trouble thinking and problem solving

• Memory and learning problems

• Reduced coordination (ex. walking)

• Difficulty staying focused on tasks such as school work

• Problems with social life and school in general

According to CDC, teens that use Marijuana are likely to have an increased risk of mental health issues such as:

• Anxiety

• Paranoia

• Depression

• Temporary Psychosis

• Long-Lasting Schizophrenia

Besides the effect on mental health, another risk factor is impaired driving. First of all, driving while using any substance is dangerous, but it is also illegal.

Charges for first offense are $100-$500 fine, community service and a 90 day driver’s license suspension.

Vaping is a big problem, the city of Bryant has put in a fine for $100-$500 if you get caught vaping in school. So why are students still choosing to do this even after knowing the consequences?

According to American Addiction Centers (AAC) many teens “turn to marijuana to help deal with painful emotions and cope with mental illness,” so with mental health conditions on the rise so is the issue of drug use.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services conducted a study showing that one out of five teens have diagnosable mental health disorders and over a third show symptoms of depression. Because of the “numbing effect” that marijuana has on a person’s mind many of these teens seek it out to relieve their pain.

However, self medication does much more harm to a person than good as people who self medicate “are likely to see an increase in social phobia, as well as other substance use disorders,” according to the AAC.

Story By: Addison Warford & Katie Wright

BY Addison Warford