Drug abuse is not a novel concept. It has been around for quite some time now. While we know how many teenagers are involved in drug abuse, we must also be aware of the fact how harmful and life-threatening these drugs can be for their health.

Teens who get involved in a bad company are often seen consuming drugs and becoming addicts of alcohol. If nothing is done to stop them in the beginning, they might become addicted to the drugs or the alcohol and face life-threatening problems in future.

Parents can understand when their teen is involved in drugs because there is a significant change in their demeanor. Their body language becomes different. They start taking less interest in their studies and other school activities. They no longer take interest in the way they appear. They don’t bother looking good. They only hang out with friends who are also involved in illegal stuff. Their lives take a complete turn. They develop a number of psychological problems.

Cannabis – a Type of Drug

Teens who frequently smoke cannabis – a form of a drug – suffer from a number of mental health problems which can eventually lead to brain damage or developing schizophrenia.

American medical researchers have found out that this type of drug is particularly harmful to a group of teens who have a genetic susceptibility to the mental health disorder and it could trigger it.  

Those teens who smoke cannabis during their formative years are most likely to develop the mental health disorder. Consuming marijuana can lead to some long-term negative effects on teens. Research also suggests that teens who started taking marijuana before the age of 16 are at greater risk of developing mental disorders that may lead to permanent brain damage.

Adolescence is the period where children’s brains are developing and if marijuana is taken during that time period, it can be life-threatening for them.

Cannabis Can be Harmful to the Brain

The long-term use of cannabis can be extremely harmful to the teens. If taken frequently, this particular drug can destroy dopamine, which is a feel-good chemical in the brain that stirs a spirit of get-up-and-go.

When teens take an excessive amount of marijuana, they can become withdrawn, apathetic, and lethargic. They also experience psychotic-like symptoms while smoking the cannabis. For instance, they have strange sensations in their body or become paranoid for no reason.

Teens who are regular users of cannabis tend to have a drop in their dopamine levels. Obviously, cannabis is the cause of the difference in their dopamine levels. Cannabis is really an illegal drug and those who believe it to be a harmless herb are wrong.

When people stop taking cannabis altogether, their brain will slowly go back to producing normal levels of dopamine that are required.  

Cannabis does have a harmful effect on the brain and can be life-threatening. It is important people should be aware of its dangers. Parents should keep their teens away from such drugs and should know when their teen is involved in drug abuse. If teens are controlled at the right time, chances are, they won’t become drug addicts in future.