Is My Teenager Smoking Weed?

Teen marijuana use is not new. Marijuana is a substance that is used by everyone from teenagers to the elderly. That said, while marijuana use may not be as dangerous as something like heroin or cocaine, it can still lead to developmental problems if started too early in life. Let’s take a closer look at teenage marijuana use and how you can tell if your teenage daughter or son is smoking marijuana.

Luckily, there are addiction treatment programs and sober living homes that can help you or a loved one overcome any sort of addiction problem that you may be dealing with.

Signs of Marijuana Use in Teens

Marijuana is the most commonly used drug among teenagers. With the advent of social media, the use of marijuana is considered “cool” by many teens, and many teens don’t even consider it to be a drug. Changes in laws regarding medicinal marijuana and recreational use cause many teens to doubt the dangers of marijuana use.

A 2014 survey of 12th-grade students found that just over 21 percent of teens said they had smoked marijuana within the past month. Teens continue to report that marijuana is easily accessible and very affordable.

Make sure you know the warning signs your teen is using marijuana.

Marijuana resembles tobacco. It can be green and brown or grayish in color. It includes the dried leaves, flowers, and stems of the cannabis plant. It may be shredded or crumbled, which is how it looks when it is smoked. Sometimes teens will create a blunt out of a hollowed-out cigar filled with marijuana. Teens crumble marijuana and roll it into a cigarette or use a pipe or bong to smoke. Sometimes teens place marijuana in food, like brownies.

Just because cannabis is legal in some states doesn’t mean it’s a good idea for your teen to start using it recreationally any more than it is to let them start smoking tobacco. The long-term risks and health side effects have yet to be understood by the scientific community. If you’re a parent who is involved in your child’s life, you should be easily able to see the signs your teen is using marijuana.

Signs Your Teen Is High

Being high on marijuana is unique to the individual, but there are some signs you may notice if your teen has recently smoked pot:

Smell his or her laundry. The smell of smoked marijuana is extremely difficult to get out of clothing.
If they have their own car, smell the inside and examine the seats for burns or paraphernalia.
Your teen may have red, bloodshot eyes.
Your teen could be very giddy or very tired, depending on when he got high.
Your teen may be paranoid or anxious.
Your teen may get the ‘munchies’ and be hungry for anything he can get his hands on.
Does your teen wear clothes with a lot of pockets? Have you ever checked them before they go out?

The most popular times for a teen to get high are after school, often before or after playing video games, and before the parents get home for work. Other popular times are when they’re out with friends on weekends. If you don’t really know exactly where they are at any given time, you run the risk of them running with the wrong crowd and experimenting with substances. Other popular times and places are at music festivals. Most of us grew up with these and we all know what goes on there, and while it’s impossible to keep teens on lockdown, that’s not an excuse to turn a blind eye if you’ve set boundaries.

Has Your Teen’s Mood or Behavior Changed?

A change in behavior is one of the biggest telltale signs your teen is using marijuana. Regular marijuana use might lead to varying behavior at school, work, changes in attendance in school, or mood swings. Your teen’s appearance may change, too.

Additionally, it could be that your teen demonstrates a more laid-back or “lazy” demeanor. It’s possible that he/she may neglect chores or other activities. However, it’s important to remember that the effects of marijuana on an individual vary. It’s best not to make the assumption your teen is on drugs until you have further evidence or you are able to have an honest discussion with them about it.

Have You Found Any Drug Paraphernalia?

While it’s good practice to give your teen privacy, it’s important to remember what your teen is doing is your business. So if you have a reason to spot any of the signs your teen is using marijuana, it’s worth investigating.

Be on the lookout for pipes, rolling papers, and baggies with marijuana residue. These items may be hidden in canisters, books, or bottles in your teen’s room. Glass pipes, aluminum foil, cutting tools, or cylindrical items that have holes cut in such a fashion to resemble a pipe are also cause for further investigation. If you’re letting your teen vape, no judgments here, but it’s a good bet that they’re developing bad habits and among them, possibly a marijuana habit. Any of the above could be signs your teen is using marijuana and it’s always wise to remember that as parents, you set the rules, no matter who’s doing what on social media.

Do You Suspect Your Teen’s Friends Smoke Weed?

Sometimes, parents find out about their teen’s marijuana use through their teen’s friends. A parent might confide in you that your child’s friend was caught smoking marijuana or using drugs.

Spending time with friends who use drugs may indicate that your teen could be using drugs as well. It’s important to know who is influencing your teen. If you know your teen’s friends are smoking, you can use this fact to open up a conversation about what it means to your teen that his/her friends are smoking, which may lead you to discover if your teen is participating as well.

Are There Signs Your Teen Trying to Hide Her Marijuana Use?

Teens who use marijuana, especially around the home, have to be resourceful to mask the smell and hide the evidence.

Marijuana has a distinct order and if you have ever smelled it, you’ll recognize it again. If you have not, call your local community center or police department and sign up for a D.A.R.E. or parenting class on teen drug use.

You may find your teen has taken an interest in incense or air fresheners. Or, he may start using eye drops to mask the redness in his eyes. These are good indications that they may be using marijuana. If your Potpourri spray or Febreze keeps disappearing, start investigating.

Three large studies in Australia and New Zealand found that adolescents who used marijuana regularly were significantly less likely than their non-using peers to finish high school or obtain a degree. They also had a much higher chance of developing dependence, using other drugs, and attempting suicide. I can’t think of any responsible parent who thinks the risks are worth granting teens free reign. At the first signs, your teen is using marijuana, it goes without saying that you’re already too late to have the talk about the child being responsible and making wise decisions.

It’s always shocking to treatment providers when parents knew about substance abuse and chose to do little or nothing. The sad truth is that teens who experiment with cannabis are hanging around people who are doing it often. As they watch their peers progress to harder and harder drugs, your teenager can get drawn into it. Before you know it, you have an addict on your hands. If you watch any of the videos where addicts speak about the progression of their addiction, almost all of them started with “oh, I just wanted to try it.” If you see signs your teen is using marijuana, you need to take action.

Marijuana Treatment at The District

If you or a loved one are dealing with a marijuana or other addiction problem, there are treatment options. The District Recovery Community partners with Orange County rehabs and has robust alumni and community programs in place to ensure that anyone who walks through our doors are set up for success when the leave.