Playbl Newsletter

🖐️ Welcome to this month’s Playbl Newsletter, where we provide research-based content to educators and clinicians to support their behavioral health work with youth. This month’s edition will test your knowledge about marijuana use, its effects, and associated risks. 

True or False: Test Your Knowledge of the Facts!

Think you know all about marijuana? Take this quick quiz to test your knowledge and learn more about the basics!

Although far more people consume alcohol than marijuana, daily marijuana use is more prevalent than daily alcohol use. Recent data reveals that 17.7 million people use marijuana daily, surpassing the 14.7 million daily alcohol users. This represents a substantial 15-fold increase in the rate of daily marijuana use from 1992 to 2022. Additionally, the risk of becoming a daily marijuana user is notably higher than that of becoming a daily drinker. While 8% of alcohol users consume it daily, a significantly higher 29% of marijuana users report daily use.

Marijuana can be addictive. Research indicates that approximately 20% of those who start using marijuana will develop an addiction, and currently, 30% of users meet the criteria for addiction. This risk is significantly higher for those who start using marijuana during their teens or young adulthood, almost doubling. Additionally, individuals who use marijuana multiple times each week face a heightened risk of dependency, ranging from 25% to 50%. Although not commonly acknowledged, regular marijuana users frequently experience withdrawal symptoms when attempting to quit, similar to users of other drugs.

Delta-8 and Delta-10 THC are cannabinoids that create a milder high than Delta-9 THC (the main intoxicant in marijuana) creating a “fuzzy” sense of euphoria. They are found in hemp and cannabis plants, but the types sold in stores are lab-made and much more potent. These products are sold in gas stations and convenience stores, and are popular among teens. They are legal at the federal level but state regulations vary, and they are not regulated by the FDA.

While vaping eliminates combustion and exposure to tar and carbon monoxide, it introduces irritants, harmful chemicals and contaminants found in the vapor to the lungs. Also, the higher THC concentration in vapes can increase the risk of addiction and dependence. 

The THC concentration in marijuana has increased significantly over the past few decades. In 1995, the average THC content in confiscated marijuana was around 4%, but by 2021, it had risen to over 15% and is still rising. This increase is due to growers adopting techniques to create more potent strains. Products like dabs, oils, and edibles now have even higher THC levels, some as high as 90%, making them potentially more dangerous and addictive while very popular among teens.

Driving is a complex task that requires your full attention. Marijuana negatively affects your brain’s control of body movements, balance, coordination, memory, and judgment. 

Driving under the influence of marijuana can impair safe driving by:

• Slowing reaction time
• Impairing coordination
• Affecting judgment and decision-making
• Distorting perception

Remember: Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is illegal and unsafe, and can result in a DUI with negative impacts on your future. No level of marijuana use is acceptable while driving, even in states where it is legal. 

The human brain keeps maturing until around age 25, and THC interacts with the brain’s endocannabinoid system, which plays a vital role in development. Using marijuana at an early age may affect how the brain builds connections related to attention, memory, and learning. As a result, youth who use marijuana may not do as well in school and may have trouble remembering things.

Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. We’re excited to announce that we are developing a self-paced Tier 2 Intervention course for youth about nicotine vaping. For many schools, this can be used as a restorative, alternative-to-suspension activity to support students who’ve presented with vaping related behaviors. If you’d like to learn more about this new product, please complete the form linked below. 

About Playbl

Playbl is a mission-driven organization focused on improving adolescent behavioral health. As a partner to the play2PREVENT Lab, we leverage the power of evidence-based video games to improve health outcomes for youth aged 10-19. Game topics include smoking & vaping, opioid misuse, mental health, and sexual health.

Click here to learn more about our games and find out how to bring them to your organization.

If you would like to learn more about building a school environment to decrease all substance misuse and addiction, reach out to the team at Playbl about our professional development courses for educators and administrators.