To help parents know if their teenager is abusing marijuana, below is a list of teen cannabis use disorder signs. Although marijuana is being legalized across the country, it remains a dangerous drug when abused. However, teens and adolescents believe that legalization means that smoking marijuana is safe.

Thus, given our experience as one of California’s top teen SUD treatment centers, Tarzana Treatment Centers can help. Indeed, we see teen cannabis use disorder increasing since legalization.

Indeed, teen marijuana use is more than a minor issue. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 35% of high school seniors reported using marijuana in the previous year. Moreover, 22% of high school seniors said they used marijuana within the past month. It is essential to remember that these disclosures are voluntary. Therefore, given human nature, teenagers do not always tell the truth.

Signs of Teen Cannabis Use Disorder include:

1) Red or bloodshot eyes with a glassy look

2) The use of slang marijuana terms like weed, bud, ganja, herb, flower, sativa, & crumble

3) The “munchies” = excessive eating that seems out of character or the normative

4) A decline in personal appearance with a disheveled look and poor hygiene

5) An increased need for money fueled by drug-seeking behaviors

6) Impaired coordination; an unexpected clumsiness combined with laughter

7) Suddenly not caring about previous interests and hobbies

8) Replacing old friends with new ones – druggie buddies – for no apparent reason

9) Increased sleepiness, including taking naps and dozing off at odd hours

10) Short-term memory loss, impaired problem-solving and learning abilities

Without question, these signs do not necessarily imply cannabis use disorder. However, the signs of teen cannabis use disorder are red flags. Hence, i these red flags are being waved, then asking questions and talking to your teen makes sense.

Vaping and the Challenge of Teen Cannabis Disorder

The rise of vaping marijuana made it harder to uncover teen cannabis use disorder. Suddenly, two common signs of teen cannabis use disorder are no longer applicable in many cases:

First, vaping marijuana removes the smell from the process. Since vaping produces a mostly scentless vapor, marijuana use no longer leads to the red flag of a strong smell. Second, the replacement of marijuana smoke with vapor removes a sign. In the past, many teens were caught using marijuana because of the smoke and the smell.

Given this profound shift, parents need to pay greater attention to uncover cannabis use disorder. Although some of the signs are obvious, much of the clarity is lost. Given this challenge, accessing professional help makes sense.

Tarzana Treatment Centers Can Help Teenagers

If you believe your teenager is fooling around with marijuana, please act before an initial issue becomes a genuine problem. Indeed, contact Tarzana Treatment Centers and learn more about treatment options for teen cannabis use disorder.