For every parent, one of the most complicated conversations you can have with your kids is the big talk about drugs. So, imagine how difficult the situation can become when one particularly infamous little green plant has taken center stage in politics? Nowadays, the fragrant herb marijuana is plastered everywhere, and, if you are a parent who is living with your child in a weed-legal state, the chances are high (no pun intended) that your little one will see a lot of advertising for pot. So, with such a huge focus on marijuana, what can you do to make sure your kid doesn’t indulge too early? How can you educate them about the benefits as well as the dangers of this plant? Let’s take a closer look at how you can talk to your kids about marijuana.
Pot Is a No-No
Despite its medical benefits, pot has certainly had a negative spotlight as much as a positive one in 2018. Back in January, a 5th grader from New Mexico unknowingly shared pot-infused gummy bears (which had belonged to her parents) to her classmates, resulting in an emergency situation. Later, in March, two teenagers also consumed marijuana gummy bears, resulting in three arrests.
Needless to say, adolescence is not a time for experimentation, even though children and young adults are willing to seek dangerous thrills. One of the first steps you can take to make sure your kids understand the negative impacts of marijuana is to tell them, plain and simple, how this drug can destroy the brain during these years. Explain how the prefrontal cortex (an important part of the brain that controls impulses and reasoning) is exploding with activity during adolescence, and help your kids understand how marijuana can impede IQ and performance. Always be honest.
Additional Perspective
To create a more effective conversation, try to go back to that time when you were an adolescent and help your child understand that this is a difficult time. Furthermore, set up some goals for your big talk and (above all else) do not lecture them. Also, do not create a one-sided argument. Make your teen understand the medical applications for the plant and some of the ways it has benefited society over the years.
Always remember that marijuana does not have control over your life. You do. Are you suffering from a substance use disorder or a severe form of addiction? Do you have a friend or family member suffering from one or more of these debilitating illnesses? If you do, get in touch with Asana Recovery today. Our counselors and healthcare experts are ready to walk you through every step of the detox and withdrawal process and rehabilitation and guide you towards living a happier, healthier, and freer lifestyle. While the road to recovery might not be an easy road to travel, we promise to help you every step of the way. Take the first step to stay fit, healthy, and safe.
The time for you to take back control of your life is now. If you are interested in one of our residential treatment or supervised detoxification/withdrawal programs, we are ready and waiting to speak with you at your disclosure. Call Asana now at (949) 438-4504 to learn how to overcome your drug abuse or addiction troubles today.
