Marijuana is one of the most widely used illegal drugs worldwide, especially among young people, minors, and particularly teenagers who smoke joints. The socially accepted appearance of harmlessness and its perceived low level of risk position it as the perfect substance for them. These groups use cannabis recreationally to better fit in with their surroundings. However, smoking marijuana regularly and irresponsibly abusing joints can have serious consequences. Today we help you answer the question: What should I do if my child smokes joints?
Effects of joints on young people and teenagers
Although marijuana is a very harmless substance, it also comes with several risks. They are not as dangerous as drinking alcohol excessively or taking cocaine frequently. But the effects of joints have a greater impact on young people and teenagers. In this case, it is therefore appropriate to speak of groups vulnerable to cannabis. As they are people in the stage of greatest growth and development of their lives, addiction to joints can severely harm them.
Some of the most common problems of smoking marijuana are possible difficulties in physical and mental development, emotional changes, and the loss of certain cognitive abilities. Using cannabis regularly can encourage addiction and dependence on this narcotic. So the person smokes more and more joints, and their body may end up needing this substance to function. As a result, the intensity of the effects caused by the drug increases.
If a teenager uses marijuana regularly, they will experience its symptoms with greater or lesser intensity. This can translate into changes in personality, behaviour, and the way they connect with their closest environment. For example, smoking joints all the time will prevent the young person from focusing their thoughts on anything other than using cannabis. This can lead to a loss of productivity, increased school failure, and low self-esteem—facts that can harm them throughout their life if it is not addressed through addiction treatment.
How to convince your child not to smoke joints
The first step before you begin is to be sure that the teenager smokes marijuana regularly. It may only be a one-off event to get to know people better. If we are truly sure that the person smokes joints frequently, we should bring up the subject delicately. Intrusion by their parents or someone they know into their private environment may cause them to withdraw. So you should talk to him or her frankly, without judging, and understand their position.
How to know if my child smokes joints: Addiction symptoms
Some of the signs of dependence that may reveal that your child smokes joints are:
- Having watery eyes
- Apathy
- Visible tiredness or dark circles under the eyes
- Changing clothes or wearing cologne to hide the smell of cannabis
- Hiding things to smoke in inaccessible places
- Disinhibition
- Increased appetite
- Laughing frequently at things that are not funny
- Vacant stare
- Inability to sustain a long conversation
My child smokes joints at home: How to stop it
Marijuana is considered an illegal drug, so its sale is prohibited, even if its use is accepted. However, using cannabis in public spaces is not allowed. So if your child smokes joints at home, it may be for two reasons. On the one hand, because it is a place where they feel safe and consider it comfortable. On the other hand, because they do not know of another place where they can smoke joints peacefully.
As a guardian and person responsible for the teenager, you must provide primary prevention to avoid putting their health at risk and prevent it from harming their life. Although it may seem easy, it is a very difficult support process. The teenager is in a period where they seek more independence and comfort in order to break the rules. Therefore, to truly prevent your child from smoking joints, you must talk to him/her—always addressing the topic delicately and without disrupting their comfort zone.
What should I do if my child smokes joints? Prevention through some guidelines:
- They should feel your love, not contempt, prejudice, or scolding
- A trusted person who does not smoke joints should talk to him/her
- Agree on rules and limits to prevent the abuse of smoking marijuana
- Teach them the consequences of addiction so they realise their actions
- Talk with the teenager regularly to help them relax and feel comfortable talking about their problems
- Try to guide them towards a healthier lifestyle
- Always seek a good, positive family atmosphere
If it does not work, what should you do to make them stop?
When the family bond fails and your child does not want to stop smoking joints, it is time to seek professional help. Cannabis addiction is an illness, so it can become a serious long-term health problem. To avoid this, it is recommended to visit an addiction treatment centre. In these places, addiction therapists are responsible for providing the support and resources needed for drug rehabilitation.
CCAdicciones is an addiction centre that helps addicts and families recover from an addictive disorder. Contact us and we will provide information about our addiction therapies.
