Figueroa 1

Mauricio Figueroa
Humanities-1/2
18 May 2014
Acapulco Gold
According to the 2012 Monitoring the Future (MTF) Study, 45.3% of U.S. 12th graders
reported having used marijuana once or more in their lifetime, with 22.9% reporting use in the
previous 30 days (Adolescents and Marijuana). Marijuana use is an increasing problem
within teens as it continues to prove itself a negative factor in affecting lives. Teens think that
because everyone is doing it or it comes from the earth, marijuana has no lasting effects.
Marijuana is a mixture of dried leaves, stems and flowers of the cannabis sativa plant, containing
THC, which is 10% of the drug (Drug Facts Marijuana). As a result, marijuana has become
one of the most commonly abused drugs in teens society, masking the dangerous risks of the
drug. Society should do more to educate teens and adults on the negative effects of marijuana use
so that teens are fully educated before deciding whether or not to engage in the use of this drug.
Marijuana use in teens has multiple root causes, but two major drives are the
misconception of how prevalent marijuana use is among peers and the misbelief that it is safer
than other drugs or alcohol. For example, Some people mistakenly believe that everyone is
doing it and use that as an excuse to start using marijuana themselves (Drug Facts
Marijuana). This is one of the many reasons teens believe there is nothing wrong with smoking
marijuana. It has become so acceptable in society, that it causes others to follow the trend to try
the drug themselves. In addition , teens also tend to believe that marijuana use is not harmful.
(Marijuana And Teens) This shows that many teens are not educated about the effects
marijuana, alcohol or any other drugs can have on their bodies and on their lives. Teens must not

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assume that marijuana cannot affect them. They should know more about this drug so they do not
underestimate its danger. Teens have many misunderstandings about marijuana and its causes.
While marijuana is associated with causing trouble within society, it also has particular
and serious effects on teens. For example, Marijuana affects memory, judgment, and perception.
Under the influence of marijuana, you could fail to remember things you just learned, watch your
grade point average drop (Drug Facts Marijuana). This quote proves that marijuana can make
teens unsteady and very unfocused academically. Teens who use marijuana, risk being drastically
unfocused in school and they are also found to not be able to complete certain tasks like school
work and maintaining social relationships. But having a distorted and murky state of mind is not
the only effect marijuana can have on teens. Marijuana can also have long-term health effects on
teens. For example, People who abuse marijuana are also at risk of injuring their lungs through
exposure to respiratory irritants found in marijuana smoke. The smoke from marijuana contains
the same chemical as tobacco plus, marijuana users tend to inhale more deeply and hold their
breath longer so more smoke will enter their lungs (Drug Facts Marijuana). This strong side
effect from smoking marijuana can result in the same health consequences as smoking cigarettes
and tobacco. Teens can end up getting pervasive coughs and bad chest colds. Smoking marijuana
can even lead to lung cancer. There are many effects marijuana can have on teens, both long and
short term, and more must be done to educate teenagers on the risks involved before they choose
to use it.
There are many solutions that can help to end teen marijuana abuse in teens. One solution
to end marijuana abuse in teens is to help them accept and commit to treatment programs. For
instance, Many teen health clinics are housed within hospitals and, to a growing extent, inside
middle schools and high schools. There are also a variety of treatment programs for teens who

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struggle with abusing marijuana and other drugs. There are even special schools and residential
rehab programs for teenagers trying to kick addiction (Stevenson). Treatment centers for teens,
especially those focusing on marijuana abuse, can really help them to overcome smoking. These
centers help to educate teens, leading them to realize the many harmful effects and consequences
of marijuana on their minds and bodies. While professional treatment can be a huge solution to
ending teen marijuana abuse, peers and parents can can also do their part to help prevent use.
One way to prevent teens from abusing or using marijuana is by talking to them. For example,
Talking with your child when they are in elementary or middle school in an honest and open
way can prevent drug use in the future (Marijuana And Teens). Simply taking the initiative to
communicate with teens can be one of the most effective ways to prevent young children and
teens from making the choice to use or abuse marijuana. This method is very intuitive and
efficient. Parents or older trusted mentors in younger children's life can sit them down and
educate them about the common, yet harmful effects on this drug. Marijuana abuse in teens has
many potential solutions to prevent or stop teens from using this drug.
Society must do more to educate teens and adults on the negative effects of marijuana use
so that teens have some knowledge of the drug before deciding if they should engage or not.
Marijuana is one the the most commonly used drugs in teen culture today. It is also wildly
accepted by society at large, making the dangerous risks of the drug less known to those who are
vulnerable for use and abuse. Many teens tend to lean towards accepting what their peers claim
and think marijuana is from the earth and that there is no harm in it. Unfortunately, many are
not fully informed about the life long consequences that can affect on both their physical health
and mental health, like long lung problems and having a lack of motivation in school or at work.

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Society needs to educate more teens about this drug and how it can, and will, impact their lives
by talking with teens and supporting them in seeking professional help.

Works Cited
Adolescents and Marijuana University of Washington ADAI. June 2013. 10 May 2014.
<http://adai.uw.edu/marijuana/factsheets/adolescents.htm>
Drug Facts Marijuana. NIDA For Teens. 05 May 2014. 09 May 2014

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<http://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/marijuana>
Marijuana And Teens American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. July 2013. 09
May 2014
<http://www.aacap.org/AACAP/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/Facts_
for_Families_Pages/Marijuana_and_Teens_106.aspx>
Stevenson, Jessica. Facts on Marijuana Teen Advice About.com. 09 May 2014
<http://teenadvice.about.com/od/drugsalcohol/tp/marijuana_facts_teens.htm?p=1>