Marijuana prevalence among Detroit teens has remained high — both within the city’s borders and in the outlying regions of Wayne County. In fact, Michigan alone was home to nearly 164,000 individuals who had tried marijuana for the first time in 2008 — many as young as 12 years of age. Unfortunately, the rate of teen marijuana use has become a nationwide epidemic, with a 2001 study of showing a rise in lifetime use of nearly eight percent among 12th grade students over the last 15 years — with a 1.2-percent rise in daily use among 12th graders, and a 1.7-percent rise in daily use among 10th graders over that period of time.

Teenage Experimentation with Marijuana

Smoking marijuana can be enticing to teenagers, largely because of its emotional effects. The drug creates a feeling of intoxication, euphoria and heightened physical senses when ingested. Inhibitions also tend to lower when marijuana is ingested, allowing for bolstered confidence, increased sociability and temporarily decreased anxiety. Unfortunately, marijuana also slows motor skills and mental acuity and can lead to long-standing depression and even the formation of phobias over time. In severe and long-term use, teens can even acquire a condition known as a motivational syndrome, leading to lethargy and lowered academic or job performance. Some teen marijuana users also report feelings of paranoia and increased anxiety, often due to the onset of obsessive thought, or short-term memory loss.

In addition to the impairment of motor skills and mental acuity, the physical effects of marijuana include dry mouth, increased appetite, reddened eyes and stress on the lungs when taken in smoke form. While marijuana is not considered highly physically addictive, chronic users — especially those who begin smoking marijuana during their youth — often form a psychological attachment to the drug, making it difficult to cease use without help.

Teen Marijuana Treatment in Detroit and Beyond

In some instances, marijuana treatment among teens may require professional detox services. Because marijuana does not tend to lend itself to severe physical symptoms of withdrawal, much of the management of marijuana detox involves mood stabilization, sleep regulation, nutrition and behavioral counseling. Once marijuana has completely exited the user’s body, therapy can take place to help untangle the psychological addiction that may have taken hold during the teen’s period of use. Group therapy can also be employed to provide fellowship with individuals struggling with addictions to marijuana and other drugs while seeking to achieve sobriety.

While many rehabilitation centers in Detroit and beyond tend to offer treatment only to teenagers 18 years old and over, options abound for recovery — particularly for older teens necessitating residential care. If you or someone you love has developed a marijuana addiction, our professional addiction counselors can help you locate rehabilitation services across the nation that specialize in treating cannabis addiction. By simply calling our toll-free number, you can receive straightforward answers to your questions about marijuana addiction and recovery, as well as referrals to appropriate rehab facilities.