The Effects of Marijuana and Alcohol on Adolescents

Alcohol and marijuana use can affect everyone, but this is especially true for adolescents. Making sure teens and young adults have the knowledge to make informed choices is critical as is getting professional help if needed.

At Lewis Family Psychiatry in Wellington, Florida, our highly skilled team of psychiatric nurse practitioners provides individualized mental, emotional, and behavioral health care for people of all ages throughout the state. 

We take a holistic approach to treating everything from mood disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder to excessive use of alcohol and marijuana, all using our convenient and easily accessible virtual telemedicine technology.

The developing adolescent brain

The adolescent phase — often defined as ages 10-24—is marked by significant changes physically, emotionally, cognitively, and socially. 

During this period of development, until their brains reach full formation at around 25 years old, behavior can include increased sensation with reward-seeking and impulsivity. At the same time, many teens and young adults struggle to control their emotions and behavior.

Substance use and abuse

Adolescence is a common time for teens and young adults to experiment with marijuana and alcohol. Almost one-third of high school seniors had used cannabis in the last year in a 2022 survey and six percent used it daily over the previous month. Fifteen percent of adolescents had consumed alcohol in the past month.

Marijuana's effects

Cannabis use can hurt the still-developing brain and cause a variety of issues. Users may have trouble paying attention, thinking, problem-solving, learning, and remembering things. They may also experience decreased coordination and problems at school and in their social lives.

Using cannabis has been connected to mental health problems like social anxiety and depression. It can also lead to transitory health conditions like temporary psychosis and long-term disorders like schizophrenia and dementia.

Addiction is another concern with about 3 in 10 users suffering from cannabis use disorder. It can also result in impaired driving by impacting concentration, coordination, and reaction time.

Dangers of alcohol

Misusing alcohol during the teen and young adult years can negatively affect parts of the brain and the way these different regions connect. These changes can impact planning, decision-making, learning, memory, and the ability to sense fear and regulate emotions. 

Alcohol misuse may also increase the odds of developing a mental health disorder like anxiety or depression as well as alcohol-use disorder.

In addition, it can have short-term effects that stem from poor decision-making and impulse control and lead to risky behaviors like drinking and driving, unsafe sexual behavior, and trying other substances.

Parents, caregivers, and teachers can all play a role in having important conversations with adolescents about the dangers of alcohol and marijuana use. Professional help is also available if alcohol or substance abuse becomes a problem.

If your teen or young adult is struggling with alcohol, marijuana, or another substance, we can provide virtual treatment options and support. We offer convenient telemedicine care to people of all ages throughout Florida. Click our contact button or call us at 561-303-0433 today to schedule an appointment.