93 Saskatchewan Federation of Police Officers TALKING ABOUT MARIJUANA Teenagers react more positively to facts than to emotional arguments. Here are a few facts about marijuana you can share with them. > Today’s marijuana is much stronger than > marijuana from many years ago. Studies > show that the average level of THC, > principal “mind-altering” component > marijuana, has increased by 300% to > 400% over the last few decades. > Marijuana contains hundreds of > substances, some of which are psychoactive > and can affect the proper functioning of > the brain and body. > Regular long-term marijuana use can harm > concentration, cause loss of memory, harm > the ability to think and make decisions, > and decrease IQ. > Some of these effects may persist after > marijuana use. > Marijuana smoke contains many of the > same cancer-causing chemicals as tobacco > smoke. > It is estimated that 1 in 9 marijuana users > will develop an addiction to marijuana. TALKING ABOUT PRESCRIPTION DRUGS Teenagers react more positively to facts than to emotional arguments. Here are a few facts about prescription drug abuse you can share with them. > Some prescription drugs (opioid pain > relievers, stimulants, and benzodiazepines) > have psychoactive (mind-altering) > properties, and for this reason they are > sometimes used to get high. > Psychoactive pharmaceuticals are the third > most commonly-abused substances, after > alcohol and marijuana, among Canadian > > youth. > Prescription opioids can be just as > dangerous as illegal opioid drugs such as > heroin. > Taking prescription drugs without a > doctor’s approval is dangerous, and can > even be fatal. > Prescription drugs, when used improperly > or abused, are not safer than illegal drugs. > There are many dangerous and > unpredictable effects associated with > abusing prescription drugs including > addiction, overdose and death. TALKING WITH TEENAGERS ABOUT DRUGS (continued) Image by wirestock on Freepik
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