How Cannabis Hijacks the Teen Brain |
In my previous post, I promised this post would describe the minority of users whose lives are taken over by cannabis. Although less common, given how many people begin using cannabis during adolescence, some teens and young adults become true stoners, committed and dedicated to “better living through chemistry.” Daily, or near-daily, cannabis use can significantly interfere with normal adolescent development of both the brain and psychology.
Whatever mixture of genetics, temperament, trauma, and environment leads someone to use cannabis daily, such frequency almost inevitably results in addiction, that seemingly mysterious bending of the will and reward toward continued cannabis use despite adverse consequences. For example, money might be rewarding as a means to buy more cannabis, but no longer be very rewarding in and of itself. Or being high might become more desired than good grades or excelling at sports. The mind bends toward getting high as its preferred state. Once this brain/mind change has occurred, no act of will can reverse it. No logic or factual information can change the reward center back to status quo ante. Only abstinence from the drug can reset the reward center and thereby restart age-normative motivation. However, even with abstinence, the reward center will remain primed to respond vigorously to cannabis if it is consumed again.
Every grade level in virtually every school contains........