Raising a teenager is not for the faint of heart.
Concern for a child’s well-being is one of the most common reasons parents seek counseling. At University Health Behavioral Health Lakewood Counseling, I work with children and adolescents whose parents have noticed changes in behavior, such as increased behavioral outbursts, falling grades, or withdraw from friends and family.
Adolescence, which typically starts around age 12, can be an especially difficult phase for children. Not only are they riding a rollercoaster of emotions, but they may also be facing new academic challenges, stress from extracurricular activities, and peer pressure to fit in.
Working with a therapist who uses evidence-based approaches, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), to develop treatment goals in partnership with the child/teen and their parents can be highly effective. However, it is difficult for change to happen when the adolescent is using cannabis or marijuana.
In November of 2022, Missouri voters legalized recreational cannabis for people 21 years of age and older, meaning there is still no legal cannabis use for children and teens. Still, according to Act Missouri, an organization that promotes drug and alcohol awareness in the Show-Me State, the average age that Missouri adolescents try cannabis for the first time is 14.
To the parent who is concerned about their child’s mental health and knows they use cannabis, I want to validate your concerns. You are facing a tough situation, and seeking help is a positive step.
Even if your child’s cannabis usage is occasional, it is replacing coping strategies they will need throughout their lives. Cannabis can also act as a depressant, making a seemingly short-term solution create possible long-term problems. And while your teen may not have experienced the immediate consequences that come from getting caught with cannabis at school or driving impaired, his or her usage may still impact them.
Cannabis reinforces avoidance from addressing mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression, as symptoms can be masked by the drug. Positive changes are easier to make when it’s the child or teen who is motivated to make them.
How parents approach conversations about mental health and cannabis use is key. I recommend using an empathetic tone while expressing your concerns – a finger-wagging lecture is unlikely to change your child’s mind or behavior.
You don’t have to exaggerate or downplay the risks. Providing children and teens with fact-based information about the impacts of cannabis use on their young, developing brains can be helpful.
Lastly, you don’t have to navigate this alone. Our behavioral health specialists provide compassionate, evidence-based counseling for children and teens ages 3-21 to help them cope with their feelings, build confidence and self-esteem, and move toward a healthier future.
This post was written by Jennifer Kaseff, LPC. Visit uhkc.org/uhbh-child to learn more about the services we offer and how to schedule an appointment for your child.
