“We see kids using ‘dabs,’ which is basically highly concentrated THC oil – and really nothing like the plant material that parents might think of when they hear the word marijuana,” she said in an email.
The presentation of kids who use marijuana has absolutely changed over the years, Dr. Levy added.
“We see more kids with psychotic symptoms like hallucinations and delusions and other mental health symptoms. We also see more and more kids presenting with chronic vomiting,” she said.
The key for parents is to stay on message that marijuana is bad for health and bad for the developing brain, said Dr. Levy, who also “strongly encourages” parents to have clear expectations for their kids and clear house rules, including no marijuana use.
“It’s surprising to me how often I meet parents who don’t want their kids to use marijuana and think they have made that clear, though when I talk with the kids they haven’t really picked up on the message,” she said.
Dr. Levy also advises parents to seek out more information so they are prepared to discuss the topic with their kids and explain what they are concerned about.
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