What is it about marijuana?
Cannabis misuse amongst Aboriginal adolescents is a growing concern for clinicians, parents and communities alike:
- According to Aboriginal Health News (2011), the use of illicit drugs is a serious
problem among First Nations, Inuit and Métis.
- In 2002-2003, 26.7% of First Nation
adults used marijuana, compared to 14.1% in the Canadian population (Aboriginal Health News, 2011).
- According to a survey by the Nunavik Inuit Health Society, the
population of Nunavik was 60% more likely, more than four times the National
average, to use illicit drugs than the rest of Canada.
- This same survey found that Cannabis is
by far the most commonly used drug in Nunavik.
- Cannabis is used by 8 - 9 males out of 10 aged 15 to 24 and its use is also widespread among females, as well as in the overall population under the age of 45” (Nunavik Inuit Health Survey, 2004).
Get the Facts!
- Cannabis is the second most common substance - and the first among illicit drugs - used by Canadian youth (Canadian Centre for Substance Abuse, 2007).
- Today’s youth are smoking a more potent form of cannabis than in previous years and using at increasingly younger ages during crucial brain development years (PDFC, 2013).
- More teens are in treatment with a primary diagnosis of marijuana dependence than for all other illegal drugs combined (PDFC, 2013).
- A national, Canadian addictions survey in 2005 reports cannabis use by 17% of students in grades 7–9, 29% of 15–17 year olds and almost 50% of 18–19 year olds (Adlaf, E., Begin, P., & Sawka, E., 2005).
- Provincial surveys show that a quarter to more than a third of junior high and high school students use cannabis; approximately 3%–5% of students use cannabis daily, and use has increased over the long-term (Canadian Centre for Substance Abuse, 2007).
- Partnership for a Drug Free Canada offers further information regarding myths and facts related to marijuana use here.
Photo credit: SoccerLens.com
The Risks
- According to international comparisons, Canadian boys report the highest rates of frequent (more than 40 times in their lifetime) cannabis use (Canadian Centre for Substance Abuse, 2007).
- It is reported that weekly or more frequent use of marijuana can double the risk of depression and anxiety in youth (PDFC, 2013).
- Teen girls are especially at at risk because adolescent girls feel depressed more often than boys in the course of a year and substance abuse can compound the problem. Daily use of marijuana among girls is associated with a fivefold increase in the odds of developing depression and anxiety (PDFC, 2013).
- It is reported that weekly or more frequent use of marijuana can double the risk of depression and anxiety in youth (PDFC, 2013).
- "Teens who smoke marijuana when feeling depressed are also more likely to become addicted to marijuana or other illicit drugs. Eight percent of depressed teens abused or became dependent on marijuana during the year they experienced depression compared with only three percent of non-depressed teens" (PDFC, 2013, para. 3).
- Adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 who smoke marijuana on a regular basis are three times more likely to have suicidal ideation, and is linked to increased panic attacks (PDFC, 2013).
- Studies show there is a link between marijuana and symptoms of schizophrenia (PDFC, 2013). These reports indicate that marijuana is an independent risk factor for schizophrenia and heavy users at age 18 increased their risk of schizophrenia later in life by six times.
- Reports have also found marijuana use increased the risk of developing schizophrenia among people with no prior history of a disorder, and that early use of marijuana (age 15 versus age 18) increased the risk even more (PDFC, 2013). In addition, youth with a personal or family history of schizophrenia are at an even greater risk of marijuana-induced psychosis.
Why might Aboriginal teens misuse Cannabis?
- First Nations, Inuit and Metis youth have felt the historical and ongoing effects of colonization, poverty, and forced acculturation strategies such as residential schools. These factors have created challenges for the health and survival of First Nation, Inuit and Métis communities across several generations (Canadian Centre for Substance Abuse, 2007).
- The effects of colonization, poverty, and lower than average socio-economic status help explain higher risks of substance use and misuse for Native people, and teens in particular.
- First Nations young people report high rates of trauma, including sexual and physical abuse, racial discrimination, and harassment in school (Van der Woerd, K.A., Dixon, B.L., McDiarmid, T., Chittenden, M., Murphy, A., & the McCreary Centre Society, 2005).
- They are over-represented among homeless and street-involved teens; youth in the child welfare system, including youth in custody; and among sexually exploited adolescents (Canadian Centre for Substance Abuse, 2007).
- Due to the above reasons, teens may long for a feeling of belonging, acceptance and peer support.
- Cannabis may bring about feelings of wellbeing and peacefulness in a chaotic home situation.
Physical signs of Cannabis use
Possible effects of cannabis use:
Physical dangers of cannabis use
- Everyone experience the effects of cannabis differently
- Factors contributing to effects: amount, frequency, route, mental state, age, comorbid conditions, substance use
Possible effects of cannabis use:
- feeling relaxed, lively, talkative, giggly
- feeling anxious, tense, fearful, confused
- distortion in perception and alteration in senses
- pseudohallucinations
- red eye, dry mouth, respiratory irritations, increase appetite, increase heart rate
- decrease blood pressure, poor balance and stability
Physical dangers of cannabis use
- Altered perceptions and impaired gait may cause decrease in reflexes and reaction time, which increase the chance of physical injuries
- Effect increases when taken with alcohol which further impairs the person using cannabis
- It is ILLEGAL unless a medical marijuana license is obtained
- An overdose on cannabis could cause toxic psychosis
- Physical effect of increase pulse and decrease blood pressure could increase risk of heart attack in people with comorbid diseases such as coronary artery disease
- If used while being pregnant, cognitive impairment could occur in fetus
References:
Aboriginal Health News (2011). Drug abuse major concern among First Nations and Inuit. Retrieved from http://www.naho.ca/blog/2011/06/27/drug-abuse-major-concern-among-first-nations-and-inuit/.
Adlaf, E.M., Begin, P., & Sawka, E. (Eds.). (2005). Canadian Addiction Survey (CAS): A national survey of Canadians’ use of alcohol and other drugs: Prevalence of use and related harms: Detailed report. Ottawa: Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse.
Canadian Centre for Substance Abuse (2007). Substance abuse in Canada: Youth in focus. Retrieved from www.ccsa.ca/2007%20CCSA%20Documents/ccsa-011521-2007-e.pdf.
Nunavut Inuit Health Survey (2004). Alcohol, drug use and gambling among the Inuit of Nunavik: Epidemiological profile. Retrieved from http://www.inspq.qc.ca/pdf/publications/resumes_nunavik/anglais/AlcoholDrugUseAndGamblingAmongTheInuitOfNunavik.pdf.
Partnership For a Drug-Free Canada (PDFC). (2013). Marijuana and mental health. Retrieved from http://www.canadadrugfree.org/drug-info/illegal-drugs/marijuana/marijuana-and-mental-health/.
Van der Woerd, K.A., Dixon, B.L., McDiarmid, T., Chittenden, M., Murphy, A., & the McCreary Centre Society. (2005). Raven’s Children II: Aboriginal Youth Health in BC. Vancouver, BC: The McCreary Centre Society.
Presentation created by Nicola Bancroft, Maureen Jenkins, Corrine Painter & Tanya Sutherland