Cannabis Use in youth | Emergency Visits on the rise

Cannabis use | ER Visits From Synthetic Pot Up Significantly

In a recent article from consumer.healthday.com, this is alarming news that should not be taken lightly for our children.

"Synthetic cannabinoids are a growing public health risk -- made even more dangerous by the widespread misconception that they are safe and legal," SAMHSA Administrator Pamela Hyde said in an administration news release.

"These injury reports compel us to get the word out to all segments of the community – especially youth – that these products can cause significant harm."

• According to the report, there were 28,531 emergency department visits linked to synthetic pot in 2011, compared to 11,406 in 2010.
• For teens aged 12–17, the number of such visits to the emergency department doubled, from 3,780 in 2010 to 7,584 in 2011.
• For those aged 18–20, that number quadrupled, from 1,881 in 2010 to 8,212 in 2011.
• Males accounted for 79% of all visits in 2011. However, the number of visits by females tripled between 2010–2011.

Reported health problems caused by synthetic marijuana include:

• Anxiety
• Severe agitation
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Tremors
• Seizures
• Hallucinations
• Paranoia
• Tachycardia
• Hypertension
• Unresponsiveness
• and even death.

While we all start out with good intentions, this is a growing issue that needs more emphasis on the bigger picture of how Marijuana (synthetic or not) is being positioned in our lives. If we perceive it as safe because it is becoming mainstream in many states, what does that do to the education component?  It is imperative that education be front and center for all.  

Just because it is legal in various states, it doesn’t automatically mean that it is safe or right.