Help teens make 'Smart Decisions' about marijuana

In the article, Talking to Teens about Marijuana, Ms Nierengarten reported national statistics that reveal the number of teenagers who self report using marijuana: the statistics are STAGGERING! The data showed that “5.4 million teenagers 12 years old and older used marijuana every or nearly every day during 2012.” And yet, while pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) routinely screen teenagers using a variety of tools for drug and alcohol use (ie, CRAFFT, HEEADSSS, or SSHADESS assessment), it has been my experience that teenagers tend to be comfortable admitting to alcohol use but deny drug use in face-to-face healthcare encounters. It is reasonable to think that teens may feel more comfortable reporting marijuana use during health screenings as more states legalize recreational use of the drug.

Ms Nierengarten discusses the presentation by Dr Schizer who recommends educating parents and teenagers about marijuana use and supports abstinence and advising teenagers to quit smoking marijuana. However, advising adolescents to abstain or quit smoking may not be an effective strategy for high-risk teenagers who are seen in lower socioeconomic clinics and school-based health centers by PNPs, as these adolescents are often resistant to ‘receiving advice.’ Teenagers tend to know more than adults, at least that is often the prevailing attitude!

How can PNPs help?

So, what can PNPs do to identify and develop treatment plans for teenagers who are using marijuana? First, PNPs can familiarize themselves with the various names adolescents use for marijuana and become astute at identifying teenagers who present showing psychological effects of marijuana and marijuana intoxication as presented in her article. School-based health centers are an ideal setting to engage teenagers in making ‘Smart Decisions’. Next, by working with small groups of teenaged students, the PNP can present real-life scenarios that focus on the problems related to marijuana and ask the adolescents to ‘think through’ the consequences and adverse outcomes that come from marijuana use and abuse. This strategy may impact responsible decision making by teenagers.

Another strategy is to begin before the problem emerges. Pediatric nurse practitioners can engage parents and their pre-teenaged children who present to offices, clinics, and school-based health centers through education and prevention strategies for drug and alcohol abuse. Sometimes parents are the ones who are resistant to allow healthcare providers to speak with their pre-teenagers about drug and alcohol issues-and parents are hesitant themselves to speak with their pre-teenagers. However, if PNPs provide support and evidence-based recommendations to parents of pre-teenagers, perhaps we can alter the course of drug and alcohol abuse in teenagers.