Over the summer, I posted an incredible Sage Conversation with Dr. Melissa Tasse, Ph.D. We talked about brain development during adolescence and why the use of ANY substance during adolescence can have dire consequences.

Dr. Tasse began by taking us through a review of neuroscience 101, explaining why some kids are more vulnerable than others.

Did you know that 12% of the North American population has an addiction, and that 90% of people with addictions started using substances in their teen years? That the younger someone starts using substances the higher the likelihood of addiction, and that if kids use marijuana, one in five of them (20%!!!) will develop a serious addiction. This is akin to playing Russian Roulette.

This was such an impactful conversation that I wanted to follow up with some additional support and resources on this topic.

Partnership to End Addiction is the nation’s leading organization dedicated to addiction prevention, treatment and recovery, and is a diverse community of researchers, advocates, clinicians, and communicators with free hotlines and text services to put parents in touch with other trained parents who can help. This website is full of information and guidance of how to talk to your kids about prevention, and is a resource and support system for those parents with children who are already using substances…whether they are just starting or they are deep into addiction.

I also wanted to share a great downloadable booklet. This booklet, written to help parents understand the true facts and misconceptions about marijuana, clears up the misconception that THC and marijuana are harmless substances. It sheds light on the important reasons why parents need to better understand THC and marijuana to be able to talk to and support their kids.

Lastly, this article is very insightful: Adolescent Cannabis Vaping Doubled in 7 Years in US, Canada, Review Finds

I hope you find these resources helpful. 
Please share any additional resources you have found that may help the community in the comment section below.

Read the story from one of our own community wellness warriors: My Journey With My Daughter's Mental Health