TO FOCUSON ADOLESCENT BRAIN

AND THC

FIVE REASONS

 INFO: Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug in the US and it is addictive; there are more youths in treatment for marijuana dependence than for any other drug

Our brain develops until age 25

Brain is more sensitive

Brain structure still changes

There is greater risk of dependency

THC affects emotions and reasoning

THC use during

different ages

Before age 16 causes Impaired reaction time in attention, processing and

fluency in tasks Higher incidence of anxiety

disorders

Before age 17 causes Smaller brain size

Lower percentage of grey matter

Between age 16-19 causes

Decreased size of the right prefrontal cortex

Decreased depth of sulci Thinning in frontal, temporal &

parietal lobes Smaller bilateral hippocampal

volumes