The kids (and the teachers) are not alright

"High schools are losing the struggle to block pot--even in class." This was a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, written by Andrea Petersen. The article highlighted the growing problem students and teachers face as marijuana use has become all too common on school campuses. Despite laws prohibiting drug use for minors in legalized states, marijuana appears to be more readily accessible to students.  A principal at a high school in Vermont put it this way: "It's just everywhere in the community. That's just really, really hard for schools."

Worse yet, legalization has given minors the false perception that today's high-THC marijuana is harmless. What's ironic is that students view cigarette smoking as being more harmful than marijuana use. In addition, youth-friendly marijuana packaging on vapes and edibles is making this drug more appealing to minors, and making it more difficult for teachers to know if a student is merely eating candy or a THC-laced edible. A high school principal in New York stated, "Just looking at it, I don't know what it could be. It could be gummy worms or it could have something in it." In addition, students are hiding their products in a variety of places that staff cannot look, such as in their underwear and bras.

Teachers and school staff have been fighting an uphill battle for students' attention since the advent of the cell phone. Adding prolific marijuana use to the mix is just one more thing that they have to contend with that keeps them from doing their primary job; educating students. Worse yet, research has shown how marijuana negatively impacts brain development for adolescents and young adults, and can lead to memory problems, anxiety, increased mental health issues, and a whole host of other tragic outcomes that can permanently alter a young person's life.

Teachers and school administrators are not going to be able to get a handle on the out-of-control school issues until parents stand in the gap and do whatever they can to ensure their child is not bringing pot to school. Parents: Have the conversation about the harms of today's high THC with their child. Be the ones who are looking through your child's belongings before and after school. Pay attention to the warning signs that your child is using drugs, such as low student achievement, excessive tiredness, low motivation, and attention deficit. Consider disrupting the ways they can communicate with others to get drugs, such as limiting their cell phone use.

It is important for everyone to remember that this problem will not go away once a student graduates from school. It just means there is one more addicted young person trying to navigate their way though adulthood with fewer backstops.