Vaping, Marijuana and Capitalism: What Parents Need to Know

The cultural landscape around both tobacco and marijuana use has changed significantly in recent years, and this week’s Mom Enough guest, Dr. Joseph Lee of the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, understands the important implications of this for young people.   Marketers tout vaping as a safer way to use nicotine and an effective means to stop smoking. Yet nicotine is a toxic substance in any form and the long-term effects of vaping nicotine have not been well-studied. Furthermore, people who vape when they are young tend to use more tobacco later. With regard to marijuana, legalization of recreational use in many states has led to full-on capitalistic efforts to refine strains, increase strength and offer products designed and labeled to appeal to a target market of potential users. But THC is known to have negative effects on young people’s developing brains, and, for a minority of users of any age, may trigger perceived threats and hallucinations. As parents, we need to know as much as possible about the use of both tobacco and marijuana among young people. And, as Dr. Lee makes clear, we need to understand how producers of these products may have their eye on our children. (Marti & Erin thank the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation for being a supporting partner of Mom Enough.)   What did you hear in this Mom Enough discussion that made you think in new ways about tobacco and marijuana use among young people? How have you talked about these topics with your kids, and how could you use these new insights in your conversations with them?   Related Resources: How to Talk to Your Child about Drugs and Alcohol - Mom Enough podcast Preparing Your Child for Healthy Choices about Substance Use - Mom Enough podcast Drugs and Alcohol: How to Talk to Your Child tip sheet by Hazelden's Center for Youth and Families