Saving Our Youth from the Harms of THC
Nearly six years ago, on November 20, 2019, my beloved 19-year-old son, Johnny, took his life. As many of you know, he had a psychotic episode from using high-potency THC concentrates. I can’t believe it’s been six years. So much has happened.… Read the rest
In a recent article in the journal Psychiatric Times, doctors Nancy Shenoi and Richa Vijayvarjiya summarized the mental-health hazards of cannabis use among young people.
Many young users don’t understand the risks cannabis poses to their brains, due largely to the increasing perception of “weed” as relatively safe.… Read the rest
Dabbing is a particularly self-destructive way to smoke cannabis products. Worse, it’s shockingly easy to do.
It all starts with products variously called wax, shatter, crumble, black glass, etc. When it’s soft it looks like ear wax (yum!) and when it’s rigid, it looks like shiny plastic or glass.… Read the rest
My story begins in February 2018, just a couple of months before my 18th birthday. Up until then, I had what many would consider a picture-perfect life—loving, supportive parents, great friends, good grades, and over a decade of involvement in youth sports.… Read the rest
We are just $7000 shy of our $10,000 goal for our annual fundraiser open through the end of September to honor National Suicide Prevention Month. Can you help? CONGRATULATIONS to our top three Pet Parade winners, who raised the most money for Johnny’s Ambassadors!… Read the rest
It’s well established that cannabis use can trigger psychosis in young people susceptible to schizophrenia. Until January 2025,however, the origins of this trigger mechanism remained a mystery. With the publication of a new study by members of Canada’s McGill University Department of Psychiatry in the journal JAMA Psychiatry, this mechanism has become clearer — suggesting, among other things, new avenues for the development of medications to treat those with cannabis psychosis and related disorders.… Read the rest
By Laura Stack
Vaping was supposed to be a good thing. We know better now.
Some clever person invented electronic cigarettes—little vaping pens that heated nicotine-infused liquid and released it as a vapor (technically an aerosol), rather than smoke. Initially, vaping was perceived as a safer way to ingest nicotine; indeed, it was going to help many people quit smoking cigarettes.… Read the rest
Sadly, we are discovering more children being exposed to THC and other substances starting even in 4th and 5th grade! This was quite a conundrum, because Johnny’s story made them too sad. So, we decided to focus on resilience skills to create a substance-free life.… Read the rest
My son Jesse was always highly sensitive, kind, empathic, articulate, and affectionate. He loved physical activity, lived for social connection, and was a gifted musician. Everyone loved Jesse, and he had wholesome, beautiful friends.
In the last two years of high school, he was diagnosed as ADD and given medication.… Read the rest
From a young age, our Bilal was the kind of child people marvel at: compassionate, silly, talented, and brilliant. Graduating early and starting college at 16, he had more education, social engagement, employment experience, and mental health support than most young men his age.… Read the rest