Saving Our Youth from the Harms of THC
My world shattered on November 20, 2019, when my nineteen-year-old son, Johnny, died by suicide. Johnny, his dad’s namesake, was a sweet, intelligent boy raised in a loving family. An honor student who attended church and youth group, he embodied a spirit of service and was a loyal friend.… Read the rest
Recent medical research has consistently linked adolescent cannabis use with a higher frequency of poor mental health later in life, compared to those who never used cannabis. This includes an increased risk of psychosis, though the causality of that link isn’t completely understood.… Read the rest
Educating Communities About the Dangers of Youth THC Use
Coming to 10 Cities Near You!
All Community Conversations are from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM. Laura will give a one-hour presentation, followed by 30 minutes of Q&A. The ENTIRE COMMUNITY is invited: parents (and older teens over 16), schools, healthcare and prevention professionals, legislators, community coalitions, law enforcement, and small businesses.… Read the rest
Recent psychiatric research indicates that people who suffer from either psychosis spectrum disorders or Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD) have increased suicide risks. Also, it has become clear that schizophrenia occurs more often among those with CUD than it does for those without it.… Read the rest
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
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
Laura has developed a new THC prevention presentation for young people ages 16 to 22, for junior/senior high school and college students. This was developed by popular demand due to the rampant use of THC in college and the misnomer that it’s safe (the brain is still forming until 25-30 years old).… Read the rest
At 15, before his THC use, our middle son was happy-go-lucky, clever, handsome, and funny. Beloved by his family, with tons of friends. By 17, he became very angry and started isolating. We tried to talk to him, but he refused to engage.… Read the rest
CANNABIS USE DISORDER AND PSYCHOSIS: A DEVELOPING PROBLEM
Mounting epidemiological evidence indicates that the development of cannabis use disorder (CUD) may potentiate psychosis risk. Recent large-scale studies have shown a four-fold increase over the last two decades in the proportion of schizophrenia that can be attributable to CUD in Denmark (cited in [1, 2]) and a near tripling of CUD-associated psychosis cases in Ontario [2].… Read the rest