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. He was first diagnosed with Cannabis Use Disorder, then Cannabis Induced Psychosis, and finally Schizophrenia.
We first became aware of his addiction when he came back from summer camp as a camp counselor, 25 pounds thinner. He tried to go to school that fall but could not, since he had psychosis. Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome, or CHS, was also part of his fall that year.
We sent him to the best intensive outpatient program for teen addiction in our city. He was in outpatient treatment for three months and saw a child psychiatrist. Then they told us they couldn’t handle him anymore, and he needed inpatient treatment. But before he could be admitted, his THC usage increased, and he ended up being in a psychiatric hospital for 19 days. When insurance pushed him out, he was released to us no better than when he went in. Knowing what we know now, I wish we had sent him to inpatient treatment right away.
We ended up sending him to what we were told was a dual-diagnosis rehab facility for 90 days. He was heavily medicated and could not absorb any of the addiction counseling. He came home to us sleepy and angry. He was on a monthly injection at that point, but his psychotic symptoms were no better.
He relapsed twice after rehab, so we put down a hard boundary that he had to be sober in order live with us. He has been THC-free for over a year now.
He refused all medication when he turned 18. Four months after he stopped all medication, he was feeling better. But after four good months, his psychotic symptoms reappeared. He just finished three months of another highly-regarded medication with no relief. He is currently not taking any medication and has been deemed “med-resistant.”
At 19, he is desperate to go to college and have some purpose in his life, instead of staring down a diagnosis of schizophrenia.
Cannabis-Induced Psychosis is REAL. It happened to my child. Educate your child on the harms of THC at JohnnysAmbassadors.org.
If you’re concerned about your child’s THC use, visit JohnnysAmbassadors.org/parents and join our private Parents of Children with Cannabis-Induced Psychosis (POCCIP) group at www.facebook.com/groups/POCCIP.