Impact on Youth

• A recent study found those who used marijuana heavily as adolescents and continued through adulthood showed a permanent drop in IQ points.¹
• More Nevada teens are in treatment for marijuana dependence than for all other illicit drugs combined.²
• 1 in 6 teens who use marijuana will become addicted, and the number rises to 1 in 4 teens who try it in 8^th grade or younger.³
• THC, the psychoactive ingredient in the marijuana plant, alters the brain which can lead to:⁴
  • Short-term memory loss
  • Decreased motivation
  • Poor attention
  • Poor judgment
  • Loss of coordination
  • Depression
  • Psychotic episodes
• Common risk factors include the availability of drugs, whether your peers and friends use drugs, parental attitudes and acceptance of drug use.⁵
• Long-term studies conducted in Australia and New Zealand found that individuals who used marijuana on a daily basis before the age of 17 are 60% less likely to graduate high school, along with being 7 times more likely to commit suicide and 8 times more likely to become addicted to other illicit drugs.⁶