The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (NYS OASAS) has launched a new Cannabis Toolkit for parents and mentors, designed to offer resources and information about cannabis and how to talk to young people about the risks of underage cannabis use and the impact it can have. This free toolkit is available in both English and Spanish on the OASAS website, https://oasas.ny.gov/prevention.
OASAS Commissioner Dr. Chinazo Cunningham said, “Young people may find cannabis products attractive and appealing, and parents and other trusted adults should know how to discuss this issue and give young people the information they need to stay safe. It is important to have regular conversations about this topic. Research shows that having these conversations can significantly influence a teen’s decisions regarding substance use.”
The new Cannabis Toolkit is focused on addressing and preventing underage use of cannabis, which can impair learning, short-term memory, decision-making and problem-solving skills, attention, and motivation. It can also lead to physical issues, such as bronchitis or asthma, and increased risk of schizophrenia and other serious mental health disorders.
The toolkit provides evidence-based information and tips for starting and maintaining conversations with youth on things like cannabis potency, types of products, and the impact that cannabis and THC can have on the developing brain. It also offers important information on the risks of underage use, how to model healthy and safe behaviors, and discussing ways to avoid underage use altogether, all of which are hallmarks of OASAS prevention efforts.
Kyle Belokopitsky, NYS Parent-Teacher Association Executive Director, said, “We are thrilled that OASAS has taken on this critical work to support parent, family, educator, and youth education on cannabis. Since legalization of recreational marijuana, we have seen both cases of accidental ingestion and use by underage youth increase substantially, and education and awareness of harms and dangers of cannabis use by youth is so important. As a parent of a high school student, I personally know how hard these conversations are to have with your child, and we hope this toolkit with help both educators and families have meaningful talks with their children and students on the dangers and harms of substance use – including cannabis.”
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