Pot, teenagers, and the psych ward

[nursingaround1]

I spent two years in a psych ward - and not as an inpatient. Due to the ward being in small city in New Zealand, we had it all - mildly unwell, dangerously unwell, old, young, and even some children, although the oldest I ever looked after was 14yrs. We also didn't have very many men working there, and I was one of 3 guys working there. It was because of this reason, they often gave me the teenage males to look after.

Johnno (not his real name) wouldn't speak to me for my first month, because he didn't trust me. He didn't trust anyone, but how can you trust anything when you hear hairy legs patter across the hardwood floor, and see thousands of spiders crawling towards your bed, and then feel them biting you. He was only 16yrs old, and this was his life.

After a year working with Johnno, he trusted me, and talked to me, although 'talking' doesn't really explain it. His bursts of laughter would often be interrupted by bouts of laughter. I used to ask him what he was laughing at, but I was told not to do this, as asking about his hallucinations apparently reinforced his belief in them. Which makes it kinda tricky, because sometimes having a little glimpse of what's going on in his head does give you some idea of how bizarre his world is.

'There's a black demon with red eyes and he says you're a C...' The first time he told me this, I resisted the urge to look over my shoulder, but I couldn't stop the goosebumps or chill down my spine.

Poor Johnno started smoking Pot at the age of 14, and was first admitted to the unit at the age of 15. In 3yrs time, he'd never been free of his hallucinations, and probably never will be. All we'll do is give him more drugs to relax him, so the demons don't bother him so much, and then given more drugs to counter the extra-pyramidal side effects of such strong anti-psychotics.

I looked after a worrying number of teenagers there because of Pot. They say growing minds are vulnerable, and it makes sense. What worries me now is that scientist now say the brain doesn't finish developing until people are 25yrs old.

Yet it's legal for teenagers to smoke pot in some places.

They believe it's harmless.

I regularly talk to the students at my schools, and many do believe it's harmless as well.

What scary is the growing number of adults who believe it's harmless.

Another patient I looked after turned out to be my friend, Pete. I'd known Pete through high school, and he was always the calm guy who didn't drink, so we often used him as our sober driver. It's only now, as an inpatient, I realize we had a stoned driver instead. I realize now why he drove so carefully, so slowly.

I'd lost contact with Pete in the last couple of years, but he'd gotten a job killing chickens, so I'm not surprised he fired up a spliff several times a day with a job like that. He had started to believe the TV and Radio were beaming instructions into his head, and eventually convinced himself he was the Messiah. Fortunately he came right, but he can never smoke again, and will not risk drinking.

It might have helped that he stopped killing chickens for a living.

Anyway, not sure what my point is, just thought I'd share some experiences from the psych ward, but before I go, I can't help leave with one last, controversial statement:

Pot is an insidious, creeping poison that destroys youth, but society chooses to be blind to it, because 'what I do in my own house, doesn't hurt anybody else, so don't tell me what to do.'

[Farawyn]

I'm not sure it's necessarily true that surfers and skateboarders are generally people who didn't "turn out fine", but more importantly it raises the question; does marijuana use cause people to surf and skateboard? Or are people who are drawn to surfing and skateboarding also the people who are more likely to try marijuana.

I am crushing on MunroRN right now.

[nursingaround1]

I did not say throw people in jail. But when you give easier access to a drug, the numbers of people using it go up. When, in NZ, they dropped the drinking age from 20yrs to 18yrs, we were flooded with even younger people drinking. Suddenly we were seeing 14-16yrs, instead of the usual 18-20yr olds.

[Miss Rayanne]

I did not say throw people in jail. But when you give easier access to a drug, the numbers of people using it go up. When, in NZ, they dropped the drinking age from 20yrs to 18yrs, we were flooded with even younger people drinking. Suddenly we were seeing 14-16yrs, instead of the usual 18-20yr olds.

Do you really think it was hard to find pot prior to the state regulating it? Legalization is a much better way to restrict access to minors. The marijuana vendors in this state card and make sure people are over 21. Sure, teens are going to get access to it. When I was one, it was easier for me to find weed, then alcohol.

[heron, ASN, RN]

Wrong thread. Oops!

[nursingaround1]

Have you seen footage of the open street pot parties in Colorado? Thousands of people, many of them teenagers, wandering the streets, sitting in the parks, smoking up all day long.

I assume you accept it's harmful to teenagers - as their mind is developing. I can only assume you are unaware the brain is not fully matured until the age of 25. So it makes sense these people are still vulnerable.

Logically, if you wanted to protect people, you'd make the age at least 25yrs of age.

[Miss Rayanne]

Have you seen footage of the open street pot parties in Colorado? Thousands of people, many of them teenagers, wandering the streets, sitting in the parks, smoking up all day long.

I assume you accept it's harmful to teenagers - as their mind is developing. I can only assume you are unaware the brain is not fully matured until the age of 25. So it makes sense these people are still vulnerable.

Logically, if you wanted to protect people, you'd make the age at least 25yrs of age.

I don't have to see footage of it, I live here. Seeing people smoking on the street is very common and it really doesn't bother me.

Sure, I don't want to see minors smoke it. However, I don't think it is as dangerous as you are making it out to be. Remember, we live in a world with Cocaine, PCP, MDMA, Meth, Heroine, etc. I've accepted that some minors are going to smoke it, regardless of what we do. All we can do, is try to convince them, not to. But it can't be done with scare tactics. And for the record, I think the smoking age should be 18. If you are old enough to pay taxes or get drafted into military and die for this country, I think you should be able to have a beer or smoke a joint after work.

[dirtyhippiegirl, BSN, RN]

I tend to deal with people who want to legalize drugs by asking them a series of followup questions from, "how about teens" and "how about middle-school kids" to "should it be legal to pass out these drugs for free in front of an elementary school?" Eventually, there's a point where they say, "Yes, that should be illegal." But having done that, the quibble then becomes out when not if. And don't forget that what all 22-year-olds can get is what some 6-year-olds can get.

Using this line of thought, I assume you are against the legalization of alcohol as well?

[Farawyn]

I'm for legalization of pot, but not for under 21, and I think it should be regulated and taxed like tobacco and alcohol.

[rnmaybe]

Where is this happening that people are put in jail for years simply for smoking pot?

So let me ask you, would you rather threw people who smoke marijuana but otherwise cause no other problems, in jail? Remember that it cost over $25,000 a year to house and feed an inmate. The state has limited funds, so I would rather we use our corrections department to keep people who are truly dangerous away from society. We regulate marijuana in my state, and we're doing just fine.

[rnmaybe]

When was the last time someone was drafted into the military?

I don't have to see footage of it, I live here. Seeing people smoking on the street is very common and it really doesn't bother me.

Sure, I don't want to see minors smoke it. However, I don't think it is as dangerous as you are making it out to be. Remember, we live in a world with Cocaine, PCP, MDMA, Meth, Heroine, etc. I've accepted that some minors are going to smoke it, regardless of what we do. All we can do, is try to convince them, not to. But it can't be done with scare tactics. And for the record, I think the smoking age should be 18. If you are old enough to pay taxes or get drafted into military and die for this country, I think you should be able to have a beer or smoke a joint after work.

[Miss Rayanne]

When was the last time someone was drafted into the military?

Where is this happening that people are put in jail for years simply for smoking pot?

The possession of marijuana is illegal per federal law and in 46 states. If you caught with it, you can be put in jail. Also, all males above the age of 18 must register for selective service. We might have not drafted them since Vietnam, but it is always possible it can happen again. In my opinion, if they are old enough to possibly be sent to a war, then they are old enough for the to smoke a joint.

[emtb2rn, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

Where is this happening that people are put in jail for years simply for smoking pot?

New York has draconian drug laws.