February 21, 2025

News That You Can (Hopefully) Use

Hello, devoted school leaders and staff. As we all endure the longest, darkest days of New England winter, I'm offering a few tidbits of news and reflection from different areas of interest to people who work with and deeply care about young people.

First, the GOOD news! Rates of substance use in young people continue to a historic drop after a measurable COVID dip. The research is documented in detail in the 2024 release of the Monitoring the Future study.

“I expected adolescent drug use would rebound at least partially after the large declines that took place during the pandemic onset in 2020, which were among the largest ever recorded,” said Richard Miech, team lead of the study at U-M’s Institute for Social Research.

“Many experts in the field had anticipated that drug use would resurge as the pandemic receded and social distancing restrictions were lifted. As it turns out, the declines have not only lasted but have dropped further.”

All rates of the use of cannabis, alcohol, and nicotine in all forms are down. This brief video describes the good news!

In summary, the natural decline of adolescent substance use among teens during COVID seems to be holding. When fewer teens initiate use, fewer become addicted and suffer the consequences of use.

Now for the not so great news. Of the teens that have initiated cannabis use, the high potency THC products are the cannabis of choice which present unique risks. These high potency products include "carts" that are used in vaporizers (they look like nicotine vaporizers) and in edibles with THC content of 60 to 94 %. In comparison, the typical "Flower" or "Bud" plant cannabis is approximatly 8 to 12% THC. Further, THC edibles AND vaporizers do not smell and therefore detection in schools and at home is very challenging for adults attempting to supervise teens.

These risks include rapid addiction and an increase in psychiatric symptoms in of depression, anxiety and panic attacks and psychosis (Ricci, De Berardis, et. al, 2024). Teens often believe that THC helps with anxiety and depression and in the short term they may feels some relief that then stops. THC then causes spikes in anxiety and depression and cessation often causes cyclical vomiting and dramatic short term spikes in psychiatric symptoms. 

In talking with many school based clinicians and administrators the problem of the impact of high potency THC is a real concern. Teens and many of their parents simply do not know the risks. In next months newsletter I will share part of a curricum for health teachers/ staff to help teens understand these risks. 

If we can get tweens and teens to understand the risks of "vaping" weed and using edibles we may be able to retain the first sustained reduction in teens substance use in over 25 years!

Supporting Evidence-Based Parenting:

Strategies to Help Families Reduce Stress and Build Resilience

Evidence supports authoritative parenting styles that combine emotional support, time spent with children in their interests, active teaching and modeling of values and validation AND rules, limits, expectations and structure. In the past generation there has been a strong trend towards nurture and validation over structure and expectations and we are seeing a strong impact on young people’s ability to function as well as poor impulse control at home and school. This webinar combines data and "How to" information to help parents walk the midpoint between full validation and help with pushing children forward to achieve developmental milestones.

Reviews for Past Workshops given by Liz Jorgensen:

"Excellent and engaging! How the importance of parents being involved with their teenagers , otherwise addiction to video games, marijuana, and especially their phones where they have an infinite amount of negativity. Teenagers want and need LIMITATIONS. Thank you!" -

Trainee, Harvard

"Fantastic presentation! She has everything that anyone would want from a presenter. LOVE HER work, her presentation was EXCELLENT. THANK YOU!"

-Attendee at Harvard CME

"Wonderful presenter with great humor! Very engaging and clinically insightful. Extremely important content! A delight to listen to."

-Psychologist and parent of two teens

Questions? Concerns? Suggestions? Email me.