Study Finds Spike in Teen THC Use
A recent study from the University of Michigan found flavored marijuana vaping has become the most common form on marijuana use among teenagers.
Researchers found a sharp spike in marijuana vaping since 2021, writing, “Among eighth graders who vaped marijuana, the percentage using flavored solutions jumped from 47% in 2021 to 63% in 2024. The trend was similar for older students, with use climbing from 41% to 53% for 10th graders and from 36% to 50% for 12th graders.”
A similar study last year found an alarming number of high schoolers use Delta-8 THC.
A growing body of research shows that THC and marijuana are harmful regardless of whether they are vaped, smoked, or eaten.
Public health reports across America have shown these drugs have sent kids to the emergency room and prompted parents to call poison control centers.
Marijuana has been tied to a number of deadly heart problems — including heart attack, heart failure, and stroke. In fact, researchers now say marijuana use doubles a person’s risk of death from heart disease.
Marijuana use has been tied to increased risk for diabetes.
Experts also have found heavy marijuana use is strongly linked to a 325% increased risk of oral cancer.
And marijuana use during pregnancy has been shown time and time again to hurt unborn children and newborns.
In Arkansas, marijuana industry insiders worked unsuccessfully to expand marijuana via the state’s ballot initiative process in 2022 and 2024. Fortunately, neither of those bad measures passed.
All of this underscores what we have said for years: Marijuana may be many things, but “harmless” simply is not one of them.
Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.
Preteen Social Media Use Tied to Lower Scores in Reading, Memory: New Study
A new study shows social media use among children is tied to lower test scores in reading and memory.
Researchers writing in JAMA analyzed data from 6,554 adolescents. While researchers noted the study was limited, they pointed out, “The finding that even low levels of early adolescent social media exposure were linked to poorer cognitive performance may suggest support for stricter age restrictions.”
A growing body of evidence shows that — by design — social media platforms are not appropriate for children.
TikTok has been accused of serving kids a steady “diet of darkness” online and struggling to protect private user data from entities in China, such as the Chinese Communist Party.
Facebook and Instagram have been accused of using algorithms intentionally designed “to exploit human psychology and foster addiction to maximize users’ screen time.”
That’s why Arkansas lawmakers have taken steps to protect kids online. The 2023 Social Media Safety Act by Sen. Tyler Dees (R – Siloam Springs) and Rep. Jon Eubanks (R – Paris) is a good law that requires major social media companies to make sure minors don’t access social media platforms without parental consent. A social media company that violated the law could be held liable.
The law received strong support at the legislature, but tech giants — such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok — sued to strike down the Social Media Safety Act as unconstitutional. The Arkansas Attorney General is currently defending the law in court.
As we keep saying, social media is more than just websites or phone apps. These are multibillion dollar businesses with tremendous influence.
The adults who run these businesses have a responsibility to protect children on their platforms.
Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.