Study Finds Spike in Teen THC Use

Marijuana

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.

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Preteen Social Media Use Tied to Lower Scores in Reading, Memory: New Study

Social Media

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.

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High Stakes, Higher Costs: The Toll of Sports Betting

Gambling,

Sports betting is now legal in 39 states — including Arkansas, where people wager more than a million dollars a day, on average.

Sports betting often relies on mobile gambling, which is closely associated with problem gambling. Experts now warn that gambling addiction has surged in the wake of sports betting’s legalization.

Below are a few of the ways sports betting — and the gambling problems tied to it — takes a toll on individuals, families, and communities.

The Financial Toll

Sports betting and internet gambling are connected to serious financial problems — including deep debt, missed bills, and bankruptcy.

Mobile sports betting makes it possible for people to place bets during sporting events from practically anywhere. The average sports betting addict using mobile apps accumulates nearly $28,000 in gambling-related debt before seeking help.

These financial strains affect more than just individuals. They hurt families and communities as a whole.​

The Mental and Emotional Toll

Sports betting is linked to anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems — especially among teens and young adults. Twenty-year-old males account for approximately 40% of calls to gambling addiction hotlines.

One in four sports bettors worry that they cannot control their gambling.

Research also shows that individuals with gambling disorders experience impaired decision-making and impulsivity — all of which contribute to poor mental health.

The Toll on Athletic Programs

Sports betting undermines the integrity of sports. The NCAA has wrestled with gambling scandals since sports betting’s legalization. Major League Baseball, the NFL, the NBA, and other sports leagues have as well.

The Toll on Families

All of this takes a toll on families.

Sports betting and problem gambling place serious strains on families and have been linked to increased risk of divorce and domestic violence.

Conclusion

Legalized gambling has become a blight in Arkansas. Tax revenue from casinos and sports betting has not improved Arkansas’ roads or boosted the economy. And unless Arkansas’ lawmakers and its people take a stand, gambling addiction is simply going to continue wrecking lives and hurting families in our state.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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