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This factsheet is an update on cannabis edible products for concerned parents. This information should be read alongside the HSE resource ‘Alcohol and Drugs: A Parent’s Guide’.
Adolescence is a period when young people come into contact with new ideas and behaviours. It is a time to “try out” adult roles and responsibilities. The desire to take on more independence may see young people seeking to explore what they or their peer group view as more ‘grown up’, interesting or new ideas which could include substance use.
At the same time as these new issues are emerging, it is important to recognise that the young person’s brain is still growing from the ages of 12 until their mid-20s. Using alcohol or drugs during this time can damage the growing brain, causing long-term emotional problems and difficulties with learning, planning and memory.
Substance use (or other behaviours) of peers, as well as rejection by peers, can be important influences on the behaviour of young people, although the influence of parents still remains very significant – parents matter!
Research shows that young people view their parents as credible sources of information and are influenced by parental beliefs and behaviours. By parents initiating drug awareness discussions, it means they can create an understanding that the topic of drugs and alcohol is open for discussion in an honest and compassionate space.
The most commonly used substances in Ireland are alcohol, cannabis, ecstasy and cocaine. New, different trends may emerge from time to time among different groups of people. These novel trends may be reported extensively in the media and generate a lot of attention. Recently, one such trend was in relation to cannabis edible products such as sweets and jellies.
Cannabis can be categorised as both a depressant and psychedelic type substance. It can have different effects for different people based on a number of personal factors and how much is taken at a given time.
The cannabis plant is complex and contains hundreds of compounds called ‘Cannabinoids’. The main psychoactive compound is called THC (delta9 tetrahydrocannabinol). Another well-known compound is CBD.
Cannabis has complex effects, many of which are considered ‘depressant’. However, it stimulates the heart, increasing both blood pressure and pulse.
Cannabis comes in the form of leaf, buds (“weed”), resin (“hash”) and oil. The market and variety of cannabis based products continues to expand. It is usually consumed by smoking or vaping but can also be eaten or drank known as ‘edibles’.
Cannabis ‘edibles’ are food products infused with cannabis. Edibles come in many forms—including baked goods, sweets, ‘gummy bears’, ‘cannabis gummies’ chocolates and lozenges. We are also aware of cannabis drinks available on the Irish market known as ‘THC lean’.
Food products containing cannabis have been available internationally in locations such as the Netherlands as cakes sold in coffee shops. More recently, food products containing cannabis have emerged as products sold as part of the legalised market in Northern America but are not legalised in an Irish context. Many of these new products replicate commercial food brands.
Avoidance of smoking: Cannabis smoke contains many of the same toxins and carcinogens as tobacco smoke. Over the long term, smoking any substance can cause some damage to the lungs. By eating cannabis, this risk is avoided.
Delayed effects: A person will not feel the effects immediately like smoking cannabis. In some cases it could take over two hours before the peak effects are felt. It is harder for a person to know an accurate dose or gauge how they will react compared to inhaling.
Harder to predict the effects /easier to take too much: People may easily consume too much THC without knowing until the effects are felt some time later. This can increase the risks of adverse mental health reactions such as prolonged hallucinations, anxiety or behaviour changes.
Compounds are altered in the stomach, intestine and liver: The body processes edible products in a different way which leads to more intense effects.
Start the discussion: Try opening with a phrase like: “I saw something in the paper about young people. I wanted to discuss it with you to see if you know anything about it…” and take it from there.
Prepare active listening tips: When a parent listens actively, this can encourage your child to talk and express their feelings. Get more advice on this approach from the HSE resource ‘Alcohol and Drugs: A Parent’s Guide’.
What should my child know? The basic facts about substances, why they should avoid them – especially while their bodies and brains are still developing, ways to avoid harm, ways to enjoy themselves and cope with life’s ups and downs without using substances.
Raise your concerns about cannabis edible products as well as other substances: Avoid focusing on one drug. Ask them what substances they are aware of that young people might use, if any. Be mindful that cannabis edibles may not be an issue in your area. Other substances like alcohol or other cannabis products or ecstasy could be more well-known. New trends can also emerge from time to time.
Why do people use substances? When looking at the risks, it is also useful to show that you understand why young people use substances. The most commonly reported reason given by young people for initially trying a drug is curiosity. For example, people use cannabis edibles to feel ‘chilled out’, ‘relaxed’ or ‘a high’.
Discuss the situation: We need to be mindful of how children process the information they see around them. Ask have they seen the media interest, public discussions or people using in your community. Remind them that this doesn’t necessarily mean it is a ‘trend’ among young people or that “everyone is doing it”.
How do they feel about it? Ask them how they feel about the recent media or local attention about cannabis edible products. Find out what do they know about it and ask if they have any questions? If you can’t answer their question you could work together to find the answer – it’s ok not to know everything!
Let them know they can contact you in a crisis: While it is OK to make it clear to your child that you disapprove of drug use, you should also make it clear that they should always contact you in a crisis. No matter what caused the crisis or emergency, you will be there to help them through it.
INHALING (smoking or vaping):
INGESTING (eating or drinking):
If your child is using cannabis or any drug regularly you may wish to seek an appointment for your child at an adolescent drug and alcohol treatment service. These services exist across Ireland and parents can generally make the referral themselves. You can also contact your local or regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force (DATF).
To find out where your local adolescent drug and alcohol treatment service or DATF is, check out Drugs.ie/services or phone the HSE Drug and Alcohol Helpline at 1800 459 459 Monday – Friday 9:30 am – 5:30 pm or email [email protected]
For more information go to Drugs.ie or download the HSE resource ‘Alcohol and Drugs: A Parent’s Guide’
Some PDFs include additional images and graphics for reference.
If you are a parent, family member or guardian who is concerned about a young person’s pattern of alcohol use, this section is for you. Young people’s drinking is a cause of concern to many parents. The teenage years of adolescence are when a lot of development, both physical and psychological, takes place. Some of these changes are visible, such as their growth, their height. Others are invisible, such as developments in their brain, their emotions and their psychology. The presence of alcohol during these years may impair development, especially if it is taken in excess.
Even moderate drinking in adolescence has its risks. A young person, unused to the effects of alcohol, may get sick, take unnecessary risks, have an accident, miss out on work, school or sport, or become a burden to their friends.
Heavier drinking in adolescence increases the risk of later problems of dependence on alcohol or other substances. Postponing the first alcoholic drink reduces the likelihood of later problems.
For parents the dilemma is compounded by the fact that adolescence is also a time when the young person becomes more independent. It is a time when a person often gets to know herself or himself better, becoming aware of how they are similar to their parents and also how they differ. It is a time when they become more aware of friendships and groups to which they belong. It is a time when a parent hands over many responsibilities to the young person and, ideally, the young person takes more responsibility for himself / herself.
Alcohol adds greatly to the challenge of being the parent of a teenager. The difficulty for the parent is to know how much freedom to allow and how much control to retain.
Parents generally wish to help their daughters and sons to avoid any of the problems which might arise from alcohol use or misuse. While the most effective way of avoiding alcohol problems is to avoid drinking alcohol, the majority of Irish young adults have taken an alcoholic drink before they are 21 years of age.
There are a number of information, support and counselling services providing support around alcohol and alcohol related problems. Contact details for many of these services can be found on the Services Directory of the drugs.ie website or by calling the Drugs Helpline freephone 1800 459 459. For a comprehensive listing of counsellors and psychotherapists in Ireland see www.counsellingdirectory.ie
You can also go to your GP who will be able to refer you to get the support that you need.
