A recent survey of La Paz County, Arizona youth analyzed substance use among teens. According to results, the study found that while alcohol consumption rates remained the same (as seen in previous reported data), tobacco and prescription use had decreased, and cannabis consumption has increased.
The Arizona Youth Survey was taken in 2020 by the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission, and points out substance use patterns in the area. The results were compiled remotely, despite some complications due to the pandemic. Some of the students surveyed said they didn’t use substances at all, either because they weren’t interested or because they believed the substances could harm them or get them in trouble.
However, cannabis consumption has increased, going up 27 percent in 2016, 37 percent in 2018, and 42 percent in 2020. Parker Area Alliance for Community Empowerment Coalition (PAACE) Executive Director Randy Hartless claims that this is because many teens believe cannabis is not harmful to them specifically. “Not surprisingly, marijuana has become more popular as the perception of harm, perception of parental disapproval, and ease of obtaining it—especially since Arizona voters recently approved recreational use of marijuana—has increased at every grade level,” Hartless said.
PAACE Outreach Coordinator Courtney Kom added that it would not be able to truly see how legalizing cannabis impacted youth until the 2022 study. She added that PAACE plans to take action to help show youth that they should wait to use cannabis until they are of legal age.While Kom said cannabis is a medicine, and that it can benefit adults, she also wants to remind youth that it can have a different impact on brains that are underdeveloped and youth who do not need cannabis for help with a medical condition. For now, it is evident that more informational campaigns will be prepared in order to educate Arizona’s younger cannabis consumers.
