Introduction
The article uses a quasi-experimental research design. It addresses the mental health effects associated with the use of marijuana by children and teenagers. The rate of consumption of this substance has increased in both adults and children. The development of the children and teens is at risk as continuous consumption directly affects their thinking and imagination. Markedly, to minimize the effects, it is necessary to collect information and conclusions to provide the required help to the affected parties.
Methods
The researchers seek to establish whether marijuana directly affects the children and the extent of its effects on the mental health of the children and teenagers. They further researched the causes of the differences in the impact of cannabis dependency within the age bracket of 13 and 21 years. They hypothesize that the children and teens experience different effects based on their developmental differences, which indicates that they are directly affected by the consumption of the drug. The independent variable was age, while the dependent variables were the mental effects of cannabis consumption. The participant variables in the article were age, cannabis reliance, and willingness to participate in cannabis treatment. The participants were individuals between 13 and 21 years. They belonged to different ethnicities and included both genders. They were 116 in number, and they met the set standards for the study. They all relied on cannabis and could not go for an extended period before consuming it. Also, they were willing to engage in the treatment process, and they lacked other comorbid substance dependence except for nicotine. The female participants were not under the birth control pills and lacked pregnancy. There were no instruments for this research.
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Results
The researchers found out that the dependency of cannabis was directly associated with mental health problems on teens and children. Also, they realized that the effects differed from one participant to the other. They established that the difference was connected to the differences in their development of the brain and the rate at which the participants consumed marijuana. These results were in line with the hypothesis of the researchers.
Discussion
The results are in line with the initial effects as they include the decline of mental functioning. The initial research established that cannabis dependency leads to a decrease in intelligence quotient, executive functions, psychomotor performance, and the danger of psychotic signs. These factors are related to the mental functioning of the participants, and this proves that cannabis dependency directly affects their mental functioning. The study had some limitations. For example, the participants were not grouped based on their ethnic backgrounds, and this affected the analysis of the results. The reaction and effects of the different ethnic groups would enhance proper conclusions without any bias and generalizations. Also, no scientific equipment was used to measure the progress of the participants. The investigators based their conclusions on their assumptions. Therefore, their findings were not credible.
Additionally, there were no younger children, less than the age of thirteen years. To make a detailed and conclusive report, it was necessary to include this group as some of them were exposed to cannabis by their parents and adults who took it. Their absence rendered the study incomplete.
In the future, the findings should be advanced through additional studies. For example, for clear and reliable results, research should be carried out under the same field on the basis of the ethnic background of the participants. Also, similar research should be carried out with the inclusion of the use of scientific information and equipment to get conclusive and evidence-based results that can be used for reference. Finally, further research on the effects of cannabis on the mental health of children under the age of 13 years should be conducted to establish the similarity or differences in the trends of the effects. With these studies, the gaps left by the current study will be filled, and further areas of study will be established to increase the knowledge and findings on the effects of marijuana in the under 21 years populations across all ethnicities.
The research study is crucial in my topic as it acts as a reference material. It offers the basis of study as it applies in the comparison of my current findings of the same subject. Any difference or similarity in the results of the present study is used as a guideline to establish the reason behind it. Without the previous study, I may lack the basis of argument and support of different results. The study adds to the part of the literature review that shows previous findings under my topic of study. Its presence is the basis of recognition and acknowledgment of the efforts of those responsible for it. Based on its findings and suggestions for further studies, I can easily work on my topic to cover some of the mentioned parts to add to the available knowledge about the topic as it is among the reasons behind the studies.
