San Diego health officials last week highlighted the mental health-related risks of marijuana, especially the frequent use of high-potency cannabis among young people.

According to a study published by the Society for the Study of Addiction, the potency of cannabis, as measured by the amount of THC in the product, increased by about 0.20% annually from 1970 to 2017, increasing over the years. is increasing. THC is the chemical that gives cannabis its effects.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which cites various studies, regular use of marijuana, especially high-potency cannabis, is a risk factor for mental health disorders such as psychosis and schizophrenia.

Among young people, the risk is greater.

That’s why officials from San Diego’s Family Health Center, Scripps Mercy Hospital, and the Marijuana Prevention Initiative last week urged parents to talk to their kids about the risks early and often. The Marijuana Prevention Initiative held a press conference Thursday at the City Heights Family Health Center.

“Not all smokers develop lung cancer, but there is a risk. Similarly, not everyone who uses cannabis develops psychosis, but the risk is significant.

Marijuana was the leading drug used by youth ages 12 to 17 in San Diego County treatment programs in 2020-2021, according to county data.

Speaking at a press conference, parent Adriana Ching recalled learning her son, now 24, smoked marijuana during his sophomore year of high school. Since then, he has suffered from cannabis-induced psychosis and has been hospitalized four times, two of which in a psychiatric hospital.

Ching said her son had completed two home treatment programs and had tried several alternative therapies and various antipsychotics to manage his paranoia, delusions, and voices that only he could hear.

“I am here to tell you that this harm is real and that the data supporting the risks of early cannabis exposure are undeniable.”

Sepulveda and Dr. Roneet Lev, an emergency and addiction physician at Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego, said they treat patients daily for cannabis-induced conditions, including psychosis.

The problem isn’t just that marijuana is a risk factor for psychosis and the like. Lev said people with schizophrenia, psychosis, and bipolar disorder shouldn’t use THC because it can make the condition worse. Sepulveda added that cannabis can make drugs used to treat mental health conditions less effective.

The Marijuana Prevention Initiative held an event to mark Suicide Prevention Month. According to the county coroner’s office, in 2020 he was THC positive in nearly 40% of those under the age of 25 who committed suicide. The chemical was also the No. 1 drug found in the systems of people under the age of 25 who died by suicide.

The San Diego Access and Crisis Line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at (888) 724-7240. Resources can also be found online.