Teenagers smoking weed - how common?

[1newname]

Ds1 is 17 and started smoking weed when he was 15. I've never been particularly happy about it but within his large friendship group they're all doing it (and more, unfortunately).

Not that it matters but I'm wondering how common it is with teens. How do things look for your teens?

I hate the stuff - my middle DS started smoking weed at 17 ( he had a part time job and bought it with his wages). He became addicted. It caused a bright lad to have no motivation to even get up - but he passed a BTEC and went to university where weed took an even bigger hold and he failed the first year. Went back and tried again then got kicked out. Came home and continued to smoke weed all the time. Left home at 21 as it caused so many problems. He does have mental health issues, and the local service won’t allow him therapy unless he fights his addiction. He doesn’t want to engage with drug and alcohol services. He’s now 25 and is still addicted - it’s ruined his life so far but his argument is that he uses it to self medicate. But he won’t take anything prescribed to help him from an actual doctor. Weed has ruined a bright, decent lad and has made it incredibly hard for us as a family. He’s had two psychosis episodes when he’s mixed wine with weed and I live in fear of what he may do. Neither of my other two, one older, one younger have ever smoked it.

It's the dab pens that concern me. They really don't smell. It's gone beyond vaping in school toilets to kids saying they need the weed to cope in school.

Even when reported and bags searched. They can't find it as the dab pens are so small.

I have no idea about nowadays except that of two of our local secondary schools we've been told one is where the children become addicts, the other where they become dealers. In another a member of staff was selling it to the students. All hearsay, I hasten to add.

When I was a teenager and at university I didn't know anyone who didn't smoke it. Most of my friends' and my own parents' did or had done too and some gave it to us regularly.

Now more is known about the risk of psychosis I'm worried and began educating DC about it recently while still at the stage of primary school innocence.

In my experience of working with teenagers. I would say that a. The huge majority at least experiment and many do use it regularly

My dd (y11)says she knows of at least 30 in her year that do it out of 250 she says could be more that she doesn't really know or speaks to.

Not to worry you but there is also a black market in CBD vapes which apparently have the active ingredient in them.
DS was privately educated so apart from weed there was also ketamine and cocaine use amongst one group of his friends. His ex girlfriend had a serious problem and ultimately DS couldn’t cope with how it affected her.
Ketamine can destroy the bladder resulting in a permanent catheter. There has been a massive increase in bladder damage in those in their 20s reported in the Bristol area, probably elsewhere but a consultant urologist has published a paper recently.
As for cocaine, excess use can cause heart attack and ingestion ( large quantities accumulated in the naso pharynx as it is inhaled is then swallowed and can cause necrosis of the small bowel leading to permanent colostomy).
Introducing this information before they try the drugs may help deter them. Once they are regular users it’s often more difficult. Teenagers don’t tend to care if they don’t see the longterm results particularly if they enjoy the high.
The other worrying trend is the use of nitrous oxide ( balloons). Again lots of serious health consequences and the high results in inhibited behaviour.
I think spice is more of a problem in the north. Very disturbing to watch someone turn into a zombie and stop breathing.
I think ketamine and cocaine are the choice of the overindulged.
My DS was not aware of anyone using heroine but maybe that comes later. I’m fairly certain he wouldn’t go down that road due to his dislike of needles.
I was much happier when he finished with his girlfriend because he was no longer partying with the drugs crowd.
Im blessed with a son who is happy to discuss his choices, he also knows that what he divulged is in strict confidence. I did struggle to bite my tongue with some parents who would boast about their clean living offspring but it’s up to you to make sure you know what your children are up to.
I think that if I had been put in a position ( emergency) I would have felt duty bound to inform a parent.

Very common.

What are dab pens please? Are these vapes that pp mentioned upthread? What do they look like? My ds has been experimenting, and he too has an uncle with a serious psychiatric disorder which worries the hell out of me. It would be good to know what to look out for.

The ketamine use is very worrying it is not unusual for it to destroy people’s bladders, which have to be removed and they have a bag for life. Information from a urinary surgeon who has had to do this

What are dab pens please? Are these vapes that pp mentioned upthread? What do they look like? My ds has been experimenting, and he too has an uncle with a serious psychiatric disorder which worries the hell out of me. It would be good to know what to look out for.

Yes the weed vapes. They are small thin and flat. Much smaller and thinner than vapes. They also come as thin cylindrical like pens. Lots of different versions. They don't smell and so small are easily hidden . It is scary.
Lots of different versions. Have googled a couple. So you get an idea.

Thanks @Eddyraisins that is a bit concerning!

DS26 is currently under a Section 48 and on an ‘attempted murder’ charge after a second huge psychotic episode.

He started smoking high strength weed with mates around age 15, was bright and got through school but had a first episode at 21 that derailed his life. He has not smoked for 5 years, lead a healthy lifestyle (no alcohol, drugs, tobacco, even sugar) but fell off a cliff massively after being heavily medicated following a motorbike accident.

This all started with regular use of high THC cannabis - I was told during his first Section he was probably predisposed.

You play a game of Russian Roulette with your sanity if you smoke weed regularly …

Teacher here.....most teens i know smoke weed at some point