To have reservations about nephew using cannabis for adhd

[LooseGoose22]

My sister has gotten pretty offended when I expressed concern/reservations about her 19 yr old son using cannabis, she says, to help him relax and sleep due to his adhd.

My first reservation was the due to seeing a few articles recently aboit cannabis use, even casual, affecting the brain, in particular developing brains.

Second was due to the risk of dependence (and increased use) over time.

I didn't say at the time (because it got v heated quite quickly) but also concerned about him driving and working (manual job with a big safety emphasis... apprentice electrician).

And also possible testing by employers.

Sister gave the impression it was every night, my Mum has since said its not, but I don't know if she's just saying that because it caused a "lively" debate.

Seems to be quite a common thing, self diagnosing a physical or mental issue, then self prescribing cannabis as a treatment.

I would take the things your relatives have said with a pinch of salt.

I have a 20 Yr old son with Adhd. Diagnosed late. Went down the cannabis route 5 yrs ago. We were horrified at the time but it is used by lots with adhd, does help them sleep, their brains never stop and for him it has been a relief when needed. He has tried various prescribed medications with really bad side effects including massive drops as the methylphenidate wears off. Ticks etc. His adhd is pretty bad at times and anxiety is huge, the ranting is a symptom of adhd and the best thing we ever did was try and change our views on how society tells us we should parent and became the parents he needed to increase his self esteem and resilience. This included accepting his cannabis use as your sister has done. 5 yes on he has gone from daky smoking to only at weekends, never when driving and never the night before work, also an electrician and v good at it! He has a cancard which helps. We also have another zone with adhd and add. He takes methylphenidate and it works for him on and off. He suffers worse ticks with it so currently under review again. I think it is important to remember that they are both drugs and in all honesty meth is the more powerful of the two and in a country where alcohol causes more issues on the streets than someone chilling on cannabis you have to ask yourself why one is legal and not the other? Have a look at the chat forums for adhd online and support your sister with an open mind. It's so good thatbuou care and want to help her and your nephew. Best of luck! 😊

I’ve mixed feelings. I live in the US and have a medical marijuana card for neuropathy and insomnia. I use a coconut oil infused with THC for nerve endings misfiring, and a few drops of tincture to help me sleep. It’s been far more effective than Ambien etc. for insomnia, and without any side effects.

But I wouldn’t be thrilled about its use for a young person.

Smoking weed isn't good for anyone

Reading your initial post and indeed the whole thread two things are apparent - you have very set ideas and little knowledge about marijuana and you have a fairly poor understanding of what ADHD can look like in young adults, yet you are judging your sister and nephew as if you are an authority on both. Apologies if that comes across harsh but I'm afraid that's how I see it.

For example. The idea that your sister "just shouldn't put up with" an ADHD rant and that if it was you you'd encourage the nephew to watch the TV or engage in a hobby made me spit out my water in mirth. That's not how that would work at all. The idea equally that she should turf her son out whom she is presumably concerned about when on fact he is in the process of trying to get diagnosis and treatment for a health matter is also a bit blasé.

That apart, Unfortunately in the UK a lot of weed is skunk and heavily chemocalised due in part to its illegal status. I love in Spain where it is legal to grow up to three plants per household, so people can have more control over what they smoke. Myself I smoked weed, in a similar pattern to your nephew, from about 15-25 half a joint before bed and the reason for this was I had terrible joint pain and when I woke up in the morning if I had smoked half a spliff before bed I woke up able to walk and not in agony. I stopped when I found out I was pregnant with my first child. It's turns out I have rheumatoid arthritis, and although I am now fortunate to have excellent medicine from the hospital for that, there is no doubt in my mind that without my low dose but regular weed smoking throughout my teens I would have spent even more time in agony.

I did not suffer any psychological effects (O did from the 6 months I took the contraceptive pill, however, and you don't see people demonising that......).

I also most likely have ADHD. I cannot for sure say whether the weed helped that as a young person but it didn't harm.

To be clear, I'm not advocating smoking weed, nor drug driving or any of that (I cannot drive). But I am advocating possibly respecting the experience of others in your family who are grown adults who possibly have tried everything and this is currently the best available option. It might now be forever, he might finally see the doctor and be set on a different path. But for now, it's like this. I know how that feels and I have been there and I urge you to cut them some slack and try to understand it all a little more. The puritanical approach isn't appropriate here IMO.

I only recently learned that cannabis in men reduces testosterone and increases oestrogen, to the extent that some male users grow breasts! Perhaps that would put him off.

YANBU. There is good evidence that it can cause significant problems with motivation and anger. And yes negatively affect brain development. There are other better approaches. Some find mindfulness meditation helpful. Many find medications can be helpful too, they are some of the best tolerated psychiatric medications available.

What is that, some kind of dig about America? Jesus wept. Ignorance and small-mindedness is not a good look on anyone. No wonder your sister pays you no mind.

Agreed

For example. The idea that your sister "just shouldn't put up with" an ADHD rant and that if it was you you'd encourage the nephew to watch the TV or engage in a hobby made me spit out my water in mirth. That's not how that would work at all. The idea equally that she should turf her son out whom she is presumably concerned about when on fact he is in the process of trying to get diagnosis and treatment for a health matter is also a bit blasé.

It's good that you read my post so carefully, not.

I didn't say she shouldn't just out up with an adhd rant - I said that she should not tolerate hours of repetitive ranting, as she described. Get it?

That is starting to become abuse of the other members of the household.

I suggested she could try distraction or time out, or (more likely) she could remove herself from the situation ... which she very much has the right to do (after listening and trying to help).

As for turfing her son out , if you had read my posts you'd have seen that I said he is almost 20 year old with a steady gf and they are searching for their own accommodation anyway. He also has the option of staying at his gf's home, where - again, I said he was increasingly staying due to their decision to get a German shepherd puppy.

Kind of ironic that you say I don't understand certain things that I've not been a party to, when you appear to have difficulties comprehending one MN thread.

No-one who thinks the US is not an exemplar for law making is Ignorant or small minded, quite the opposite.

Anyway thank goodness O got decent posters for a day before the "aibu massive" started wading in.

Thank you very much everyone who posted, lots of really useful info and perspectives, and I'll see if I can discuss this sensitively with my sister, I'd feel like a shit person if I didn't at least try not to prevent any negative consequences for my nephew (who is a really lovely young man in so many ways).