Cannabis and adolescence: The current situation in Greece comparing to European and Worldwide context

Abstract

Adolescence is a period of life that makes people vulnerable and prone to illegal substances. They are more likely to commit offenses than any other age group. In recent years, there has been an increase in the use of cannabis by adolescents worldwide. Cannabis has now been described in several countries, including Greece, as the dominant illegal substance and has been more closely linked to youth culture, as the age of starting cannabis is usually younger than for other drugs. Cannabis has very low acute toxicity and a very small mortality rate compared to other drugs, but morbidity is the most important impact on public health. In many countries, medical cannabis is considered legal in certain specific quantities, but the laws vary from country to country. The use of cannabis is examined and studied on many levels mainly because it affects teenagers in many areas including cognitive, social, and psycho-emotional. Some studies around the world confirm that the earlier and more prolonged exposure to cannabis use, the greater the damage. The fact that it can lead to adverse conditions in adolescents makes it imperative to proceed to primary prevention in the school environment but also in the society of each country. This will properly shape the adolescent's perception of cannabis and help identify other problems that occupy everyday life of adolescents preventing them from starting cannabis use or stop them from continuing using it.