6301 wk10 assgn

Introduction

Marijuana use among adolescents dominates the list of public health problems that the society should effectively address in order to secure the life and future of the youths. Increasing trends for legalization of marijuana for both medicinal and recreational purposes continue to raise concerns on the health and safety of adolescents. Different studies have linked marijuana use to a number of effects that range from both physical and mental health effects. Even though with little evidence, a number of studies have linked marijuana use in adolescents with mental health problem such as depression, anxiety, memory loss, sleep problems, stress, and interference with brain formation during this stage of growth (Dhein, 2020). The situation therefore calls for the need to study marijuana use and the mental health effects in adolescents.

Problem Statement

Drug and substance use have become public health problem that continue to wreak havoc on the health of individuals in the society. While society struggles to control the problem, marijuana use among adolescents remains a serious menace that requires effective measures for addressing menace. This particular study contributes to this fight by testing the connection between marijuana use and mental health of adolescents. It is critical for social workers who work with adolescents who use marijuana to understand the connection between marijuana and mental health effects.

Research Question

1. What are the effects of marijuana use on the mental health of adolescents?

The research question for this study is premised on the theory that there are mental health effects associated with marijuana use in adolescents. Marijuana has been established to contain chemical compounds that affect the mental health of individuals, and adolescents are no exception. Nonetheless, this study comes to test this relationship using appropriate research approaches that will help in answering this particular research question.

Review of Literature

Whereas there are studies that have focused on the general effects of marijuana use on adolescents, there are very few studies that given attention to the mental health effects of marijuana use in adolescents. For instance, Hall et al. (2020) in their research focused on the effects of cannabis use on the development of adolescents. The research which utilized neuroimaging studies, epidemiological studies, randomization studies, and case-control studies revealed that cannabis consumption in adolescents and young adults was associated with dependence and poor physical performance. The current study fulfills this gap by focusing on the effects of mental health. The current study also fills another significant gap by projecting the role of social workers in helping adolescents overcome the problem of marijuana use. Social workers occupy a critical position in helping members of society solve the problems affect both young and older individuals.

Understanding the effects of marijuana on mental health of adolescents is necessary for social workers to identify solutions that can help this particular age group in society. Blest- Hopley et al. (2020) conducted a study that aligned with the research topic; however, they went an extra mile to determine the stage of development that was more vulnerable to the effects of marijuana. The results of their study conveyed that adolescents’ brains were more vulnerable to the effects of marijuana as compared to young adults. According to Blest- Hopley et al. (2020) marijuana use in the adolescent stage exposes the user to long-term psychological health problems. The brain undergoes significant changes during the stage and therefore introduction of cannabis causes serious negative changes in the functions and structure of the brain (Blest- Hopley et al., 2020).

Mental Health Effects of Cannabis in Adolescents

Gobbi et al. (2021) investigated the linkage between cannabis use and mental health effects such as suicidal ideation, the risk of depression, and anxiety in adolescents. The study that utilized a meta-analysis showed that consumption of cannabis in adolescents was linked to the risk of depression, suicidality, and anxiety. Gobbi et al. (2021) maintained that while the causes of these problems could be complex and multifactorial, their causes in adolescents were closely associated with cannabis use (Gobbi et al., 2021).

Lawn et al. (2022) took a similar stance to Blest- Hopley et al. (2020) who compared the mental health effects of cannabis use in adolescents and young adults. However, Lawn et al. (2022) used a cross-sectional analysis in their study. The results of their study indicated that the effects of cannabis consumption were more accentuated in adolescents as compared to young adults because neural and psychological developments are still taking place in the adolescent phase.

Refine and Focus

The literature has been quite insightful. The topic of the study comes out clearly to meet the current gaps in the study. While there is a lot of research on the effects of marijuana use on adolescents there is a need to focus on mental health effects. The focus is necessitated by the fact that adolescents are still in the growth stage where neural and psychological developments are still taking place. However, I would like to refine the research and focus on negative effects of cannabis use on the mental health of adolescents.

Methodological Approach

The purpose of the methodological approach in every study is state the rationale and strategy for research. The current study seeks to investigate the effects of marijuana use on the mental health of adolescents. While there a number of studies that have linked marijuana use in adolescents with both physical and mental health effects, the current study comes to focus on the mental health effects. The study will take a quantitative approach because there is already a hypothesis that has been established prior to the research exercise. Yegidis et al. (2018) state that the hypothesis in a quantitative study is determined and formulated before the study is conducted (Yegidis et al., 2018). The hypothesis that will guide this study will test the effect of marijuana use on mental health of adolescents. There are a number of ways that will enable the study to test the hypothesis. The researcher will consider factors such as frequency of marijuana use in adolescents, history of marijuana, and level of exposure to effects of marijuana. The confounding factors for this study will include history of mental health problems and history of abuse other drugs and substances. Quantitative approach to research is not only unique in terms of formulation of the hypothesis, but also from the fact that it always seeks to prove a causal and effect relationship between variables (Yegidis et al., 2018). Other than testing the hypothesis, the study will seek to establish whether there is an existence of a causal and effect relationship between marijuana use in adolescents and mental health effects. The study will utilize research tools that will include observations and longitudinal data which are aspects of quantitative research approach. Additionally, surveys will be administered on the selected sample to augment the use of observations, and longitudinal data.

Sampling and Sampling Method

The research seeks to explore the effects of marijuana on the mental health of adolescents. The target population will be adolescents aged between 12 to 18 years. The study will target adolescents in both junior and high school levels of learning. Children aged between 12 to 18 years form a major part of the population that are frequent users of marijuana. The targeted ages groups are likely to experience the effects of marijuana use and mental health (Dhein, 2020).

The sampling approach to be used in this study will be non-probability sampling technique. The nonprobability sampling technique does not use the random selection method because a population to be studied is known and the variables understudy specifically identify the target population (Yegidis et al., 2018). The rationale for using nonprobability sampling technique is that the study will be confined to a specific number of adolescents who will have endorsed the use of marijuana in their life. For purposes of accuracy, the sample will consist of 250 adolescents both in junior and senior high levels of learning. The sample will consist of both male and female adolescents.

Data Collection

Data collection is a critical procedure that allows a researcher to extract the data for a study using the tools that match the nature of the study (Yegidis et al., 2018). In order to collect data from a sample of 250 students, questionnaires with questions that participants will answer will be distributed to the participants. Questionnaires promotes privacy and confidentiality of research participants. Some adolescents might feel shy to share information especially that which relates to drug and substance use. Therefore, it will be appropriate for them to disclose this kind of information through a questionnaire. The research tool comes with questions that research participants can find appropriate to answer without any influence from a third party.

Ethics and Cultural Considerations

Ethics and cultural issues must be considered in a research process. One of the cultural considerations that will be considered when dealing with adolescents will be the use of age-appropriate research tools. Adolescents belong to the youth subculture and have different behavioral tendencies that must be considered during research. For instance, the researcher anticipates that the participants would use some form of slang in their communication. The researcher might hire an interpreter for anticipated language difficulties. Other than the use of slang, the researcher will observe and respect the cultural values of adolescents from different cultures. NASW Code of Ethics requires social workers to have a knowledge base of the culture of their clients (NASW, nd). I have the cultural competence and understanding of the youth subculture in which adolescents belong. I will be open-minded and respect the values of this particular subculture during the research.

In terms of ethics, the researcher will comply to the ethical values of confidentiality, consent, and disclosure. The researcher will seek the consent of participants before they can be recruited into the research process. The researcher will observe privacy and confidentiality of the participants and will not disclose the personal information from the participants with anyone. NASW Code of Ethics under standard 5.02 (f) says that social workers are only expected to recruit research participants after getting their consent (NASW, nd). I will observe these standards and values so as to comply with the requirements.

Discussion

My expectations are that the selected sample will willingly participate in the data collection process. Adolescents tend not to disclose information related to drug and substance use, however, with the use of questionnaires, a majority will be willing to participate and answer the questionnaire questions. I anticipate that adolescents who use marijuana frequently and for more than 6 six months will disclose that they have experienced symptoms such as depression, stress, anxiety, memory loss, sleep problems, and concentration problems. The symptoms are myriad, and I expect the participants to mention as many as they would wish to mention. If the data will not align to my expectations, I will use it without any modifications or changes.

Reflection

The process of developing a research proposal has been a learning experience for me. I have interacted with the research concepts and learnt how they apply to various aspects of research. I have learned social work research focuses on issues that affect people in society. Social work research seeks to help people alleviate social problems such as public health issues, drug use, divorce, marriage problems, disease infections, and adult and children affairs.

References

Blest-Hopley, G., Colizzi, M., Giampietro, V., & Bhattacharyya, S. (2020). Is the adolescent brain at greater vulnerability to the effects of cannabis? A narrative review of the evidence. Frontiers in psychiatry, 11, 859.

Dhein, S. (2020). Different effects of cannabis abuse on adolescent and adult brain. Pharmacology, 105(11-12), 609-617.

Dhein, S. (2020). Different effects of cannabis abuse on adolescent and adult brain. Pharmacology, 105(11-12), 609-617.

Frolli, A., Ricci, M. C., Cavallaro, A., Lombardi, A., Bosco, A., Di Carmine, F., ... & Franzese, L. (2021). Cognitive development and cannabis use in adolescents. Behavioral Sciences, 11(3), 37.