Risk Reduction Strategies for Adolescent Cannabis Use Considering COVID-19 Stressors

The past 2 years has been a challenge as society made huge adaptations to keep people safe from COVID-19 and struggled to continue life on a day-to-day basis. Working with families, young adults, and adolescents, nurses are often faced with caring for individuals who recreationally use cannabis and believe use is harmless. Adolescents as a group tend to appraise information from a different lens than adults. In an evolving world, where cannabis is legalized for medicinal and recreational use, it is important to shift the paradigm of how we approach cannabis use in adolescents. This article will focus on COVID-19's impact on cannabis use in adolescents and apply the transtheoretical model of change to promote safer choices while supporting adolescent autonomy. In addition, we will incorporate behavioral health strategies to reduce risks of cannabis use by equipping adolescents with guidelines, boundaries, and tools.