Not every college student uses cannabis, but for those who do, it’s important to know how to reduce potential risks. This April, learn about the resources available through Campus Health Services to help you reduce your risk and finish the semester strong.
Cannabis use is not a replacement for self-care and good stress management practices. Using cannabis can lead to adverse mental health outcomes, like heightened anxiety, feelings of paranoia and disrupted sleep. Users can gauge their personal risk factors through a quick, anonymous screening with Health Promotion.
The department will host a specialized cannabis screening event at Earth Jam on April 18 for those looking for quick, nonjudgmental feedback on their cannabis use. The program also offers an online option through ScreenU for those unable to attend or wanting to recommend the screening to others.
If you’d like support managing anxiety, stress or depression without using cannabis or other substances, you can schedule a Path to Care appointment with CHS counselors and behavioral health specialists to come up with a plan that’s right for you. If you are ready to reduce your use of cannabis or other drugs, Counseling Services’ individual counseling support and Substance Use Disorders program can help.
“There’s a common belief that ‘everyone’ at NAU is using cannabis, but our data show that’s not the case,” said Melissa Griffin, director of Health Promotion. “Students make a wide range of choices, and most choose lower-risk—or no-risk—options. Our goal is to make sure students have the information they need to make informed decisions, including understanding how heavy or frequent use can affect mental health and academic success.”
Campus Health’s range of no-pressure resources can help those looking to take a break from cannabis make a personalized plan for success and help others adapt their cannabis habits to improve their health.
While you browse your options, consider the following guidelines on responsible cannabis use.
- Delay use: Avoid use until later adolescence to protect your developing brain.
- Go low and slow: Choosing lower potency cannabis products, either with lower THC content (less than 5 milligrams) or a high CBD-to-THC ratio, can lessen unwanted outcomes.
- Protect your heart and lungs: Avoid smoking and holding smoke in your lungs.
- Moderation is key: Ideally, stick to using only once or twice a week, if you choose to use.
- Know the source: Getting cannabis from legal and regulated sources, like dispensaries, means having a better sense of both the potency and content of what you’re using.
- Be self-aware: Reduce dosage or the frequency of use if you experience challenges with memory, decision-making or other cognitive functions.
- Wait: Wait at least six hours before driving if you’ve smoked cannabis, or eight to 12 hours if using in the form of edibles.
- Avoid mixing: Do not mix cannabis with other substances, including alcohol.
- Know your health history: Cannabis use is linked to increased risk for the development of serious mental health concerns like schizophrenia, mood or depressive disorders and substance use disorders. It also increases the chance of adverse health outcomes, such as heart disease.