How Smoking Weed in Your Youth Harms Future Children Even Decades Later

Smoking cannabis during your youth may harm children conceived even years after parents stop smoking the drug.

Research reveals how using cannabis can trigger permanent genetic changes which make the next generation more likely to abuse drugs themselves.

Scientists say there is growing evidence that adolescent indulgence leaves a lasting genetic imprint – which is passed down to children through altered DNA in sperm and egg, shares Daily Mail.

Dr Henrietta Szutorisz, of Icahn Medical School in New York, fed adolescent rats water containing THC, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis.

They were later taken off the substance and encouraged to mate. Their offspring were left to grow up without exposure to THC.

However, when adult, they were found to crave a solution containing heroin more than offspring of ‘clean’ rats.

Writing in journal Neuroscience and Biobehavioural Reviews, she said that while it was ‘still a provocative concept’, the data ‘accrued to date … documents that early exposure [to cannabis] during one’s lifetime leaves a long-term epigenetic memory mark which sets a legacy even on to future generations’.

Researchers at King’s College London have shown smoking cigarettes in pregnancy triggers genetic changes in the unborn child, which make them more likely to smoke and use cannabis as teens.

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15 Comments

- - mom265671 said
  - 04 Aug 2018
    12:05 am
This tuff is bad for us. We really need to help stop this epidemic

- - curlytops said
  - 03 Aug 2018
    9:34 pm
it never a good outcome with drugs unfortunately.

- - mom93821 said
  - 05 Jun 2018
    6:27 am
I have seen footage of the changes and damages it causes to brains and it quite scary.
- mom93821 replied
  
  06 Jun 2018 , 5:31 am
  Smoking in any form is a slippery slope and should be avoided at all costs.
- - Ellen said
  - 05 Jun 2018
    4:32 am
No new information.
I’ve 2 sisters in permanent care / guardianship order, from who the biological parents used drugs.
The biological mum was clean during the pregnancy of my 8yr old, but used in her presence til she was 3,5 yrs old. So my 8yr old inhaled all the stuff mum and dad were using and was severely neglected.
The biological mum was actively using during the pregnancy of my 4 yr old (Down Syndrome), she was on methadon after birth. She also has an under developed retina because of the drugs use of mum.
So in both cases damage has been done, but it’s hard to measure and we never know for sure how much effect it has on the brain.
- mom90758 replied
  
  05 Jun 2018 , 2:26 pm
  Really terrible what a parent can do to his child. I’m glad the kids are with you now.
  - Ellen replied
    
    01 Aug 2018 , 7:36 am
    
    Yes, I’m glad for that too. I just hope some of the symptoms and damage done can be reversed
- - cherz said
  - 04 Jun 2018
    8:40 pm
Interesting Info …do hope the young generation take all this on board.

- - mom81879 said
  - 04 Jun 2018
    6:44 pm
What a scarey bit of information. So many kids have been accidentally and irreversibly damaged by the parents addictions. So sad

- - ashna9 said
  - 04 Jun 2018
    5:47 pm
This isn’t a surprise surely? Any mind and body altering substance is bound to have long term adverse effects.

- - mom114371 said
  - 04 Jun 2018
    3:38 pm
Interesting study! I’m assuming this relates to people who have used regularly and not just the average kid experimenting with a puff here and thereZ
- Ellen replied
  
  05 Jun 2018 , 4:15 am
  Yeah, I would think so.
- - mom206279 said
  - 04 Jun 2018
    2:57 pm
Somehow I doubt this would make any difference to a kid experimenting.

- - mom160421 said
  - 04 Jun 2018
    1:49 pm
I think all teenagers/young adults should be made aware of this, although I doubt they would care.

- - Staceylee101 said
  - 04 Jun 2018
    1:35 pm
I totally believe this! And good thing I can say I don’t have to worry about that