Screening for Cannabis Use Disorder and Effective Tools to Educate Youth on the Risks with Dr. Bonnie Halpern-Felsher
- 3 hours ago
- 1 min read
As cannabis products have evolved, so too have the risks—especially for young people. Today’s cannabis products contain far higher levels of THC than in previous decades, with some products reaching up to 80-90% THC. This shift is raising concerns due to its association with increased risk of addiction, mental health challenges, and psychosis.
In this Ask the Expert explainer, Dr. Bonnie Halpern-Felsher, Professor of Pediatrics and Director of the Stanford REACH Lab at Stanford University School of Medicine, explores what these changes mean for youth health and prevention, and highlights effective screening and assessment tools for early identification of cannabis use disorder, including Screening to Brief Intervention (S2BI) and CRAFFT.
In addition, Dr. Halpern-Felsher discusses evidence-based education and awareness toolkits developed by the REACH Lab. These free resources are designed to help young people understand the health effects of substance use, recognize marketing tactics, and build skills to refuse use. The toolkits also address key topics such as brain development, addiction, and healthy coping strategies to equip youth with the knowledge and skills to make informed decisions.
