“My son is dabbing—what do I do?” Because Newport treats teens with substance abuse problems, this is a question we hear from parents. And the next question usually is, “Is dabbing bad?”
Marijuana dabbing is a relatively new form of consuming cannabis that is growing in popularity. Dabbing is a way of ingesting cannabis by heating up butane hash oil and creating an extremely concentrated form of THC.
What exactly is dabbing and what are the dangers of dabbing? In this article, we’ll answer those questions and also provide information about the signs of dabbing and the long-term effects of dabbing.
Key Takeaways
- Dabbing has many dangerous physical and mental effects.
- Marijuana can be addictive, so teens who engage in dabbing run the risk of developing a substance use disorder.
- There are a number of signs that a teen may be dabbing or using other forms of marijuana.
- Newport Academy treats teens with substance use disorders by addressing the underlying mental health issues catalyzing the destructive behavior.
What Is Dabbing?
Dabbing refers to inhaling a concentrated form of THC, the active ingredient in cannabis. Butane is used as a solvent to extract the THC oils from the marijuana plant. This produces dabs, a gooey liquid substance that is also known as wax, shatter, amber, honey oil, honeycomb, or budder. This butane hash oil is then inhaled as a vapor through a type of bong known as a rig or oil rig. Another dabbing method is using hash oil in a vape. Because vaping hash oil does not have a particular smell or give off smoke, it’s easier for teens to hide it from parents or teachers.
The THC levels ingested in dabbing are extremely high and concentrated, making marijuana dabbing different from other forms of cannabis use. Butane hash oil (BHO) can have a THC concentration as high as 80 percent, as opposed to between 10 and 25 percent for other types of cannabis.
Dabbing is said to have originated in the 1960s during the Vietnam War. Soldiers used acetone or petrol as solvents to extract THC from the marijuana plant and create a liquid concentrate. Then they rolled the concentrate in paper to smoke it.
How Many Teens Are Dabbing?
Parents who find out their daughter is dabbing or their son is dabbing often think they are alone. However, marijuana use among teens is very common. One survey showed that 1 in 4 participants identified as regular cannabis users. Of that percentage, one-third of the group said they dab more than once per day. Those numbers have only grown since this study was published.
Why are teens dabbing at increasing rates? Young people may feel peer pressure to dab and use other drugs and types of marijuana. Moreover, many teens mistakenly believe that dabbing is safer than smoking marijuana or using a bong. That’s because they need to dab less in order to feel the effects, due to the high concentration of THC levels in dabs. Just one hit can get a teen dangerously high.
The Dangers of Dabbing
Is dabbing bad? Yes, marijuana dabbing has many dangerous physical and mental effects. Like any marijuana use, dabbing can affect cognitive functioning. Dabbing effects on the brain include slowed or dulled cognition. In addition, using dabs can worsen or trigger mental health issues. Higher doses of THC are also more likely to produce anxiety, agitation, paranoia, and, at the most extreme level, cannabis-induced psychosis.
Physical symptoms of dabbing include a rapid heart rate and withdrawal symptoms when not using marijuana. And the long-term effects of dabbing for young people include a heightened risk of lung and heart disease.
As with smoking or vaping marijuana, marijuana dabbing can be addictive. Marijuana has addictive properties that can lead to cannabis use disorder, requiring treatment with mental health professionals who work with teens with substance abuse disorders.
Furthermore, chronic dabbers may try to prepare the drug themselves. This is incredibly dangerous because it could result in fires and/or explosions. Teens who try to create their own dabs are at high risk of death for this reason. In addition, homemade dabs or dabs obtained from an unsafe source may contain residual solvents, carcinogenic contaminants, and other toxic substances.
“The high THC concentration in BHO dabs makes health risks of using BHO much more serious than using marijuana in traditional ways. In addition, these high concentrations are delivered to users at once in a single breath, increasing the risk of physical dependence and addiction.”
Nursing research journal, 2021
Dabbing Signs and Symptoms
There are both behavioral and physical signs that a teen might be dabbing, including:
- Poor judgment
- Difficulty maintaining focus and attention
- Bloodshot eyes
- Increased appetite
- Lethargy
- Respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia
More intense physical symptoms and side effects include:
- Uncontrollable shaking
- Blackouts
- Hallucinations
- Rapid heart rate
- High blood pressure
- Vomiting
- Panic attacks
- Paranoia
- Intense anxiety
Moreover, due to the high concentrations of THC in hash oil, teens can develop a high tolerance quickly and experience worse withdrawal symptoms when not dabbing.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health
At Newport Academy, we view substance use as an unhealthy coping mechanism for distress related to trauma, anxiety, and depression. Teens use dabbing or other drugs to self-medicate feelings of grief, fear, stress, anxiety, sadness, loneliness, low self-esteem, self-loathing, and other mental health concerns.
Drug use can make existing mental health issues worse and cause mental health problems that weren’t there before the drug use. And because adolescents’ body and brain are still developing and are so impressionable, substances are especially dangerous for their development and brain function.
Treatment for Substance Use Disorder at Newport Academy
At Newport Academy, we help teens find sustainable recovery from substance abuse by treating the underlying mental health issues. We don’t look at drug use as separate from mental health—regardless of whether a teen is dabbing or using other drugs. Our whole-person treatment approach addresses adolescents’ physical, emotional, and relational needs through a variety of evidence-based and empirically supported modalities.
Our clinical model also involves teens’ families, because teenage mental health issues don’t exist in a vacuum. Families are part of the treatment process all along the way, participating in family therapy and psychoeducational education. Our expert mental health professionals guide parents and children to strengthen trust and connection so teens can turn to family members for support when they’re struggling.
Equally important, we give teens tools for emotional regulation and distress tolerance. When they have healthy coping tools to help them navigate the inevitable ups and downs of life, they don’t feel the need to turn to destructive behaviors like dabbing in order to navigate challenges.
If your daughter or your son is dabbing, contact us today learn more about our substance abuse and mental health treatment for teens. Our Admissions experts can schedule an assessment for your teen at no charge, and recommend one of our residential or outpatient locations nationwide.
