About cannabis education center
INTRODUCING THE HEALTH & WELLNESS CENTER
The Health & Wellness Center at the Boys & Girls Club of Palm Springs is a welcoming place where students can enjoy activities and educational programs on topics such as making healthy choices, how cannabis use affects the growing mind/body, and more. They can also take part in fun youth-led projects to develop leadership skills, learn how to create healthy foods and snacks in the Center’s demonstration kitchen or sit in the quiet reading nook checking out materials in the resource library.
FULFILLING A NEED
In January 2021, the City of Palm Springs – serving as lead agency along with the Boys and Girls Club of Palm Springs – secured a California Board of State and Community Corrections Cohort 2 Proposition Health and Safety Grant Award which provided funding for the Center. One of the primary goals of the Center is to house a Cannabis Education Center (CEC) within this wellness facility to address adolescent cannabis use and its effects on young brains and growing bodies. When it comes to the discussion of drugs, some people may think cannabis is mild and not as dangerous as other drugs. However, when it comes to the younger brain, early cannabis use points to severe cognitive consequences.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the teen brain is actively developing and continues to develop until around age 25. Cannabis use during adolescence and young adulthood has the potential harm the developing brain.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the teen brain is actively developing and continues to develop until around age 25. Cannabis use during adolescence and young adulthood has the potential harm the developing brain.
How cannabis use can impact a teen’s life:
- Increased risk of mental health issues: Cannabis use has been linked to a range of mental health problems, such as depression and social anxiety. Teens who use cannabis are more likely to develop temporary psychosis (i.e., not knowing what is real, hallucinations and paranoia) and long lasting mental disorders including schizophrenia (a type of mental illness where people might see or hear things that aren’t there). The association between cannabis and schizophrenia is stronger in people who start using cannabis at an earlier age and use cannabis more frequently.
- Impaired driving: Driving while impaired by any substance, including cannabis, is dangerous and illegal. Cannabis negatively affects several skills required for safe driving, such as reaction time, coordination and concentration.
- Potential for addiction: Approximately 3 in 10 people who use cannabis have cannabis use disorder. Some signs and symptoms include trying but failing to quit using cannabis or giving up important activities with friends and family in favor of using cannabis. The risk of developing cannabis use disorder is stronger in people who start using cannabis during youth or adolescence.
Upcoming Programs
The Health & Wellness Center offers programming centered around keeping youth on a positive path in all aspects of life. The Center’s demonstration kitchen is used to teach tips for healthy cooking and eating, and will feature local celebrity chefs at some events The resource library within the Center provides information to youth regarding a variety of topics, including cannabis use and its effects on the body. Besides providing a safe and welcoming place for youth. After school, the Health & Wellness Center is a place where students can participate in youth-led projects to build their self-esteem and develop their leadership skills – while innovative programmes empower youth to make wise and healthy choices for themselves and their peers.