A new study suggests that number of teens consuming marijuana has drastically increased. Nevertheless, it has been acknowledged that the teens are not well guided by their parents. As per statistics, it has been revealed that the use of marijuana amongst teens has increased by a major factor of 42% since 2008.

The study conducted by The Partnership at Drugfree. org and MetLife has raised concerns over the increased use of the drug by younger generation.

Carole Baxter of Recovery Centers of Arkansas asserted that the use of drugs by this generation can damage their brain, as they are too young. Moreover, they are still in developmental phase. He explained that the effects of the drug are similar to the ones encountered in case of smoking. Once these youngsters start consuming the drug, they will soon fall into the habit and will become addicted to it.

It has been estimated that approximately 50% of Hispanic teens have smoked marijuana. In case of African American teens, it has been estimated that one out of every ten smokes marijuana.

However, it has been subjected that the most prominent way to stop the addiction of the drug amongst the teens is the inclusion of their parents. It has been stated that the parents of teens should be more cautious of their kids and keep a check on them to administer whether their kids are into such habits or not.

A few precautionary steps are a must for the parents to implement, such as keeping a check of their pocket money or checking out whether they are borrowing money or do their clothes and room smells unusual or is their appearance changing.

Baxter said, "Those are the things that should alert a parent to start talking with your child about what's going on with them and if the child has a problem to get them help early on".