CCC 28-2_LR

NEWS & NOTES

and continued use despite nega tive consequences at home, school, work, or in relationships. Researchers estimate that almost three in 10 marijuana users are affected, with symptoms ranging from mild to severe. Despite common misconcep tions, cannabis use disorder is a form of addiction. However, marijuana’s growing social acceptance has con tributed to stigma around seeking help. According to Dr. Jennifer Exo of the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation in Minnesota, “There’s this perva sive belief that you can’t become addicted, it can’t actually be a prob lem. It has to do with this myth that cannabis is safe, natural, and benign.” While marijuana is generally less dangerous than some other drugs, frequent or heavy use has been linked to impairments in learning, mem ory, and attention, as well as chronic nausea, vomiting, and respiratory problems among those who smoke it. Some evidence also suggests an association with the earlier onset of psychosis in individuals with genetic risk factors, such as schizophrenia. As a result, many people delay seeking treatment until marijuana use dis rupts multiple areas of their lives—if they seek help at all. 6 THE GEN-Z MARRIAGE DIVIDE The proportion of 12th-grade girls in the United States who say they hope to marry someday has declined sharply over the past three decades, falling 22 percentage points—from 83% in 1993 to 61% in 2023. In con trast, the share of boys expressing a desire to marry has remained rel atively stable, according to a Pew analysis of University of Michigan survey data. 7 THE IMPORTANCE OF SLEEP A study from Concordia University in Montreal identified five distinct sleep patterns that influence brain activity and are closely linked to health, lifestyle, and cognition: 1. Poor sleep and mental health: This pattern is marked by low sleep sat isfaction, longer time to fall asleep,

MANY WOMEN SUFFER GRIEF FOR YEARS AFTER ABORTION OR MISCARRIAGE Nearly 40% of women who experience pregnancy loss—including abortion— report that the most intense negative emotions linger for an average of 20 years, often accompanied by nightmares and ongoing disruptions to daily life. 3 SMALLER SHARE OF OLDER AMERICAN ADULTS LIVE ALONE Older Americans who live alone generally experience poorer outcomes than those who do not, across a range of measures including emotional and physi cal health, financial stability, and overall longevity. They are also typically less socially engaged and report a lower quality of life compared with peers who live with a spouse or partner. 4 UNMARRIED COHABITATION Unmarried cohabitation remains relatively uncommon, yet it is widely accepted—even among Christians. U.S. Census data indicate that only about 8% of adults currently live with a partner outside of marriage, a modest share, though it has increased from nearly zero in 1970. Barna reports that 58% of all adults and 42% of practicing Christians now consider it “wise” to live together before marriage. 5 MORE PEOPLE ADDICTED TO MARIJUANA, BUT FEWER SEEKING HELP Marijuana use among young adults has climbed to record highs in recent years. Daily use now surpasses daily alcohol consumption, with nearly 18 mil lion Americans reporting in 2022 that they use marijuana every day or almost every day—up from fewer than one million three decades earlier. Research shows a parallel rise in cannabis use disorder, a condition marked by cravings

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