Hi and thanks for asking.

The answer is maybe. Your brain was not anywhere near ready to handle drugs. It was already growing and changing probably more than it ever did before and way more than it ever will in the future, and drugs like weed interfere with the way those changes happen.

But it's also possible that the same things that make you so unhappy at school are the reason you got into drugs so early. Being restless and rebellious and getting upset when other people tell you what to do might explain a lot about why you starting smoking so early, and kept it up even when it seemed to interfere with your schooling.

So, sometimes drugs cause problems, and other times problems lead to too much drug taking. But whichever came first, the longer you wait to get some help, the harder it will be to get things sorted out. Since I am guessing that you are not getting on too well with your teachers, a good next step would be to call and talk about things with someone.

You don't have to say who you are or anything, but the Kids Helpline is open 24/7 and they can do more than just answer the question... they can help you sort out what to do about things. Call them on 1800 55 1800 (free from landline phones).

All the best.