MARIJUANA AND YOUNGSTERS

The use of illegal drugs among some school age students remain a
serious concern for local police and drug abuse officials, who say
while the average age for Bahamian youngsters to begin using
narcotics is 14, children as young as nine have begun drug use.

In fact, according to Drug Abuse Officer Gayle Hamilton, more
juveniles were referred to the National Drug Council (NDC) in 2007
when compared to the previous year.

"We saw close to 30 juveniles last year. And that was probably double
the number in 2006," Mrs. Hamilton said in an interview with the
Bahama Journal Friday.

"We had a lot of them referred for in-patient treatment. There were
also some of them who were caught with drugs, being disruptive, with
guns, simply because of marijuana use."

Commander of the Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) Anthony Ferguson further
revealed that the drug of choice remains marijuana.

Crime statistics for 2007 indicate that police seized 4,582.20 pounds
of marijuana in New Providence in 2007 and 2,299.99 pounds in Family
Islands for a total of 6,882.19 pounds.

During that same period, 16 marijuana plants were seized in New Providence.

In the Family Islands, the figure stood at 194,913 plants.

"Marijuana is more readily available," he said.

"Some of these children are actually given the drug and some of them buy it."

Dubbed a gateway drug, Mrs. Hamilton opined that another reason for
the continued prevalence of marijuana use among young people might be
that some people see marijuana as "okay" to use. "You have
schoolchildren selling marijuana," she explained.

"You have the older drug peddlers who prey on the young people, and
children peddle the drugs to other children. Then you have the peer
pressure from other children using the drugs."

According to Commander Ferguson, over 50 juveniles were investigated
for drug offenses last year, the youngest 14 years old.

However, he said not all of the youngsters were charged.

But while police officials say boys account for the majority of young
marijuana users, they point out that there are some young females who
use the drug as well.

Mrs. Hamilton agreed.

"The girls are getting involved with young men who smoke and in order
to be his girlfriend, you would have to smoke," she said

Experts say while it is a common myth that the drug is harmless,
children who use marijuana regularly show a decrease in academic performance.

In fact, even short-term marijuana use has been proven to cause
problems with memory, learning, cognitive development and problem solving.

"Everyone's metabolism is different. In its natural state's, today's
marijuana has over 450 chemicals. By the time it reaches The Bahamas,
it has even more because more drugs are added to it to make it more
potent. But it is more harmful, more dangerous," Mrs. Hamilton said.

"Because young people are still developing, you never know how their
bodies are going to react. Some of them get a mental problem. But
one's reaction can vary from person to person. Being a psychological
drug, depending on the mood the child is in, if he is angry, he could
become violent. If he is calm, he could be described as almost sedated. "

Mrs. Hamilton added that marijuana users suffer a lot of mood changes.

"It impairs one's memory. A lot of things are happening because I
feel we already have a lot of angry young people for whatever the
reason," she said.

"Parents would want to look for changes in their child's school
behavior, cutting classes, being late all the time, school disciple
problems, mood changes, usual temper, withdrawn, bored, careless,
confused, extremely apathetic and disoriented, sudden decline in
attendance, vandalism, shoplifting, trouble with the law, ignoring
curfews, impaired relationships with family and friends and loss
interest in activities," Mrs. Hamilton listed.

The Drug Abuse Officer stressed that this type of behavior is not
only symptomatic of children from broken homes.

In fact, she said she has treated children who come from "the best of homes."

Officials say parents who are involved and talk to their kids about
drugs are less likely to have kids who use drugs.

"It's never too early to tell children about drugs," Mrs. Hamilton
told the Journal on Friday.

"Let them know that you care. You want to connect. The New Year is a
time of new beginnings so start building new lines of communication.
Resolve to do things as a family. Take time more to listen more to
children. Explain to them how drugs can hurt them and ruin their dreams."