USING MARIJUANA ISN'T CHILD'S PLAY; IT RUINS YOUTHS' LIVES

Mark and Mary seemed to have the world at their feet. Their grades were
better than average. They were involved in school extracurricular
activities and participated in band and track. Life was good. So when they
started smoking marijuana it was really just a new thing to do with
friends. They didn't see any real harm in it. They weren't aware of the
psychological and physical dependence, structural and brain wave changes.
But their dreams did go up in smoke.

Mark and Mary are two of the many teen-agers smoking marijuana today. In
fact, marijuana use among 12- to 17-year-olds has more than doubled since
1992. Young people are beginning to use marijuana at very early ages - even
as early as elementary school. The younger someone starts to use drugs, the
more likely he or she may develop problems associated with drug use.

Marijuana use impairs memory, learning, motivation and reflexes. These
impairments interfere with the skills necessary for young people to achieve
their full potential. Marijuana can negatively impact goals Springfield
Public Schools has set for increasing student achievement and reducing the
drop-out rate. While the SPS Drug & Violence Free Schools program works to
make students and staff aware of the risks, our parents and community must
reinforce that message.

Yet many kids - and parents - don't realize these things or understand
their consequences. As parents and other trusted adults in the lives of
kids, we must help them understand that marijuana is a drug and that using
marijuana is dangerous and can be debilitating to their goals and
ambitions. We must talk with our children and tell them we don't want them
using marijuana, giving them facts about this drug and insights into where
its use can lead.

We, as adults, have a responsibility to support our children in pursuit of
their dreams. Part of that responsibility means talking with them about
drugs - before they slip down a similar path.

The National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information offers free
materials that can help youth and adults understand the impact of marijuana
and other drugs. Contact NCADI at http://www.health.org or call the
Springfield Public Schools Drug & Violence Prevention Program office at
864-3856. A confidential substance abuse assessment is an option for
students already involved in substance use.

Marcie Rosenkoetter is coordinator of Drug & Violence Prevention Programs
at Springfield Public Schools.