MARIJUANA IS EVERYBODY'S PROBLEM

Significant advancements in work by substance abuse counselors,
therapists, parents and schools was hurt and trivialized by an
irresponsible frontpage article in the Los Angeles times.

The March 18 article, "Pot Has Uses as Medicine, U.S. Panel
Says,"misquoted the U.S. Institute of Medicine by stating "...a panel
of experts found that marijuana is not addictive, and said there is no
clear evidence that smoking it leads to consumption of heroin, cocaine
or other narcotics." This was an irresponsible misinterpretation of
the Institute's original press release of March 17, the source of the
Times article. The Times article sent a dangerous message to the
public: Pot is okay.

Contrary to the Times article, the release stated that "Marijuana is a
powerful drug that produces a variety of biological effects...Some
chronic users can develop dependence on marijuana, though withdrawal
symptoms are relatively mild and short lived."

Other research has shown marijuana withdrawal symptoms are similar to
those of some opium type drugs; night sweats, headaches, chills,
nausea, insomnia and anorexia, among other symptoms.

The Times article's misinterpretation of the institute's press release
reminds me of the phrase "a little bit pregnant." If it is physically
unpleasant for somebody to stop using the substance, even slightly,
willn't the subconscious mind motivate the user to keep using?

Let's see, drug withdrawal discomfort vs. drug induced pleasure. This
is hardly a fair decision for a pot using teen.

Marijuana use does not guarantee later use of harder drugs, but when
heroin and cocaine addicts are interviewed we find out that most of
them started first with cigarettes, alcohol and then marijuana before
graduating to more deadly and lifeshattering substances.

When our children are involved in this underground world, they have
access to all types of dangerous drugs. As continued use builds
physical tolerance to the effects of marijuana, they will need more
and more to get the same high. Experimentation with harder drugs can
become a logical next step. For many adults who were adolescents
during the 1960s and 1970s, marijuana was a mild drug that was the
favorite of their generation and the counter culture. It was a popular
way of meeting adolescent developmental needs of rebeling against
parents and society, and an aide in connecting with fellow peers.

It was also a way that users avoided feeling their feelings, and most
of us can remember the awkward feelings of adolescence. These are
exactly the same reasons it is used by teens today.

The difference with marijuana today is the potency of the drug. The
main chemical that gives the intoxicating high has increased in
potency from one percent in the '70s, all the way up 25% or 30% in
today's pot. This dramatic jump in potency is what has sounded the
alarm for drug counselors, therapists, doctors, school personnel and
parents.

This newer, super pot has been scientifically proven to be responsible
for serious negative impact to shortterm memory, concentration and
psychomotor skills needed for driving and sports. It has also been
shown to surface and intensify underlying psychiatric illnesses like
depression, extreme anxiety, mania, panic and even
schizophrenia.

Another health concern is that one marijuana joint can equal the
cancer causing tars of five to 16 tobacco cigarettes. The nonfiltered
smoke is also hotter and held in the lungs longer than tobacco smoke,
which makes it potentially more damaging to the lungs than cigarettes.

Heavy use by pregnant mothers has resulted in permanent damage to
babies, a condition resembling Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Studies have
also shown long term intellectual damage to the babies of chronic
marijuana smokers. Other studies have shown negative impacts on sperm
fertility and suppression of the immune systems of users.

Professionals see the largest negative clinical impact to adolescents
and young adults. Unfortunately, it is during these formative years
between 11 and 19 that most users begin experimenting with the drug.

Parents should be aware of the most common signs of teen marijuana
use: sudden drops in grades, truancy, underachievement and memory
problems. Also common are excessive hostility, frequent outbursts,
chronic bronchial infections, coughs, red eyes and increased
secretiveness. Changes in friends often occur as well as unexplained
dropping out of sports programs and other activities.

The subject of teen marijuana use recently came up during a conference
with a local Burbank middle school counselor. It was this counselor's
belief that there wasn't a big pot problem, or "Bud," as it is known
by kids today, at the school. Was this the truth, a wish or just an
uninformed opinion?

Even if it were true that there are only a few marijuana users at our
middle schools, can we really be comfortable with this fact? Research
tells us that there are likely many undetected users as well as those
who are tempted to try this socially enticing drug.

Research also tells us that as a child's perception of the harm of
marijuana decreases, their use of the substance increases. With these
facts in mind, it becomes the duty of everyone involved with children
to get educated about marijuana, and to bring up this subject with the
young people in their lives today.

Let's all do our job and not allow ourselves to be satisfied that
there are "only a few visible cases." Here's to your emotional health.