HOW TO CONTROL 'WICKED WEED' - LEGALIZE AND REGULATE IT

In regard to the April 23 story, "A More Wicked Weed": I am wondering
what the reporter's source is that determined that weed is Iowa
youth's drug of choice? The terminology "drug of choice" indicates
that this would be the drug they most often use.

However, based on the Iowa Youth Survey from 2002-2005, the U.S.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration survey of
all states from 2002-2004, marijuana is far from the drug of choice
for Iowa youth.

This seems to be clearly misrepresenting facts, and is also diverting
attention from an issue that Iowa parents should be concerned about:
the increasing rate of binge drinking among Iowa youth.

I have worked as a chemical-dependency counselor for four years, and
in prevention at Iowa State University for more than five years. I
was shocked to see a story with claims that marijuana is a more
commonly used drug than alcohol.

Maybe the Register is unaware that just because more kids seek
treatment for marijuana use does not mean that it is being used more
often than alcohol by Iowa teens. The percentages of youth seeking
treatment for drug and/or alcohol use is only a tiny fraction of
those who actually use the drugs.

Unfortunately, this information is neglected in the first few
sentences of the article, which grandly proclaims that the drug of
choice for kids in Iowa isn't alcohol, but marijuana ("what juveniles
want most").

- -- Sara Kellogg

Ames.