LEGALIZING MARIJUANA COULD HURT YOUNG PEOPLE

AS we consider the legalization of marijuana, we must bear in mind
the impact on our youth. Politics aside, the legalization debate is
sending a confusing message that's contributing to a rise in
marijuana use among teens.

In the Seattle Times' Feb. 20 editorial calling for the legalizing of
marijuana and Editorial Page Editor Ryan Blethen's Feb. 27 column,
the potential impact on youth was blithely dismissed.

As the head of an agency that provides treatment to youth who abuse
drugs and alcohol, I venture to say no one talked with experts in my field.

The number of middle-, junior- and high-school students experimenting
with marijuana is the highest since the 1980s, according to the
National Institute on Drug Abuse. Puget Sound agencies that treat
substance abuse in youth, like Youth Eastside Services (YES), report
marijuana is the No. 1 drug of choice for teens battling addiction.
And most experts would say the legalization debate is one of the
factors accounting for this increase.

At YES, we work with youth in schools, teen centers and in our
substance abuse and mental health treatment programs. Across the
board, our counselors report a change in attitude toward marijuana.
Most teens see it as less dangerous and we hear them talk about the
drug being natural, medicinal and "almost legal."

Contrary to popular belief, marijuana is an addictive substance.
Moreover, the potency of marijuana today has doubled and even tripled
when compared to that of the 1960s, '70s and '80s -- making for
powerful highs and powerful addictions.

It typically costs YES more than $1,000 to provide substance-abuse
treatment to a single youth, to say nothing of the costs of recovery
support. While insurance can cover some of this expense, for those
who lack insurance or income to cover the costs, it's often
subsidized by taxpayers.

Since the Times is supporting selling pot in liquor stores, let's
look at alcohol and the comparison it provides. Alcohol is the No. 1
drug used by teens. Why? Because it is legal, they see their parents
using it, it's more accepted and because they have easy access to it.
Youth can get it at home, they can ask others to purchase it for
them, they can even purchase it themselves (with enough perseverance
or a fake ID). And unfortunately, some parents even make it available
to their teens.

Local and national studies show that approximately 25 percent of
teens have had a drink in the last 30 days. And 80 percent of those
are binge drinkers. Not all teens who drink will become alcoholics,
but those who do have a significantly higher chance of developing
alcoholism as an adult -- 40 percent higher for those who start
drinking between ages 14 and 17.

If we legalize marijuana, kids will see their parents using it, it
will be more accepted and they will have easier access. It's not a
stretch to say we will see an increased use and more problems with
addiction with kids and their parents.

We also can't dismiss a recent Harvard study showing that marijuana
has an especially negative impact on the developing brain. Regular
marijuana use results in poorer school performance and attendance as
well as loss of interest in other activities. In addition, pot use is
associated with respiratory and mental illness, poor motor
performance and impaired cognitive and immune system functions.
Furthermore, addiction can be associated with increased rates of
anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts.

To look at only the taxpayer benefits of legalizing pot is
short-sighted and potentially dangerous. Marijuana is a powerful drug
that needs full consideration of all its impacts and costs. And
without a doubt the impact and costs associated with our youth should
be at the top of that list -- not relegated to a small consideration.