MARIJUANA: WORSE THAN TOBACCO

Cigarettes are a natural nemesis for parents of teenagers. But perhaps
parents should be more worried about marijuana.

A recent annual report by the National Institute on Drug Abuse at the
University of Michigan says pot smoking went up for 2010 over the
previous year in all three grades surveyed: eighth, 10th and 12th.

And then there's this: More high school seniors smoked marijuana (21.4
percent) during the last 30 days than smoked cigarettes (19.2 percent).

The institute says marijuana affects learning, judgment and motor
skills at a time when young brains are still developing and are most
at risk.

Worse yet, about one in six people who start using marijuana as
adolescents tend to become addicted.

A team of social scientists at the institute conducts the research
with the help of research grants from one of the National Institutes
of Health.

Massive survey

More than 46,000 students in eighth, 10th and 12th grades from 396
public and private schools around the country participated in the study.

But marijuana use isn't the only cause for concern:

- - Significant increases in the use of the drug Ecstasy, apparently
because of a recent decline in the belief that the drug is dangerous.

- - Non-medical use of prescription drugs -- such as Vicodin and
OxyContin -- remains high.

The study does have some bright spots.

For instance, binge drinking continues to decline. Among high school
seniors, 23.2 percent reported having five or more drinks in a row
over the last two weeks.

Less binge drinking

That's down from 25.2 percent in 2009 and far from the high mark of
31.5 percent in 1998. The use of flavored alcoholic drinks among the
age groups is also down.

The big challenge is to reverse the attitudes about the harm and
effects of illicit drug use, particularly marijuana.

The public debate over medical marijuana and its value for adults
might be affecting youth concerns about the use of marijuana,
researchers suggested.

Regardless, parents, churches, youth groups -- along with federal,
state and local officials -- need to do all they can to alert teens
about the seriousness of drug abuse along with its dangers.

The points can't be overstressed.

If studies have shown anything, it's that the anti-drug message must
be reinforced constantly. The groups of youths who need to hear it are
ever changing while the threats never end.