ISLAND FORUM: MARIJUANA IS NOT 'HARMLESS'

I am glad to report that most kids I see on Mercer Island do not use
drugs or alcohol. Results from the Washington State Healthy Youth
Survey, the Search Institute's Profiles of Student Life, and MI
Communities That Care Social Norms Survey support this observation.
Yet as a physician who cares for Island children, I believe we should
all be concerned about the segment of Island teens who use marijuana.
As parents, physicians and adults, it is our responsibility to educate
ourselves to help young people understand there are very real risks
and consequences associated with marijuana use.

Contrary to common belief, marijuana is addictive. The Office of
National Drug Control Policy has publicized that more teens are now in
treatment for marijuana dependency than for alcohol or all other
illegal drugs combined. Marijuana is estimated to produce addiction in
approximately nine percent of those who use it at least once. This
rate increases to about 16 percent for users who start in their teens
and 25-50 percent among daily users. Withdrawal symptoms are similar
in type and severity to those of nicotine withdrawal: irritability,
sleeping difficulties, anxiety and craving.

Marijuana is not harmless. It is a contributing factor in over 374,000
emergency room visits each year in the United States. Driving under
the influence of marijuana is the most common cause of fatal accidents
due to illicit drug use.

From what I see as a practicing physician, kids on Mercer Island are
using marijuana to be "cool" and to "fit in." They also self-medicate
for social anxiety, depression, chronic pain and even asthma.
Marijuana addiction is a pediatric onset disease, and it is not
appropriate for teens to be using it medicinally. According to Nora
Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, prevention
of first use is critical.

Arm yourself with facts and talk to your kids. Alertness, coordination
and reaction time are all decreased with marijuana use. Memory and
judgment impairment, increased appetite, increased heart rate and
bloodshot eyes are also among the drug's short-term side effects.
Heavy marijuana use impairs young people's ability to concentrate and
retain information. Marijuana can also cause anxiety, fear, distrust,
panic, as well as acute psychosis (including hallucinations, delusions
and paranoia). Frequent users may also increase the possibility of a
diagnosis of depression or psychosis later in life.

As a community, we can come together to further reduce the rate of
marijuana use among Island youth. Mercer Island is a community of
caring adults with a coalition whose sole focus is the prevention of
youth substance use (MI Communities That Care). By educating ourselves
and our kids about the myths and facts surrounding cannabis, I have no
doubt we can reduce the harmful effects caused by this drug. Act now
and learn more at drugfree.org or go to www.mercerisland-ctc.com to
locate a variety of helpful resources.