CITY'S STRAIGHT TALK ON POT TO KEEP THE TEENAGERS OFF THE WEED

As parents, we have the opportunity to teach our children and model
healthy lifestyle behaviours and practices. Included in the long list
of teachings, is informing our children about substance use and abuse,
and in particular, about marijuana.

Marijuana today is much different than it was back in the '70s, and
today's youth are embracing it with enthusiasm. Recent Canadian
statistics show that 39.1 per cent of Grade 7 students reported using
marijuana at least once during the year (2003 Ontario Student Drug Use
Survey from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health). The level of
use increases as the grades advance showing 45 per cent of Grades 12s
are smoking 'the bud'. Additionally there is an increase in
marijuana-impaired driving, where 1 in 5 (20 per cent) student
licensed drivers, in Grades 10 to 12 report driving a vehicle within
one hour of using marijuana. Youth attitude is lax about this drug and
we know that marijuana is not a benign substance.

Here's what you should know about today's marijuana.

* Its psychoactive ingredient, THC, has increased in potency boasting
an average of 9.6 per cent compared to the 1970 levels of 2.0 per cent.

* Tar content of marijuana is high. It is estimated that 3 to 4 joints
a day causes the same damage as 20 or more tobacco cigarettes.

* Researchers are starting to find physical withdrawal symptoms in
smokers who use the drug regularly.

* Marijuana is the number one drug for which youth seek addictions
treatment.

* Marijuana is currently being tested and has not yet been classified
as a pharmaceutical drug in any country in the world. Although Health
Canada runs a strict medicinal marijuana access program, scientific
evidence is still unclear in proving its benefits and defining it
risks. Currently, research has been launched to learn more about this
drug and its medicinal qualities.

Keep Your Children Drug-Free

1. Keep the lines of communication open and talk to your children
about drugs. Make sure you have the right information on drugs. For
more information speak to an expert or go to these websites:
www.parentactionondrugs.org or www.camh.net

2. Let your children know your expectations. Make it clear that you do
not want them using drugs.

3. Model responsible drug behaviour. Be aware of your own use of
alcohol, prescription and over-the-counter medications.

4. Teach your children how to say no.

5. Always know where your child is going, the name, address, and phone
number of the person or place. Make sure there will be an adult there
to supervise

6. Know who their friends are

7. Finally, tell your children you love them and care about them.