MORE SEEK HELP FOR MARIJUANA ADDICTION

WASHINGTON - The admission rate for those who seek treatment for
marijuana use nearly tripled between 1992 and 2002, according to the
latest data compiled by the federal government.

The numbers released Friday reflect a growing use of marijuana in the
1990s and an increase in the potency of marijuana, said Tom Riley, a
spokesman for the White House's Office of National Drug Control Policy.

"This report makes clear what people in the public health community
have known for years, which is marijuana is a much more dangerous drug
than many Americans realize," Riley said. "This report is a wake up
call for parents that marijuana is not a soft drug. It's a much bigger
part of the addiction problem than is generally understood."

The study on treatment rates was conducted by the Substance Abuse and
Mental Health Services Administration, which estimated that 41 states
experienced an increase in the number of people who sought treatment
for marijuana use during the decade studied.

Overall, the admission rates rose from 45 per 100,000 people in 1992
to 118 per 100,000 people in 2002, which is the latest year such
numbers are available.

"Marijuana is not a harmless substance, and these treatment trends
emphasize that point, said Charlie Cook, the administrator for the
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.