MARIJUANA USE IN ADOLESCENCE: REEFER MADNESS REVISITED

When I became the coordinator for the San Juan County Tobacco
Prevention and Control Program earlier this year, I started talking to
people in our community about how they felt about tobacco use and
second-hand smoke in the San Juan Islands. I heard from a number of
people that tobacco is not used as much as marijuana, by youth as well
as adults. Marijuana was thought of as harmless, or less harmful than
other drugs and alcohol. Most people who do smoke marijuana would not
consider smoking tobacco because of the health problems associated
with it.

But marijuana contains 50-70 percent more tar and cancer-causing
substances than tobacco smoke! Fungi, bacteria, and herbicides are
often found in marijuana--there can be any unknown substance. Because
marijuana smokers inhale more deeply and hold their breath longer than
tobacco smokers, there is increased lung exposure to cancer-causing
smoke, puff for puff. And tobacco-related illness is the number one
cause of death in the United States.

I began to think about the issues of smoking substances other than
tobacco, and what place it had in my work in tobacco prevention and as
a school nurse. In a review of recent literature from the National
Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, the Department of Health, the
Department of Drug and Substance Abuse, I found compelling evidence
that using marijuana is a danger today, especially in
adolescence.

Not Your Father's Marijuana

An increase in potency is the primary factor in transforming the
low-dose, self-experimentation type of marijuana use typical of the
1960s to high-potency, high reward/reinforcement marijuana use and
dependence seen today.

The mind-altering ingredient in marijuana is THC (Tetrahydrocannibinol).
When it first started to be widely used in the U.S. in the 1960s,
marijuana had a concentration between 0.5% and 1.5%. Today it contains
as much as 30% THC concentration--up to 30 times stronger!

The over-stimulation that occurs in the pleasure centers of the brain
during marijuana use can cause brain receptor damage. This is one
explanation for why heavy users can fall into depression and suicidal
thoughts with withdrawal of the drug. About 40% of regular users in
8th to 12th grade have also considered or attempted suicide.

This is not the drug many adults remember from the '60s, '70s, or
'80s

This is Your Brain on Drugs

There is tremendous brain growth between the ages of 11 and 18, the
final growth to maturity. This makes for an optimal time to learn.
Marijuana use during this time can impair long-term ability to
concentrate and retain information. Brain-imaging studies show smaller
brains, a lower percentage of gray matter, and a higher percentage of
white matter in adults who started smoking before age 17.
Unfortunately, the age of first-use of marijuana is decreasing from
first-use in late high school or college age to as early as ages 8 to
10.

The effects of continued marijuana use can permanently damage areas
that affect judgment, pleasure, reaction time, and socialization.
Continued use may mean that older children and young teens "learn" how
to be who they are socially under the influence of marijuana. This can
result in users not really knowing who they are without the drug.

In addition, users blame themselves, rather than marijuana, for
problems they experience. Instead of feeling that the drug is causing
lack of motivation, they are more likely to feel that the dreams of
college, career, and making a good life are unattainable. Heavy users
tend to have markedly lower income and education levels than those who
have not used.

The combination of impaired judgment and lowered inhibitions during
drug use can lead to risky situations, such as driving while impaired,
involvement in violence, criminal activity, unwanted sexual activity,
pregnancy, or the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.

It Takes an Island to Raise a Teen

These are just a few of the arguments against marijuana. It is not a
benign presence in our community, but a danger, especially for those
under 18. Prevention of its use, particularly in adolescence, requires
a clear and consistent no-use position, and continued attention in
both families and our community.

Martha Sharon is the Coordinator of the San Juan County Tobacco
Prevention and Control Program