REEFER MADNESS REVISITED: AN OPEN DISCUSSION ABOUT POT, KIDS

Does that headline grab your attention? If so, we hope you will join us at
7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 9, at Vashon High School, for an open, honest, and
respectful discussion on the risks of marijuana use by adolescents and
young adults.

This drug, which is the Number One drug abused by adolescents, may be seen
by some as harmless and non-addictive or by others as dangerous and capable
of causing many problems including addiction.

The confusion about the dangers of marijuana continues while children,
teens, and young adults become harmfully involved with this drug. Many of
these adolescent marijuana users will become addicted and will experience a
range of minor to major life problems. The public debate over marijuana has
been plagued by difficulties, not the least of which is a lack of accurate
information.

This workshop will hopefully challenge your current beliefs about this
drug, using as many new scientific facts as possible, unlike the scare
tactics in the original "Reefer Madness" movie. Many years of adolescent
drug and alcohol prevention and treatment experience will be shared by the
speaker, Stephen Bogan, Vashon resident and the Youth Treatment Lead for
the Washington State Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse.

Today's marijuana is not the drug that many adults remember from the 60s,
70s or 80s. There is strong evidence that the increased potency of THC
(tetrahydrocannabinol) and the younger age of first use may lead to
developmental delays, interference with brain development, cognitive
deficits, and impairments in learning, memory, judgment, reaction time, and
socialization.

Spending too much time "high" is likely to interfere with a teen's ability
to develop strong social and problem-solving skills. And when teen users
are "high" on marijuana, their inhibitions are lowered and their judgment
may be affected, putting them in risky situations.

Bogan has worked with youth and families who are harmfully involved with
marijuana and other drugs for over 28 years. He will share stories of lives
negatively affected and how factual information and supportive, caring
interventions have turned lives around.

The up-to-date information about the marijuana drug use trends for youth,
and the new scientifically based information will provide a wake-up call
for parents, children, youth, counselors, intervention specialists,
teachers, and community members, on how harmful this drug can be to a
growing and developing young person.

The class is sponsored by Vashon Youth & Family Services and King County
AODPP. The presentation is appropriate for parents and children 4th grade
through high school.