AN OPEN LETTER TO PARENTS ABOUT MARIJUANA

Did You Know?

Marijuana puts kids at risk. It is the most widely used illicit drug among
youth today and is more potent than ever. Marijuana use can lead to a host
of significant health, social, learning and behavioral problems at a
crucial time in a young person's development. Getting high also impairs
judgement, which can wreak havoc on teens in high-pressure social
situations, leading to risky decision-making on issues like sex, criminal
activity or riding with someone who is driving high.

And don't be fooled by popular beliefs. Kids can get hooked on pot.
Research shows that marijuana use can lead to addiction. More teens enter
treatment for marijuana abuse each year than for all other illicit drugs
combined.

This fall, America's youth will hear a new message about marijuana, thanks
to collaboration among federal agencies, public health organizations,
educators and concerned parents. The initiative will inform young people
that using marijuana has real consequences and can put their futures at
risk. It will teach them that the dangers of marijuana are not overblown
and must be taken seriously. Most of all, this campaign will dispel the
myths about marijuana by concentrating on the facts.

Time and again, kids say their parents are the single most important
influence when it comes to drugs. So this message needs to start with you.
Kids need to hear how risky marijuana use can be. They need to know how
damaging it can be to their lives. And they need to begin by listening to
someone they trust.

To learn more about marijuana and how to keep your kids drug-free, please
visit www.theantidrug.com or call 800-788-2800.

Then talk with your kids. Together, we can help them separate the myths
from the facts.

Signed:

American Academy of Family Physicians

American Academy of Pediatrics

American College of Emergency Physicians

American Medical Association

American Society of Addiction Medicine

Child Welfare League of America

Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America/Drug-Free Kids Campaign

National Asian Pacific American Families Against Substance Abuse

National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors

National Center for School Health Nursing

National Crime Prevention Council

National Families in Action

National Family Partnership

National Indian Health Board

National PTA

Office of National Drug Control Policy

The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia
University

PARENTS.

THE ANTI-DRUG.

Office of National Drug Control Policy

Below is not a part of the ad, but is the contact websites, and contact
information, for those who signed above, where available:

American Academy of Family Physicians http://www.aafp.org/ fp@aafp.org

American Academy of Pediatrics http://www.aap.org/
http://www.aap.org/visit/contact.htm

American College of Emergency Physicians http://www.acep.org/
http://www.acep.org/1,160,0.html

American Medical Association http://www.ama-assn.org/
http://www.ama-assn.org/cgi-bin/feedtool.pl

American Society of Addiction Medicine http://www.asam.org/ email@asam.org

Child Welfare League of America http://www.cwla.org/ jjohnson@cwla.org

Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America http://www.cadca.org/ info@cadca.org

Drug-Free Kids Campaign http://www.drug-freekids.org/ info@drug-freekids.org

National Asian Pacific American Families Against Substance Abuse
http://www.napafasa.org/ http://www.napafasa.org/EXECBD.HTM

National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors
http://www.nasadad.org/ http://www.nasadad.org/Connections/staff1.htm

National Crime Prevention Council http://www.ncpc.org/
http://www.ncpc.org/contacts.htm

National Families in Action http://www.nationalfamilies.org/
nfia@nationalfamilies.org

National Family Partnership http://www.nfp.org/ mosendorf@informedfamilies.org

National PTA http://www.pta.org/ info@pta.org

The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia
University http://www.casacolumbia.org/
http://www.casacolumbia.org/feedback1461/feedback.htm