Pubdate: Tue, 17 Sep 2002 Source: MSNBC (US Web) Copyright: 2002 MSNBC Contact: http://msnbc.com/news/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/938 U.S. WARNS OF MARIJUANA RISKS Campaign Urges Parents Not To Trivialize Pot's Dangers WASHINGTON, -(AP)- The nation's drug policy director warned parents Tuesday against trivializing the dangers of marijuana to their kids, warning them that more teens are addicted to pot than to alcohol or to all other illegal drugs combined. MANY PARENTS and children have outdated perceptions about marijuana, said John Walters, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. They believe marijuana is not addictive, that it's less dangerous than cigarettes or that it has few long-term health consequences. In reality, more teens enter rehabilitation centers to treat marijuana addiction than alcohol or all other illegal drugs combined, Walters said. "Our effort is to correct the ignorance that is the single biggest obstacle to protecting our kids," he said as he announced an advertising campaign by his office and 17 education, public health, anti-drug and family advocacy groups. The national effort will include advertisements on television, radio and print media, along with ones that will air in NFL stadiums and inside game programs. "For too long our nation's teens have been getting the wrong message about marijuana. Youth popular culture has trivialized the real harm of marijuana in kids," Walters said. A common misperception is that smoking marijuana is less dangerous than smoking a cigarette, said Surgeon General Richard Carmona. But marijuana contains three to five times more tar and carbon monoxide than a comparable amount of tobacco, he said. It also affects the brain in ways similar to cocaine and heroin. Carmona said that one out of five eighth-graders has tried marijuana - twice as many who tried it a decade ago. "Marijuana is not a rite of passage but a dangerous behavior that could have serious health consequences. Parents must realize that what they tell their children about drug use makes a difference," Carmona said. Dr. Richard Corlin, former president of the American Medical Association, urged parents, teachers, doctors and anyone else working with children to stop sending conflicting signals. "We must lead by example and not use marijuana ourselves or condone its use by anyone of any age," he said. - --- MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk