Pubdate: Wed, 18 Sep 2002
Source: Houston Chronicle (TX)
Webpage: www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/nation/1579880
Copyright: 2002 Houston Chronicle Publishing Company Division, Hearst Newspaper
Contact:  http://www.chron.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/198
Author: Eun-Kyung Kim, Associated Press
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/campaign.htm (ONDCP Media Campaign)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/walters.htm (Walters, John)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

DRUG CZAR LAUNCHES ANTI-POT CAMPAIGN

WASHINGTON -- The nation's drug policy director warned parents on 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Many parents and children have outdated perceptions about marijuana, said 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 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.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager