Pubdate: Wed, 18 Sep 2002
Source: Buffalo News (NY)
Copyright: 2002 The Buffalo News
Contact:  http://www.buffalonews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/61
Author: Eun-Kyung Kim, Associated Press

PARENTS WARNED AGAINST TRIVIALIZING DANGERS OF POT

WASHINGTON - The nation's drug policy director warned parents Tuesday 
against trivializing the dangers of marijuana to their children, 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Many parents and children have outdated perceptions about marijuana, said 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 National Football League 
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.
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