Pubdate: Wed, 18 Sep 2002
Source: Deseret News (UT)
Copyright: 2002 Deseret News Publishing Corp.
Contact:  http://www.desnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/124
Author: Eun-Kyung Kim

DON'T TRIVIALIZE SMOKING POT, PARENTS TOLD

WASHINGTON - 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Many parents and children have outdated perceptions about marijuana, said 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," 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.
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