Pubdate: Mon, 16 Feb 2004
Source: Brewton Standard, The (AL)
Copyright: 2004 Brewton Standard
Contact:  http://www.brewtonstandard.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1694
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/escambia+county

MARIJUANA IS STRONGER, MORE DANGEROUS THAN YEARS AGO

This is the third installment in a six-part series on drug abuse,
provided by the Escambia County Schools Youth Empowerment Program.

Marijuana is not the same drug that many parents remember from the 60s
and 70s. Marijuana is much stronger and comes in many more varieties
than were in use 20 years ago.

The level of THC in marijuana in the 60s and 70s was around two
percent, whereas the drug today has an average level of THC between
six and 13 percent. However, there are varieties of marijuana that
contain up to 25 percent THC, which can cause hallucinations like LSD.

Marijuana is the most widely used illegal substance by youth in our
country. Marijuana use puts more youths into drug treatment than any
other substance, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services.

Many youths turn to marijuana to cope with the stress in their lives
along with depression, social issues, family problems and school
problems. However, using a substance to solve your problems is the
first step to becoming addicted to that substance.

Marijuana is a mind altering drug made from the cannabis plant. Young
people often believe that since the origin of the drug is a plant that
its use is not harmful.

There are many plants like mistletoe which are poisonous when ingested
although they grow naturally.

Marijuana is a mind- and mood-altering drug.

The effects of the drug in youth include lack of motivation, lack of
interest in activities they used to enjoy, depression and angry outbursts.

Marijuana has many street names so that youth can hide their use of
the drug. The street names change constantly and each area of the
country has different terms.

Common street names for marijuana include bammer, blunt, boom, bud,
duros, 420, ganja, hooch, loaf, mota, one-hitter, stack, weed and Mary
Jane. Four-twenty is a common term used in Escambia County.

The term came from students up north who return home from school at
approximately 4:20 in the afternoon. It became known by the youth as
the time when they would smoke the plant.

SAMHSA, the National Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration, reports that students who use marijuana on a weekly
basis are nine times more likely to experiment with other drugs and
alcohol, six times more likely to run away from home, five times more
likely to steal or participate in juvenile crime, four times more
likely to engage in violence and three times more likely to have
suicidal thoughts than students who do not use.

Marijuana use also greatly impairs a student's ability to learn as it
affects their short- and long-term memory. Many youths experience
Amotivational Syndrome, a disorder that has been researched and
related strictly to the use of marijuana.

Those with this syndrome have no desire to begin or complete tasks,
fail to attend school or complete school assignments, fail to attend
to family chores and at its worst, lack the motivation to bathe and
groom themselves appropriately.

Marijuana is called a gateway drug because it is associated with
increased experimentation with other substances. The 2001 National
Household Survey on Drug Abuse conducted by SAMHSA revealed that among
12 to 17 year olds, about four in 10 who smoked cigarettes also smoked
marijuana in the past month.

The report also stated that youth who engaged in heavy drinking --
five or more drinks on the same occasion, five or more times per month
- -- also used marijuana in the past month.

The long-term effects of marijuana use are still being studied with
the new higher levels of THC in the drug. Scientists have discovered
that weekly use poses a great risk to young people because of the
second growth spurt that happens in the brain during the early teen
years.

Use of marijuana may prevent or damage this growth spurt causing
permanent brain damage. Users of marijuana also experience chronic
coughing, bronchitis and more frequent chest colds as smoking one
marijuana cigarette is similar to smoking many nicotine cigarettes in
the damage done to the lungs.

The higher levels of THC also mean that the drug is much more
addictive both physically and psychologically than before.

For more information on drugs, a referral for drug abuse screening or
testing or counseling intervention, please contact Sheri L. Cox, Youth
Empowerment Coordinator, Escambia County Schools,  ---
MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin