Pubdate: Fri, 01 Apr 2005
Source: Amesbury News (Amesbury, MA)
Copyright: 2005 Community Newspapers Inc
Contact:  http://www2.townonline.com/amesbury/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3717
Author: Officer Tom Hanshaw
Cited: Marijuana Policy Project ( www.mpp.org )
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05.n466.a08.html (column)
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05.n503.a05.html (LTE)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/opinion.htm (Opinion)

HANSHAW: DRIVING SAFELY IS ALL THE RAGE

It can start with an unintentional traffic infraction: possibly a
failure to yield or a slide instead of a stop or a failure to use the
directional. Although it's likely an innocent mistake, it can cause
another motorist to respond.

The response can be a blast of the horn, an exchange of verbal
comments, a hand gesture or even worse.

A few years ago a new term was coined called Road Rage. The number of
vehicles on roadways has never been higher than today and
unfortunately Road Rage incidents continue to grow. Some of these
incidents have resulted in serious injuries and even deaths.

Over the next few weeks, added police patrols will be working to deter
aggressive driving as part of the "Click It or Ticket" Mobilization.
The GHSB has allotted grant money to Police Departments to reduce
aggressive driving and educate motorists about the importance of road
respect. Many forms of traffic share the roads including cars, trucks,
commercial vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles and pedestrians. It's
important that every driver does his or her part to drive responsibly.

In closing this week, I thought I'd clarify a possible misconception
that was raised in response to my March 18 article in regards to teen
substance abuse.

As stated at the start of the column, the included material was based
on a publication being distributed by the Massachusetts Department of
Public Health and Health Promotion Clearinghouse. The "myth" that was
questioned by Mr. Bruce Mirken of the Marijuana Policy Project
concerned marijuana use and mental illness.

Dr. John Knight of Children's Hospital in Boston, who also brings up
several more comments about the drug, provided the information. In
defense of the claim that I may be spreading myths about the drug,
it's important to remember that there are several kinds of mental
illness in today's society.

The causes of several remain unexplained by doctors.

Although I am by no means a doctor, I have been involved with law
enforcement for more than 20 years.

I've seen young people, admittedly not all, start a trend of substance
abuse by using marijuana and then graduating to others drugs.

I also see some of those as adults today, who are still struggling
with issues.

Whether their suicidal thoughts, confusion, aggressive behavior,
depression, alcohol abuse or inability to productively function in
society are classified, as mental illness is a matter of debate for
those in the medical field.

I do know that despite attempts to legalize the drug during the
periods when marijuana use soared, it's still illegal, probably for
some good reasons.

Once again, it's up to every parent to determine what material they
should present to their children concerning substance abuse education.
Whether they chose to include a fact or a myth is up to them but one
final thought: what if that one myth is actually a fact?

Officer Thomas Hanshaw is the Amesbury Police Department's crime
prevention officer.

He writes a weekly column for the Amesbury News.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin