Pubdate: Fri, 20 May 2005
Source: Iowa City Press-Citizen (IA)
Copyright: 2005 Iowa City Press-Citizen
Contact:  http://www.press-citizen.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1330
Author: Joseph A. Califano Jr.
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

IF WE TARGET ONE DRUG, IT MUST BE MARIJUANA

The increased potency of today's marijuana and the greater knowledge we 
have of the dangers of using it justify the increased attention that law 
enforcement is giving to illegal possession of the drug. But the 
disappointing reality is that a nearly 30 percent increase in marijuana 
arrests does not translate into a comparable reduction in use of the drug. 
Something more is needed.

Rudolph Giuliani's success in slashing New York City's crime rate by, among 
other things, going after low-level street crimes such as smoking and 
selling small amounts of marijuana inspired many other mayors to follow 
suit. When President Bush announced in 2002 a goal of reducing illegal drug 
use by 10 percent in two years and 25 percent in five years, he knew he had 
to focus on cutting marijuana use. Eliminating all other illegal drug use 
combined would not even get him close to his highly touted objective.

Even though marijuana use has leveled off or waned slightly over the past 
several years, the number of children and teenagers in treatment for 
marijuana dependence and abuse has jumped 142 percent since 1992, and the 
number of teen emergency room admissions in which marijuana is implicated 
is up almost 50 percent since 1999. Though alcohol remains by far the teen 
substance of choice, teens are three times likelier to be in treatment for 
marijuana than for alcohol (and six times likelier to be in treatment for 
marijuana than for all other illegal drugs combined).

The drug adversely affects short-term memory, the ability to concentrate 
and motor skills. Recent studies indicate that it increases the likelihood 
of depression, schizophrenia and other serious mental health problems. Nora 
Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, has repeatedly 
expressed concern about the adverse effect of marijuana on the brain, a 
matter of particular moment for youngsters whose brains are still in the 
development stage.

The issue of marijuana use (and most illegal drug use) is all about kids. 
If we can get kids not to smoke marijuana before they reach age 21, they 
are virtually certain never to do so. So let's do more than trumpet the 
arrest rate. Let's focus on discouraging children and teens from getting 
involved with the drug in the first place.

Availability is the mother of use, so doing a far better job of reducing 
availability is high on the list. Beyond that -- and recognizing that 
reducing demand is key to that goal -- we should use the increased arrest 
rate as an opportunity to discourage use.

Reach Joseph A. Califano Jr., president of the National Center on Addiction 
and Substance Abuse at Columbia University and secretary of health, 
education and welfare from 1977 to 1979, via www.casacolumbia.
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MAP posted-by: Elizabeth Wehrman