Pubdate: Wed, 21 Mar 2007
Source: Daily News Transcript (Needham, MA)
Copyright: 2007 Daily News Transcript
Contact:  http://www.dailynewstranscript.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3501
Author: Carol Ziemian
Note: Carol Ziemian teaches writing at Northeastern University. Her 
column appears in the Daily News Transcript on Wednesday.
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

THROUGH A TEACHER'S EYES

I have spent much of the last two months trying to convince my 
advanced writing students who are majoring in various fields of 
science including particle physics, engineering, neuroscience, 
biology and pre-med that scientists need to recognize they must know 
how to communicate with numerous audiences if they are to succeed and 
make a difference once they have broken new ground through research. 
I have become more vigilant and regularly search for examples of 
recently published professional articles and their public audience 
mates so they can see the social nature of their disciplines. If the 
citizenry is to be well informed about health matters and other 
crucial subjects, experts should do all or most of the informing.

Recently, I was excited to see Britain's medical journal "The Lancet" 
once again in the news, and, although I will have to wait to read its 
article on cannabis when it comes out later this week, I had a sneak 
peak in the U.K.'s "The Independent." Written by Jonathan Jones, 
"Cannabis: An Apology" expresses the regrets of the daily rag for 
campaigning for the decriminalization of marijuana as recently as 
1997. Knowing now what the Lancet will be revealing - the popular 
green weed is more dangerous today than LSD and ecstasy - the paper 
has revisited its decision. Apparently close to 11,000 of U.K. teens 
under 18 have paid the price this past year and are suffering from 
psychosis and mental illness similar to that brought on by cocaine and heroin.

On Sunday night a reprint of a Lancet article made available two 
weeks ago at HBO's premiere showing of "Addiction" at the State House 
accompanied other articles and handouts on drug treatment and 
recovery on my dining room table when I hosted a dinner party for 14 
close friends. The event included a viewing of the supplementary 
piece "The South Boston Drug Court" that aired on HBO, followed by a 
short discussion and question-and-answer period. On Saturday night, 
my husband and I attended a similar event with my daughter and her 
husband in Framingham where guests viewed the centerpiece of the 
documentary film as well and then discussed the growing drug problem 
facing urban and suburban Americans. Judging from the reactions of 
those in attendance at both events, this documentary is worthwhile. 
All Americans and the Brits as well can benefit from watching all or 
part of the ambitious multi-part documentary that is now available 
online at www.HBO.com.

In the South Boston Drug Court episode that runs for 20 minutes, 
recovering addict Joseph MacDonald's mother Karen says, "This drug 
(heroin) is death at your doorstep." A role model for other parents 
who are struggling with youngsters who are battling addiction, Karen 
admits in front of her son she has often called the police and asked 
them to arrest him because she knew no other way to stop him from 
killing himself on the drug. Joey admits once he was even handcuffed 
while he was sleeping in his own bed at home. During the first 10 
minutes of the drug court segment a rap song, "Drug Problems," 
written and performed by Chris Matacunus, whose mother works in the 
probation division of the Southie Court, cuts in: "Greetings from 
South Boston where things have been better. We got a real bad drug 
problem; parents are fed up...and off he goes always blowing his 
nose; he has holes in his sneakers and holes in his toes and holes in 
his arms but nobody notices because he wears long sleeves where ever 
he goes..." The song reminds us that all too often it is easier not 
to notice or to try to convince ourselves that our children or loved 
ones are different from everyone else. If they use they are not 
addicted but they are simply recreationally experimenting. It is only 
other people's kids and loved ones who are addicts. However, the 
centerpiece of the documentary debunks this kind of thinking and 
demonstrates the impact that drugs have on the brains of users.

According to Dr. Nora Volkow, the director of the federal 
government's National Institute on Drug Abuse, addiction is "a 
disease of the brain that translates into abnormal behavior." "It's 
about being educated about this drug (heroin)," explains Karen 
MacDonald. From what I have seen in the HBO documentary she might be 
right. Since there are more heroin users in the Northeast than 
anywhere else in our country, perhaps it is time for local school 
officials to tap this documentary and provide opportunities for 
parents and teenagers to come together to view and later discuss what 
they have seen and learned.

Carol Ziemian teaches writing at Northeastern University. Her column 
appears in the Daily News Transcript on Wednesday.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman