Pubdate: Sat, 20 Oct 2012
Source: Danvers Herald (MA)
Copyright: 2012 GateHouse Media, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.wickedlocal.com/danvers/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3608
Author: David R. Selden
Note: Dave Selden maintains a private practice in Salem, specializing 
in the treatment of teens and families experiencing substance use 
disorders. He also teaches at Salem State University in the School of 
Social Work and the Department of Psychology.

MORE DANGERS TO MARIJUANA

Danvers - To the editor:

Thank you for including the article by Peg Sallade, director of 
DanversCARES, titled "Marijuana: A risk to your child's development" 
in last week's Danvers Herald.

This is an important issue. Communities on the North Shore continue 
to struggle with teen marijuana use and the continued national move 
toward legalization of this drug only adds to this challenge. The 
following research-based information should provide any parent with 
the facts necessary to educate their child about the risks of marijuana use:

1. It is well documented that the chemicals in marijuana present a 
much greater danger than those in cigarettes. In addition to the 
physical risks, regular users of cannabis are jeopardizing their 
immune systems, their nervous systems and, ultimately their brain. 
Marijuana impairs cognition that can negatively affect memory and 
concentration.

2. Developmentally, between the ages of 14-17, we learn to handle 
emotions. Boredom, loneliness, anger, and sadness are part of the 
human experience. If we learn to handle these emotions by using a 
drug, we never develop the abilities, psychologically or physically 
to manage them naturally. This is, in part what can lead to a 
dependence or addiction to marijuana. Research has shown that 
approximately 1/2 of those who use cannabis more than monthly 
demonstrate emotional or behavioral problems.

3. Marijuana interferes with your ability to achieve sufficient and 
restful sleep, vital to the body's physical development, the immune 
system and ongoing cognitive abilities.

4. The marijuana currently available is very different from what Mom 
and Dad may have smoked in the '60s and '70s. The percentage of the 
active ingredient, THC, is much higher in modern weed, making it much 
more potent. In addition to the usual risks of putting smoke into 
your lungs, which to most people is pretty obvious, there are other 
dangers as well. It is not uncommon for dealers to add chemicals or 
other drugs such as PCP (Angel Dust) to marijuana they sell or give 
to someone else to exact revenge for some slight or alleged 
misbehavior or the entertainment value of watching someone experience 
a bad PCP trip.

5. More recent research has shown that marijuana has an addictive 
quality when used to excess. It impedes and in some cases shuts off 
the body's production and use of the neurotransmitter Dopamine, which 
has a naturally calming effect. Without the normal production of 
Dopamine, our body experiences increased anxiety and feelings of 
panic. One colleague refers to marijuana as a "panic generator." 
Heavy users can actually create a diagnosable anxiety disorder in 
themselves that will require medication to overcome.

If we can't keep one dangerous drug (alcohol) away from kids, how can 
we expect to do the same with another similar drug? The debate is 
heating up with many questions and few decent answers. Until the 
adults sort this out, parents need to continue to discuss these 
issues with their children and make sure they know that use of any of 
these substances while their brains are still developing, is a bad idea.

- - David R. Selden, LICSW, Salem
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom