Pubdate: Sat, 16 Feb 2013
Source: News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Copyright: 2013 The News-Herald
Contact:  http://www.news-herald.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/305
Author: Jean Bonchak

EXPERT KEEPING IT REAL WITH POT FACTS FOR GEAUGA TEENS

Wide-ranging information on marijuana and its effects will be offered 
to groups of Geauga County students during the program "The Reality 
of Marijuana Use in the U.S." taking place Thursday at Auburn Career Center.

A 2011 survey revealing that usage of the substance among teens in 
the county had increased since 2008 indicated the need for such an 
event, said Karen Lackey, the Youth Led Prevention coordinator for 
the Geauga Educational Service Center, the organization which is 
hosting the program.

Twenty percent of students in grades nine through 12 reported using 
marijuana within 30 days of taking the survey.

Russell J. Goodwin, a therapist with three decades of experience in 
the field of adolescent chemical dependency, will address topics 
including myths, facts and addiction.

Also featured will be Mary Alice Bell of Ravenwood Mental Health 
Center who will speak on the topic of marijuana legalization.

Lackey said that an increase in marijuana smoking is similarly 
proportionate to a decrease in alcohol usage which remained high at 
38 percent of all high school students.

She added that a proactive stance on alcohol abuse through education, 
mailings and programs such as ALL STARS provided through various 
county organizations has helped, and now the marijuana issue must 
also be addressed.

Among factors leading to the uptick of the drug's usage is a 
perceived lower risk.

"Only 61 percent of seniors thought regular marijuana use was a risk, 
compared with 71 percent thinking daily alcohol use was," the survey stated.

Goodwin, who has received awards and recognition from both private 
and public agencies for delivering high-quality training workshops 
and in 2008 was recognized as Trainer of The Year by the North 
Central Ohio Regional Training Center (Children and Family Services), 
said that rather than delivering statistics and highly technical data 
to students he'll provide information that "high school kids can relate to."

Stories of the consequences of marijuana usage told through actual 
case studies are effective, Goodwin said.

For example, he related the story of a 16-year-old boy who was 
addicted to marijuana and with whom he had worked, who later returned 
for help with the same problem at age 20.

The man told Goodwin its usage has caused him to frequently forget 
information needed for his job, socially isolate himself from people 
other than those who smoked marijuana and lose overall motivation.

Goodwin said the man told him "The bottom line is you can call it a 
drug or not, but it's a powerful substance that's had a negative 
impact on my life."

Surprising to some may be Goodwin's statement that there's no doubt 
that alcohol and pot are prevalent in every high school in the 
Greater Cleveland area, including public and parochial, and those in 
both cities and outlying suburbs.

Goodwin gave several reasons why marijuana usage is rising among teens.

"In many ways, pot is easier (than alcohol) to use and conceal," he 
said. "When someone drinks the effects are so obvious as far as the 
drunken state. You can smoke pot before you go to school and it's not 
as obvious."

He added that "Marijuana is very insidious in its nature (because of 
a) slow progression. If they began using it occasionally as a 
freshman, by the time they're seniors and they've increased to daily 
use, they'll see grades and participation in extracurriculars drop 
but don't attribute it to pot."

Other causes for the upward trend are availability and the mind set 
of today's society.

"It's everywhere," Goodwin said. "And we live in quick-fix society. 
You're stressed? Smoke a joint - instead of looking for longer term 
(and non-addictive) things to do."

Goodwin said marijuana's the most difficult drug to treat in his 
office because teens deny its harmful effects.

For details on the program, email  ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom