When I was growing up, summertime meant lots of freedom--riding my bike all over my suburban neighborhood and enjoying friends--with Mom mostly home and keeping a semi-watchful eye over me. Getting into trouble meant going to the forbidden swamp and traipsing around in the "quicksand," which was supposed to be off limits or riding bikes in prohibited areas. Wouldn't that be nice if that were all parents had to worry about? Times have changed. In 2005 the choices for "having fun" and "risk taking" includes trying drugs and alcohol and at earlier and earlier ages. In fact, summer is the riskiest time of year when it comes to teens and marijuana. The National Survey on Drug Youth and Health shows that first-time youth marijuana use increased significantly during the summer months. Each day in June, July, and August, approximately 6100 youth nationwide try marijuana for the first time; that's 38 percent more per day than during the rest of the year. This increased first time use in the summer is also true for alcohol and cigarettes. [continues 525 words]
With Meth in the news so much these days, I am often asked "Why is Meth different from other drugs?" No drug of addiction is good; they wreak havoc with mind and body. But Meth has some interesting characteristics that are different from other drugs. Here is a rough sketch. Meth is in a class of drugs called stimulants, which includes amphetamines and cocaine. Meth, like other stimulants, increases energy while suppressing appetite. It basically comes in a powder form but can be altered to meet different types of use, which include snorting, smoking, and injecting. No matter how Meth is used, it instantly reaches the central nervous system. [continues 407 words]
When I became the coordinator for the San Juan County Tobacco Prevention and Control Program earlier this year, I started talking to people in our community about how they felt about tobacco use and second-hand smoke in the San Juan Islands. I heard from a number of people that tobacco is not used as much as marijuana, by youth as well as adults. Marijuana was thought of as harmless, or less harmful than other drugs and alcohol. Most people who do smoke marijuana would not consider smoking tobacco because of the health problems associated with it. [continues 629 words]
When children are toddlers, parents have to keep a constant eye on their active and inquisitive children to ensure their safety. Young teens are also curious, striving for greater independence, plagued with mood swings and unclear thinking, and wanting to test their parents' rules and limits. As social beings many teens also want to hang out with peers and, if they had their choice, they would do so without their parents' presence and supervision. Yes, it might be more fun, but it could also be dangerous. [continues 478 words]
Two boats, a pickup truck and 200 pounds of "B.C. Bud" were seized as federal officers arrested six Canadian citizens on Orcas Island early Sept. 6. Sheriff Bill Cumming said officers of the U.S. Customs Service backed by the U.S. Coast Guard arrested four men and two women on suspicion of drug trafficking that morning on the north side of Orcas Island. The suspects are in the custody of federal authorities. Prosecution will be handled in federal court in Seattle because of the amount of marijuana seized, Cumming said. [continues 328 words]
Gary Franco doesn't think there is anything wrong serving his 17-year-old son "a little wine at dinner. We're Italian and that's how we do things in our family." When the son -- a student at Friday Harbor High School -- was arrested on Oct. 5 for being a "minor in possession of alcohol" (according to the sheriff's report), the teen was immediately dropped from a Friday Harbor High School sports team. Since school began on Sept. 2, four athletes have been removed from teams for use or possession of a controlled substance. [continues 563 words]
