Kids and Marijuana: Not a Harmless High?
Users say it makes them mellow. Proponents of legalization say it's
okay to smoke. Doctors warn of its harmful effects. Researchers say
that in the past decade, the number of 8th graders who have used it
has doubled.
The debate about marijuana continues, but there is one point that
everyone generally agrees on - kids should stay away from the
drug.
"There are many popular myths about the so-called harmlessness of
marijuana, but we know from research that marijuana use is risky
for teens at a crucial time in their lives," said John P. Walters,
Director of National Drug Control Policy.
One common myth is that the drug is safe. Marijuana puts kids at
risk. It's harmful to young bodies and minds that are still
developing. Marijuana affects the brain and can impair mental
health, leading to increased depression and anxiety. And some
health risks associated with smoking marijuana are similar to those
posed by tobacco.
Kids who use marijuana regularly show a decrease in academic
achievement. Even short-term marijuana use has been proven to cause
problems with memory, learning, cognitive development and problem
solving.
Recent research also shows that kids who use marijuana weekly are
more likely to get in trouble with the law, struggle in school,
have delinquent friends, engage in unsafe sex and end up in risky
and dangerous situations.
Drugged driving is another danger. One roadside study of reckless
drivers who were not impaired by alcohol showed that 45 percent
tested positive for marijuana.
It's also a myth that marijuana is not
addictive. Marijuana sends more teens into treatment than
any other illicit drug. Sixty percent of teens currently in drug
treatment are there because of marijuana. According to the federal
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, of all
the people entering treatment for marijuana in 1999, more than half
(57 percent) first used the drug by the age of 14.
Parents can help kids by countering the folklore on marijuana with
real examples of how marijuana can put their futures at risk.
Studies show that parents are the single most powerful influence in
their children's lives. Parents who are involved and talk to their
kids about drugs are less likely to have kids who use drugs.
For more information about marijuana and tips on things you can say
and do to keep your child drug-free, visit www.theantidrug.com, the
parent Web site of the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign.
Look for a downloadable copy of "Keeping Your Kids Drug-Free: A
How-to Guide for Parents and Caregivers," or call 1-800-788-2800
for a free copy.
