Pubdate: Thu, 02 May 2002 Source: Springfield News-Leader (MO) Section: Ozarks Voices Copyright: 2002 The Springfield News-Leader Contact: http://www.springfieldnews-leader.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1129 Author: Marcie Rosenkoetter, Marcie Rosenkoetter is coordinator of Drug & Violence Prevention Programs at Springfield Public Schools. USING MARIJUANA ISN'T CHILD'S PLAY; IT RUINS YOUTHS' LIVES Mark and Mary seemed to have the world at their feet. Their grades were better than average. They were involved in school extracurricular activities and participated in band and track. Life was good. So when they started smoking marijuana it was really just a new thing to do with friends. They didn't see any real harm in it. They weren't aware of the psychological and physical dependence, structural and brain wave changes. But their dreams did go up in smoke. Mark and Mary are two of the many teen-agers smoking marijuana today. In fact, marijuana use among 12- to 17-year-olds has more than doubled since 1992. Young people are beginning to use marijuana at very early ages - even as early as elementary school. The younger someone starts to use drugs, the more likely he or she may develop problems associated with drug use. Marijuana use impairs memory, learning, motivation and reflexes. These impairments interfere with the skills necessary for young people to achieve their full potential. Marijuana can negatively impact goals Springfield Public Schools has set for increasing student achievement and reducing the drop-out rate. While the SPS Drug & Violence Free Schools program works to make students and staff aware of the risks, our parents and community must reinforce that message. Yet many kids - and parents - don't realize these things or understand their consequences. As parents and other trusted adults in the lives of kids, we must help them understand that marijuana is a drug and that using marijuana is dangerous and can be debilitating to their goals and ambitions. We must talk with our children and tell them we don't want them using marijuana, giving them facts about this drug and insights into where its use can lead. We, as adults, have a responsibility to support our children in pursuit of their dreams. Part of that responsibility means talking with them about drugs - before they slip down a similar path. The National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information offers free materials that can help youth and adults understand the impact of marijuana and other drugs. Contact NCADI at http://www.health.org or call the Springfield Public Schools Drug & Violence Prevention Program office at 864-3856. A confidential substance abuse assessment is an option for students already involved in substance use. Marcie Rosenkoetter is coordinator of Drug & Violence Prevention Programs at Springfield Public Schools. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom