Pubdate: Mon, 20 Oct 2003 Source: Sun Herald (MS) Copyright: 2003, The Sun Herald Contact: http://www.sunherald.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/432 NIE: WEED OUT THE TRUTH OUT MARIJUANA An NIE Educational Activity Challenge yourself and your friends to compare your perceptions of marijuana to reality. Check the responses with the answers below. True False 1 Marijuana won't hurt you - it's just a plant. 2 You can get addicted to marijuana. 3 Marijuana use can have many long-term effects. 4 Marijuana isn't as harmful as cigarettes. 5 You can't have fun without marijuana. ANSWERS 1. False. Marijuana hurts young bodies and minds. Marijuana affects the brain and can impair mental health, leading to depression and anxiety. Research shows that kids who are high are more likely to have poor judgment, leading to sex and other risky behaviors. 2. True. Nearly 60 percent of teens in drug treatment have a primary diagnosis of marijuana dependence. And marijuana use is three times more likely to lead to dependence among teens than among adults. 3. True. Marijuana use can have many long-term effects. In addition to the health risks, using marijuana can lead to failure in school, trouble with the law or risky behaviors that could have lifelong consequences. 4. False. One marijuana joint can contain as much cancer-causing tar as four tobacco cigarettes, and smoking pot can result in lung and respiratory damage. 5. False. The truth is marijuana use can interfere with your fun and put a strain on relationships with family and friends. Scan several weeks' worth of newspapers and clip out all stories that mention marijuana and other youth substance use. Create a chart that indicates age and gender of youth in the stories and what types of substance is involved. Then, research national and local/state statistics on substance use to determine whether the stories from your paper provide a representative sample of what's happening in your community and nationwide. Use the "Myth vs. Reality" quiz to poll young people in your school and community. Report on your survey results for your school newspaper or for English or social studies class. Describe what shaped your peers' thinking and how their perceptions about marijuana compare to reality. Scan recent newspapers and find a story about someone who has used an illicit drug such as marijuana. What were the consequences? Write down three negative consequences of smoking pot. What could you say to someone who offers it to you? Ask family members what they'd do in a similar situation. Share your findings from these activities and read about others' experiences at www.Freevibe.com. The material for this special feature was provided by the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign, a program of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, in partnership with the Newspaper Association of America Foundation's Newspaper in Education program, Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America and the National Association of Student Assistance Professionals. For more activities, go to www.sunherald.com - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom