Pubdate: Thu, 10 May 2012
Source: Westside Gazette (FL)
Copyright: 2012 Westside Gazette
Contact:  http://www.thewestsidegazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5308
Pubdate: 10 May 12
Author: Calvina Fey

NEW STUDY FINDS TEEN MARIJUANA USE ON THE RISE

All Progress in the Reduction of Teen Marijuana Use Has Been Lost

ST. PETERSBURG FL - The 2010 Partnership Attitude Tracking Study 
released by the Partnership at Drugfree_org and Met Life, 
demonstrated significant increases in teen marijuana use. The 
findings showed that teens were significantly more likely to use 
marijuana in 2010 than they were in 2008. Forty-nine percent reported 
lifetime trial of marijuana and thirty-nine percent reported past 
year use. Twenty-five percent reported smoking marijuana in the past 
month, which translates to over four million 9th- 12th graders 
smoking marijuana in the past month.

"The increased use of marijuana among youth has been an alarming 
trend for the last couple of years," said Calvina Fay, Executive 
Director of Drug Free America Foundation and Save Our Society Frdm 
Drugs. "Research has shown that marijuana impairs adolescent brain 
development, so this trend is extremely disturbing, especially with 
respect to the future. Marijuana is also known to exacerbate mental 
illness, which typically presents itself in late adolescence," Fay added.

"Although it may seem like we have lost progress, we must continue to 
push back against the likely causation of this increase. The ruse 
that marijuana is a medicine has created a false sense that this 
addictive, dangerous drug is not harmful, but in fact helpful. We 
must also continue to push forward with prevention efforts and hope 
the government will increase drug prevention resources," Fay concluded.

Based on the responses to this survey, the report suggests that a 
significant subgroup of teens may be at risk for developing later 
alcohol and drug problems. The report also indicates that it is 
critical to target those teens who display early warning signs of 
drug use and abuse so that we may stop the progression of alcohol and 
drug use among our children.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom