Pubdate: Tue, 10 Jun 2014
Source: Herald Standard (PA)
Copyright: 2014 Herald Standard
Contact:  http://www.heraldstandard.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3464
Author: Olivia Goudy

MARIJUANA: PERCENTAGES REMAIN, PERCEPTIONS CHANGE

As national averages for marijuana usage continue to fluctuate, use
among teens in Pennsylvania has dropped only .1 percent. According to
a nationwide report released by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), marijuana usage by the 12- to 17-year-old population
has decreased from 8.2 to 7.2 percent from 2002 to 2012.

While the numbers might remain in the same ballpark, officials are
seeing a change in something else entirely. "There is less perceived
harm in marijuana as a substance. Perception is key," said Erica
Usher, prevention supervisor at the Fayette County Drug and Alcohol
Commission (FCDAC). "Our attitudes on things are based on what we
know, what we're exposed to. But that doesn't already mean it's
correct or factual."

Usher attributed this misinformation to factors such as pop culture
and television, noting that teens are forming opinions of heated
topics based on what they perceive elsewhere. "If a majority of people
don't believe that it's harmful, they're more likely to engage in that
behavior or be less likely to judge someone who engages in that
behavior," she said. Where marijuana use might have once been a taboo
issue, it has now become a common discussion topic among teens and
adults alike. It has become more socially acceptable, according to
Usher. "There are more and more adolescents discussing the benefits of
marijuana; they take a very public pro-stance," she said. A national
adolescent study, Monitoring the Future, surveys 50,000 students in
grades eight, 10 and 12 for their habits, attitudes and values on
various topics. Their disapproval rating for teens using marijuana
regularly has dropped about 2 percent from 2011 to 2013. It has
continued on this downward trend since 2007, the lowest its been since
the mid-1990s. In another study, every two years, the Pennsylvania
Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) issues a statewide survey
to over 200,000 students in grades six, eight, 10 and 12 called the
Pennsylvania Youth Survey (PAYS). They're asked a number of health and
drug related questions including usage in the past 30 days and
lifetime usage. In theory, the survey will target the same relative
group of students four times. This allows the PCCD to track any trends
or habits that might arise with factors such as different schools,
ages, friend groups, etc. According to Usher, it's a good way to see
what the youth are doing.

The statewide, anonymous survey also has controls in place to validate
their results. "When it's clear that students are being dishonest - if
their answers are inconsistent - it immediately gets a red flag and
will be removed," said Usher.

In 2011, the statewide percentage of the targeted grades was 19
percent. As of the fall of 2013, it dropped to 18.9 percent. In
Fayette County, in particular, the 2013 percentage was 17.4, rising
from its previous 2011 percentage of 16.7.

"The No. 1 drugs of abuse in Pa. and Fayette County are alcohol and
tobacco," said Usher. "It might be illegal for youth, but it's legal
for someone. They might know somebody who'll buy it for them or have
access to a fake ID."

The CDC report specializing in drug use and health included 153,873
households nationally. From those, a total of 87,656 sample people
were selected, from which 68,309 completed interviews were obtained,
according to the report.

Last week, Minnesota became the 22nd state to legalize medical
marijuana. Plans are in the works to follow suit in Florida, Ohio and
Pennsylvania, though it's unclear how long it will be until the
legislation is up for passage.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt