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