What you need to know — ASAP
Sponsored by the Aroostook Substance Abuse Prevention Collaborative
A recent study from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) indicates Maine is ranked in the top six states for past month marijuana use among all age groups. In Aroostook County, 17 percent of high school students used marijuana in the past 30 days.
Guy Cousins, director of the Maine Office of Substance Abuse is concerned about this study. “Education about the affects of marijuana is critical. Marijuana affects alertness, concentration and reaction time, many of the skills required for learning, safe driving and other life tasks,” he said.
What is the big deal? Researchers have established that marijuana is addictive and that it is three times more likely to lead to dependence among adolescents than adults.
In fact, according to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), each year more youth enter treatment with a primary diagnosis of marijuana dependence than for all other illicit drugs combined.
Ruth Blauer, executive director of the Maine Association of Substance Abuse Programs, referred to the “2009 Maine Community Epidemiology Surveillance Network Substance Abuse Trends” report. “Marijuana is the second drug of choice for youth after alcohol, is the primary drug for youth substance abuse treatment admissions and is identified as the second leading cause for all treatment admissions.”
“We know that youth who use marijuana are more likely to engage in risky behaviors such as unsafe sex, getting in trouble with the law, and other dangerous behaviors which change their lives forever,” remarked Melissa Boyd, coordinator of the Maine Alliance to Prevent Substance Abuse.
To learn more about how to get help and education on marijuana and other drugs visit http://www.theantidrug.com/drug-information/marijuana-facts/default.aspx
This article was brought to you by the Maine Alliance to Prevent Substance Abuse, ASAP Coalition, and Community Voices.
