September 26th, 2007 by Ann Walker
A common debate found in discussions of teen age drug abuse is how harmful pot may or may not be. There are copious defenses written of it’s use - on the internet, in medical literature and in various arguments before the court. And as is always the case with pot, you have one side who dismisses the negative health and psychological ramifications and the opposing view who paints pictures of marijuana users becoming psychotics unable to cope with life.
Where the truth lies is still up for debate, but a recent study asserts that there is no long term brain damage indicated in even the most dedicated pot smokers.
“A new study of cognitive changes caused by heavy marijuana use has found no lasting effects 28 days after quitting. Following a month of abstinence, men and women who smoked pot at least 5,000 times in their lives performed just as well on psychological tests as people who used pot sparingly or not at all, according to a report in the latest issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.”
“The down side of pot use is that though it may leave brain cells intact, it may not allow the teen user to keep his emotions or life in the same pristine shape.
Although researchers found no irreversible cognitive defects from a lifetime of marijuana consumption, pot users are not a happy lot… most heavy users admitted that the drug has a negative impact on all aspects of their lives from job performance and physical health to mental well-being and satisfactory socializing.
Heavy smokers also have substantially smaller incomes and lower levels of education than nonusers or light users, despite the fact that the education and income levels of their families are the same….”
(source)
Relevant Tags:cognitive defects, marijuana, marijuana consumption, marijuana users, pot advocates, pot smokers, pot users, teen age drug abuse
June 19th, 2007 by Ann Walker
Teen crisis intervention campaigns mounted in the form of public service ads have given the anti-drug activists a few slogans; “Just say no” and “Your brain on drugs” are familiar admonitions, but are they effective?
A piece on Slate.com that reviews the newest release of anti-drug ads directed at troubled teenagers and suggests that this new approach might be more effective.
The author’s point is that drug ads or warnings that depend on overkill are likely to be scoffed at and dismissed. Though the author’s sentiments seem to be rather casual about marijuana use, his points are on the mark. There are not a lot of ravaged looking pot smokers, such as there are junkies or meth heads. To suggest that pot is just as lethal as those decidedly more dangerous drugs further alienates teenagers and just doesn’t sell.
On the other hand, if you “say it like it is”, such as the new campaign does, at risk teens can make decisions based on the realities presented.
“Finally, an admission that using pot isn’t necessarily calamitous. It’s possible we’re seeing this about-face only because previous scare-tactic ads were recently proved to increase drug use. But either way, I applaud the new, more truthful strategy. Lying is never what you want from your government (even if you’ve grown accustomed to it).
[..]
In this context, “Pete’s Couch” is a work of bracing honesty. Other spots in the ongoing “Above the Influence” campaign have been unawful, too. In “Whatever,” a straight-edge kid talks about chaperoning his stoned friends around, acting as designated driver.. The point is that this kid makes his own decisions and chooses to stay off drugs even though his friends are getting high… the ad is done in a low-key, nonhyperbolic way…it seems to say it’s OK to be friends with pot smokers (instead of instantly calling the cops on them, as past ads might have recommended).”
(Source)
H/T: Livonia Save Our Youth
Relevant Tags:brain on drugs, crisis intervention, dangerous drugs, pot smokers, teen crisis intervention, teen crisis, troubled teenagers
