Show 34: Excerpt - Is Pot Use 'Normal'? A New Campaign Just Says No
The idea that marijuana is not as bad as other "harder" drugs has been circulating for years, and with modern marijuana more potent than the pot smoked in previous generations, this idea is even more harmful today - but this message is not getting out. As marijuana becomes legalized in certain areas, dispensed to treat a host of medical issues, and permeates modern movies, music and online - kids are increasingly conditioned to believe that using pot is "normal".
With recent studies showing a link between the early use of marijuana and increased chances of developing psychosis, these "social norms" surrounding pot use are especially dangerous for children and teens. Here in Alaska, campaigns addressing alcohol and tobacco use are actively engaging teens and youth, yet there has been no such anti-marijuana campaign. Until now.
The Anchorage Youth Development Coalition, a group of over 60 youth-serving organizations, is in the planning stages of a new campaign that will address these social norms surrounding pot use by youth and teens. Youth Development Specialist Thomas Azzarella spoke with producer, Sarah Gonzales, about how this campaign is coming together.
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  This show is made possible by the Association of Alaska School Boards’ Initiative for Community Engagement, an initiative funded by the US Dept. of Education to provide Alaskans with information, tools and assistance to work together and engage in the shared responsibility of preparing Alaska’s children and youth for the future. |
Hi Seth, I appreciate your
Hi Seth,
I appreciate your perspective and hearing about your experience. The link between ADD/ADHD and drug use in youth is definitely worthy of further exploration and it'd be interesting to take a look at this in a future show. Thank you for taking the time to leave this thoughtful comment.
- Sarah Gonzales, KTD!'s Producer
I listened in on the program
I listened in on the program yesterday and found most of the material broadcasted informative. I recently kicked my pot smoking habits because of personal and professional reasons. I started smoking when I was around 15 due to the social benefits of the drug. I also found it relaxing and counteractive to the methylphenidate (kibbles'n'bits) that was prescribed to me for ADD, which I found out is a highly misdiagnosed mental disorder in the U.S..
The topic of prescription medication and illegal drug abuse among teens was interesting, but disappointed me because it failed to shed light on a few points and misconstrued some others. I do not believe I had ADD/ADHD, I had trouble in school, but I attest that to the flaws in the U.S. school system to properly address and resolve problems with certain faculty and students. "A pill for every ill" is what comes to mind when I think about this subject. It's like sweeping the problem under the rug and ignoring the fact that it's still there. It's true that most heroin addicts started out smoking pot, but it is also true that a wide majority of troubled teens that abuse drugs also started out on prescribed methylphenidate, including myself and a lot of my friends. I ask what's worse, illegal drugs or prescribed medication provided to those who don't really need it? The facts are that the drug companies lobby the government to push whatever substance they see fit to turn a profit and in turn provide incentives to doctors to prescribe more drugs. Makes sense that ADD/ADHD is widely misdiagnosed, and that antidepressants could make one feel more depressed and so on and so forth. The abuse of illegal and prescription drugs may come from the impressions our society sets forth wether it be in media, social interactions, or propaganda.
I would also like to say that in all of the years smoking pot, I have never seen anyone who smoked fall into psychosis nor have I experienced it. This comes from real world experience, not research done in a lab. Not to say it isn't a possibility but I highly doubt it. Marijuana doesn't lead to harder drugs, influence of people lead to harder drugs. Will power is everything. If an addict has the will to get off drugs he or she undoubtedly will. Thank you for your time.