SATUCI Youth Partners e-Newsletter
 February 2014
Sip by sip - the cost of an OWI
Here's some information you can share with your teen about what an OWI charge really costs. OWI Costs

  

The science behind drug abuse
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has a great website designed for teens to get science-based facts about how drugs affect the brain and body so teens are armed with better information to make healthy decisions. Go to the website.
 
10 facts about marijuana
Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug, with 42 percent of American adults reporting they have used it. Marijuana facts.

Understanding medical marijuana
Some of the ingredients in marijuana, such as THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), have medicinal effects. And some people get relief from symptoms of their illnesses by smoking marijuana. However, using marijuana as medicine does not make it medicine. It has not gone through the FDA approval process to show that its benefits outweigh its risks. Read more.

 

Marijuana legalization clouds teens' perception of risk
While many Colorado residents rang in the new year by lining up outside newly opened pot dispensaries, parents around the country are facing new challenges in educating teens about the risks of marijuana use. Read more.

Purple Drank abuse
The Marshalltown Police Department reports people using Purple Drank, a mixture of a prescription cold medication with a soda drink like Sprite or Mountain Dew, plus ice and Jolly Rancher candies often added for color and taste. Cold medication that contains promethazine (an antihistamine) and codeine are combined to make a purple liquid that is then sipped until euphoria and dissociation from one's body occur. More information.

Why it's a bad idea for teens to use marijuana

A recent article published in TIME magazine explains why using marijuana during adolescence can have a negative impact on their brain development. More information.

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Marshalltown Police Department
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How many Marshalltown youth have used marijuana?
 
According to the 2012 Iowa Youth Survey, 22 percent of 11th graders said they had used marijuana. That means the good news is 78 percent of 11th graders never used marijuana. But just five years ago, 7 percent of 11th graders said they had used marijuana. 
 
"The percentage started increasing in 2009," said Vickie Lewis, SATUCI director of professional services. In 2008, it was 7 percent and in 2009 the percentage doubled to 14 percent. In 2011, it was 15 percent.
 
Lewis said one reason for the increase is youth's perception of harm. "Teens underestimate the risks of marijuana use and they also tend to overestimate the prevalence of use," she said. Teens also think marijuana is about as harmful as smoking tobacco.
 
In the Iowa Youth Survey, 70 percent of Marshalltown 11th graders said they think they would be at great or moderate risk if they smoked marijuana. And 83 percent of sixth graders said they would be at great or moderate risk. 
The myths of marijuana

Many teenagers and adults believe that marijuana is safer than alcohol or other drugs. When discussing marijuana with your child, it is helpful to know the myths and the facts. The following are some common myths about marijuana:

  • "It is harmless and natural, it is only an herb, and it won't affect me long-term"
  • "It is not addictive"
  • "It doesn't hurt me as much as smoking tobacco"
  • "It makes me feel calm"
  • "It doesn't affect my thinking or my grades"
  • "It's safe because it is used as medicine for cancer and other diseases"

Regular use of marijuana can lead to dependence, which causes users to have a very hard time stopping. When teens use marijuana regularly, they may crave marijuana and give up important activities to use marijuana. If they stop using, they may suffer from withdrawal symptoms which can include irritability, anxiety, and changes in mood, sleep, and appetite.

Marijuana can also cause serious problems with learning, feelings, and health. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the active ingredient in marijuana. THC affects the brain's control of emotions, thinking, and coordination.

Marijuana facts: 
  • Marijuana users may have many of the same respiratory problems that tobacco smokers have such as chronic cough and more frequent chest colds.
  • Marijuana is addictive. About 1 in 11 people who try it, and 25-50% of people who use it every day, become addicted.
  • In 2008, marijuana was reported in over 374,000 emergency department visits in the U.S. with about 13% involving youth ages 12-17.
  • Marijuana can raise the heart rate by 20-100% shortly after smoking and can last up to three hours.
  • The amount of THC in marijuana samples confiscated by police has been increasing steadily over the past few decades. In 2012, THC concentrations averaged close to 15%, compared to around 4% in the 1980s.
Why do kids start using marijuana?

Children and teens start using marijuana for many reasons. Curiosity and the desire to fit into a social group are the most common reasons. Sometimes friends pressure their friends. Those who have already begun to smoke cigarettes and/or use alcohol are at heightened risk for marijuana use as well.

 
And children and teens who have untreated mental disorders (e.g., ADHD, conduct disorder, anxiety) or who were physically or sexually abused are at heightened risk of using marijuana and other drugs at an early age.

 
For some, drug use begins as a means of coping to deal with anxiety, anger, depression and boredom. Being high is simply a way of avoiding the problems and challenges of growing up.

 
Research shows that family members' use of alcohol and drugs plays a strong role in whether or not children and teens start using drugs - making parents, grandparents, older siblings models for children to follow.

National Institute on Drug Abuse

Iowa Youth Survey
  • 48 percent of Marshalltown 11th graders said they think it would be easy or very easy to obtain marijuana.
  • 27 percent of Marshalltown 8th graders said they think it would be easy or very easy to obtain marijuana.
  • Of the 22 percent of Marshalltown 11th graders who said they had used marijuana, 8 percent said they were age 13 or 14 when they first tried it and 12 percent said they were age 15 or 16.
 


Parent tip for the month

 

Communication with your child is a form of prevention. Talking to them when they are in elementary or middle school in an honest and open way can prevent drug use in the future. The following are tips on for how to discuss marijuana and other drugs with your child:

  • Ask what he/she has heard about using marijuana. Listen carefully, pay attention, and do not interrupt. Avoid making negative or angry comments.
  • Offer your child facts about the risks and consequences of smoking marijuana
  • Ask your child to give examples of the effects of marijuana. This will help you make sure that your child understands what you talked about.
  • If you choose to talk to your child about your own experiences with drugs, be honest about your reasons, be careful not to glamorize marijuana or other drugs, and discuss the negative things and dangers that resulted from you or your friends' drug use.
  • State your expectations simply and concisely. Don't leave room for confusion. Say something like "My expectation is that you won't use drugs like marijuana. I have high standards because I know you'll meet them and do what's right."