marijuana
Italian Speakers Can Now Benefit from Narconon Drug Prevention Materials on Marijuana
Narconon drug rehabilitation and prevention organizations around the world have been working for more than forty-five years to prevent substance abuse and addiction wherever it occurs. Because marijuana presents one of today’s most significant challenges to youth, Narconon has just released a new drug prevention booklet that has been translated into Italian.
In Italy as well as many other European countries, marijuana (also called cannabis) is the top drug abused by young people. Because of widespread legalization and medical use of marijuana, it is far too easy for youth to get the impression that this drug is harmless. But the drug traffickers who raise cannabis in Morocco know fully well how damaging this drug can be. The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction notes that of those entering drug rehab treatment in Italy, more than 20% of the people needed help for addiction to cannabis. This statistic has risen dramatically since 2007 when the percentage was just 12.2%.
According to the European Strategic Intelligence and Security Center, Italy is a primary point of transit for Moroccan cannabis entering Europe.
Young people may easily be swayed to start using cannabis if they are not well educated on the problems it can cause. To help those speaking other languages, Narconon International has translated 10 Things Parents May Not Know about Marijuana into Italian.
This booklet answers questions like:
- Is today’s marijuana stronger than it was twenty years ago?
- Is it a medicine?
- Can it create mental pr physical problems?
- Are its effects short or long-term?
“Parents often feel uneasy about the increase in marijuana abuse and worry that their children may be harmed by using the drug,” said Clark Carr, president of Narconon International. “They are right to be worried. By reading our booklet and then talking to their kids about each of these ten points, they can be more confident about keeping their kids safe.”
Carr encouraged all Italian speakers to download this free booklet from http://italiano.narconon.org/educazione-sulle-droghe/fatti-di-marijuana.
“It’s often difficult for parents to know where to start in discussing this subject with their children,” added Carr. “Now they have an easy guide to talking over the problems that can result from marijuana use with their children.
If a person has already become addicted to cannabis, there are seven Narconon rehabilitation centers in Italy, and for American families of Italian descent, there are thirteen US centers. Locations for these centers can be found at: http://www.narconon.org/narconon-centers.
For more information on Narconon, call 1-800-775-8750 or visit www.narconon.org.
Resources:
http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/publications/country-overviews/it/data-sheet
Narconon Supplies Real Facts about Marijuana Just When Families and Youth Need it Most
Just when it seems like marijuana use and abuse will sweep America from one end to the other, Narconon International has released a free booklet providing hard facts about the dangers involved in the abuse of this drug. Families are hearing plenty about the “benefits” of medical marijuana from groups lobbying for law changes. Youth are being deluged with drug references in movies and on television. And every community has its drug dealers spreading lies about how “harmless” the drug is.
But in fact, marijuana is addictive and results in many kinds of harm. Parents may not have any idea of the real dangers involved because the marijuana they may have smoked when they were young was a vastly different substance from today’s weed. There’s a whole new set of dangers waiting for the youth of today who start smoking pot.
“It’s essential that parents have an easy way to get the truth about the harm their children could experience if they begin smoking pot at an early age,” stated Clark Carr, president of Narconon International. “We compiled the most vital facts into one place in the 10 Things Parents May Not Know about Marijuana booklet. We are making this available for free download to enable parents to educate their children and save them from harm. We want it to be easy for parents to take immediate action to prevent marijuana abuse.”
The Narconon booklet lists the top ten facts about marijuana abuse that parents need to know, like these:
- On average, one in six youth will become addicted to marijuana when they start abuse the drug when they are young
- Marijuana abuse lowers the ability to think clearly, retain what is learned or solve problems
- Marijuana is sending for than 40,000 young people to emergency rooms annually for medical interventions due to panic attacks, unmanageable anxiety or paranoia or violent bouts of vomiting, nausea and pain (according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
“Who says marijuana is harmless?” said Carr. “If parents know these facts, they can take them up one at a time with their children and educate them thoroughly. Otherwise, their children are learning everything they know about marijuana from other kids and drug dealers.”
Carr recommended that after parents read the booklet themselves, they bring the subject up at the dinner table, one fact at a time and then let children ask questions or comment about people they might know who are abusing the drug. Studies done by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse have proven that when parents openly take a stand again drug abuse and are consistent in their message, youth more often decide not to abuse drugs.
“Parents may not realize their power to prevent drug abuse,” said Carr. “Whether they think their children are listening or not, they have a positive effect just by bringing the subject up, answering questions and being open about the problems that can and do result. We invite every parent to download this booklet and start using it right away. Teachers, counselors and health professionals can benefit from this booklet as well.”
http://www.narconon.org/drug-abuse/marijuana-facts.html
Contact Clark Carr, Narconon International, info@narconon.org or call 323-962-2404.
Parents, Teachers and Youth Take Note! Marijuana Abuse Sends the Most Young People to ERs
New report reveals that four times as many youth need emergency medical attention for adverse effects from marijuana abuse compared to prescription drug abuse.
Recent statistics from the Drug Abuse Warning Network cast a startling light on the effects of marijuana abuse among the young. When the 2012 review of drug-related ER visits was issued, it revealed that marijuana sent more people aged 20 and under to the ER than any other drug.
According to this report, 144 young people per 100,000 po
pulation visited an ER in 2010 for help with adverse effects resulting from marijuana abuse. The next highest category was alcohol with 140 young people per 100,000. Prescription pain relievers only sent 36 per 100,000.
Marijuana potency is known to be much, much stronger with modern varieties of cannabis.
Adverse effects from marijuana abuse include panic attacks, paranoia, depression, delusions, hallucinations and depersonalization. Depersonalization is a disorder in which a person loses the sense of their personal identity and reality.
Doctors in ERs are just starting to document cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome among people driven to the ER by marijuana abuse. This syndrome includes severe, agonizing stomach pain, nausea and violent vomiting that cannot be stopped through normal means. Some people find relief from a hot bath or shower, leading some heavy marijuana users to spend hours every day in a bath. When marijuana stops being consumed, the stomach symptoms resolve.
“This report shows us that four times as many young people need emergency medical attention due to adverse effects from marijuana consumption compared to prescription pain relievers,”, stated Clark Carr, president of Narconon International, a network of drug rehabilitation and prevention centers. “Young people increasingly think that marijuana abuse is completely safe because it is sometimes, though rarely prescribed for medical purposes. This misinformation allows these young people to run into problems so severe that they wind up in the hospital.”
The international Narconon network of rehabilitation and prevention centers fights back against this misinformation with drug education classes for youth, adults and corporations. Also, fifty Narconon rehabilitation locations around the world help those who become addicted, like the one-third of a million Americans entering rehab for help with marijuana addiction each year. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the majority are aged 25 or less.
“Teachers and parents would be very wise to warn youth that marijuana use is not harmless, that it is accompanied by risk of mental and physical harm as well as addiction”, stressed Mr. Carr. “It is only fair to our young people to give them the complete picture of dangers associated with abuse of this and any drug.”
Resources:
http://wwwdasis.samhsa.gov/webt/quicklink/US10.htm
http://www.samhsa.gov/data/2k12/DAWN096/SR096EDHighlights2010.htm
Urgent Warning to Parents About Marijuana and IQ Damage
A new report reveals that young people risk lowered intelligence if they start smoking marijuana early in their teens.
Now there’s concrete evidence that young people risk lasting damage if they are frequent abusers of marijuana. A long-term study that followed 1000 New Zealanders from birth through age 38 found that those who started smoking marijuana in their teens lost an average of eight IQ points later in life.
The study was executed by researchers at King’s College London and Duke University in the US. Those being tracked were tested for their IQ at ages 13 and 38, and their marijuana use was noted. The ones who lost the IQ were those who smoked weed at least four days a week for parts of these early years. Those who never smoked marijuana until after they turned 20 were not affected by this loss.
What makes this result even more serious is that if the marijuana smokers stopped smoking the drug well before the second IQ test, their intelligence score did not recover.
“Many parents may instinctively feel that it is wrong for their children to use drugs or drink but may not know how to explain the dangers,” said Bobby Wiggins, longtime Drug Prevention Specialist for Narconon International. Narconon is a non-profit organization dedicated to the elimination of substance abuse and addiction. “This gives them a definite result they can talk about.”
The report notes that a lower IQ score is a strong determinant of a person’s access to higher education, lifetime income, good job opportunities and the development of certain illnesses like Alzheimer’s disease or heart disease.
Mr. Wiggins encouraged parents to use this study to explain to children that marijuana or other drug abuse can have lasting adverse effects. “In my thirty years of drug education experience, I have found that many parents don’t really know how to approach the subject of substance abuse with their kids,” he observed. “It is far better to make it clear that you are opposed to substance abuse of any kind and provide the best evidence you can of the danger than to be silent. It does make a difference.”
Narconon has created educational videos featuring Bobby Wiggins that help parents understand more about this drug so they have a greater understanding when talking to their children. These videos are available at YouTube: www.narconon.org/drug-education/videos/.
Basic marijuana information is available on the Narconon International website at: www.narconon.org/drug-information/marijuana-pot.html
“My goal is that all our youth grow up drug-free and successful.” Mr. Wiggins concluded. “My wish is that parents use this information to protect their own children and others in their communities.”
Abuse of Illicit Drug Spice Forces Military to Discipline or Dismiss Hundreds
It’s one of the newest drugs of abuse on the market: a combination of cannabis-like synthetic chemicals sprayed on herbs and referred to generically as Spice. It may be sold with the names Spice or it may be called K2 or Red Devil Nugz. It’s often sold in convenience stores, sometimes near military bases. Maybe for some people the drug results in a pleasant experience but for others, it results in a psychotic episode that can last hours or days.
Like many club drugs, Spice is the result of chemists and drug dealers trying to stay ahead of law enforcement. By just changing a chemical formula a little bit, a substance can be sold to those looking to get high but be legal simply because it does not exactly meet the technical description of the drugs defined in state and federal law. Until legislation can catch up by outlawing a particular formula that gains popularity, some states can prosecute sellers and users with the Federal Analog Act. In other words, drugs that are essentially the same as illegal drugs can still be prosecuted under the same laws.
The military has long had a zero-tolerance to illicit drug use. It is generally the procedure to dismiss any airman, soldier or sailor that is caught using any illicit drug. In the case of Spice, it was a little more difficult at first, because there was no drug test for a long time after the product began to be found on ships and bases. But there is now. Still, most dismissals result from the drug being found in the possession of personnel.
The chemicals that have been banned don’t have names that would make sense to anyone but a chemist. For example, in March 2011, the following substances and several others were specifically made illegal in the US:
1-pentyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole (JWH-018)
1-butyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole (JWH-073)
5-(1,1-dimethyloctyl)-2-[(1ÊR,Ê3ÊS)-3-hydroxycyclohexyl]-phenol (cannabicyclohexanol; CP-47,497 C8 homologue).
These ingredients are five to 200 times stronger than marijuana. The idea was to create a synthetic cannabis, one that would not show up on a drug test.
Drug Makes Some Users Dangerously Psychotic
Adverse effects of using Spice can include seizures, vomiting, extreme agitation and delusions resulting in irrational and dangerous behavior such as running down the middle of the street tearing one’s clothes off. Some people babble incoherently.
Delusional behavior resembles that of people on the drug PCP and in some cases, comes and goes from one minute to the next. It can last as long as eight days and in a few cases, seems to trigger a lasting schizophrenia.
More Than 1,100 Military Personnel Investigated in 2011
ust two years ago, there was little heard about this drug, but that all changed as negative effects of the drug began to be observed in military personnel. A story published on December 30, 2011 on the site www.navytimes.com reported that more than 1,100 troops and sailors had been investigated for Spice use in the prior year.
This report stated that 700 Marines were investigated and those found guilty were kicked out. The Air Force has punished 497 airmen in 2011, an increase over the 380 who were disciplined in 2010. It was not stated whether these personnel were dismissed or not. The Army stated that it had treated 119 soldiers for use of this drug but did not publish investigation or dismissal numbers.
Navy Has Been Most Aggressive in Fighting this Problem
Investigations on some of the Navy’s ships have resulted in scores of sailors being dismissed. Late in 2011, it was announced that twenty-eight sailors would be dismissed from the aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan and that 49 more from the aircraft carrier Carl Vinson were involved in a Spice supply ring and would also be dismissed. Other sailors on an attack submarine and floating dry dock were busted for use or possession of the drug.
The Air Force has begun screening for Spice along with screening for other illicit drugs. The Air Force, Navy and Marines have initiated anti-Spice campaigns to let personnel know that it is now an illegal drug and they can be dismissed if they are found possessing or using it.
Like other illicit drugs, Spice is addictive. Many people will require drug rehab to get free of the drug and return to a sober, responsible lifestyle again. At the Narconon drug rehabilitation centers around the world, individuals recover from addiction to new synthetics like Spice or the drugs that have been around for hundreds of years, like opium and alcohol. Once the problem is addiction, no matter what the substance is, Narconon has the answer with its long-term, residential program.
By helping each person detoxify the residual toxins left behind after drug abuse and by teaching each person drug-free decision-making skills, the Narconon program enables 70% of its graduates to achieve a lasting, sober life. If you care for someone who is struggling with addiction, find out how Narconon can help. Call 1-800-775-8750 today.
Resources:
http://court-martial.com/spice/
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2010/11/navy-spice-off-limits-hampton-roads-111510p/
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2011/12/ap-rise-in-spice-use-worries-pentagon-leaders-123011/
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2011/12/military-spice-defense-department-test-crackdown-122611/
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2011/11/navy-28-busted-spice-carrier-ronald-reagan-san-diego-112111w/
Shocking New Report Exposes Real Extent of Teen Marijuana Abuse
New survey shows that one in ten teens is lighting up twenty times a month or more, far more than earlier surveys reported.
The argument for drug decriminalization has always been that if drugs were legalized, illicit trafficking would drop, drug cartels would lose their power and financial base, and all would be good. A new survey of America’s teens shows that it’s just not going to work this way.
A new survey from the non-profit anti-drug group The Partnership at Drugfree.org shows that in the years following the liberalization of medical use of marijuana, nearly ten percent of our teens are heavy marijuana users, smoking the addictive drug twenty times a month or more. This means that past-month heavy marijuana use has increased 80% since 2008. (1)
In other results from this survey:
- Every month, more than one out of four teens are lighting up at least once, another statistic that’s on the increase.
- Only 26% of students say that most of their schoolmates do not use marijuana.
- Only about half the students said that they “strongly disapprove” of marijuana use, down 11% since 2005.
- Teen who are “heavy” marijuana users are 30 times more likely to use cocaine or crack, 20 times more likely to use Ecstasy, and 15 times more likely to abuse prescription painkillers. (2)
How Does this Increase Tie in With Medical Marijuana Distribution?
Medical marijuana distribution has now spread to sixteen US states. In California alone, it’s a $2 billion dollar industry annually. (3)
Online directories offers up listings of thousands of marijuana dispensaries. One Los Angeles area directory offers nine dispensaries in the Sunland/Tujunga area and sixty in downtown Los Angeles. A Colorado directory has nineteen cities listed, with East Denver alone possessing 52 locations.
But there are definite signs that the presence of marijuana dispensaries are affecting the judgment and habits of the young of Colorado. School suspensions and expulsions for drug violations have been increasing for the last four years. Expulsions are up 35%, suspensions are up 45%. In Denver, referrals to law enforcement for school drug violations are up 71% over the same four year period. According to one report, students stand outside some of the dispensaries (fifty-three of which are 1,000 feet or less from school premises), asking people who are entering to buy them the drug. (4)
Colorado went through a number of stages of permitting medical marijuana distribution, but the major expansion of this business in the state occurred in 2009.
Teens Surrounded by a Culture that is More and More Pro-Marijuana
Tony Bylsma, President of Drug Prevention and Education California, pointed out that teens receive a steady stream of pro-marijuana messages. “Movies, television shows, magazines, celebrities who use marijuana or stump for its legalization, books, video games, maybe even the presence of a marijuana dispensary on the way to school – why should teens even think twice about using this drug?” he asked.
On their website, President of The Partnership at Drugfree.org Steve Pasierb noted that parents too often have the mindset that their children are just using a little weed and may not assign much importance to it. But according to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA), there is no greater anti-drug power in the world than parents. Joseph Califanao, CASA’s President, has repeatedly stated that a child who gets through age 21 without smoking, using illegal drugs or abusing alcohol is virtually certain never to do so. (5)
Is Smoking Marijuana Something Parents Should be Worried About?
Mr. Bylsma cited the statistics on the number of young people who need addiction treatment before they can get their marijuana use under control. “In 2009, more than 360,000 people went to treatment programs for help with marijuana addiction. Three out of ten were aged seventeen or younger. Almost half were under twenty-one and two-thirds were twenty-five or younger. This shows that addiction to marijuana is primarily a problem with our young people.” (6)
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a million more young people needed treatment for addiction but they didn’t get it. (7) Marijuana is the top drug by far that sends people to rehab, with alcohol in second place.
“I go from school to school, educating kids on the damage done by smoking marijuana,” added Mr. Bylsma. “They don’t realize that using marijuana results in less motivation, interest in goals or ability to concentrate. (8) When they are well-informed, they can make a better decision.”
Mr. Bylsma’s anti-drug curriculum is based on the drug prevention lessons published by Narconon, an international non-profit organization dedicated to the elimination of substance abuse and addiction. “Young people are the only ones who can decide not to use drugs when that joint, pill or drink is handed to them,” he said. “By using the Narconon curriculum, I don’t have to tell them that they should not do drugs, I can educate them on the damaging effects of drug abuse and give them what they need to make the right decision. The Narconon curriculum has proven to be successful in reducing substance abuse among children in trials in Oklahoma and Hawaii – that’s why I use it.” (9)
For more information on the Narconon drug education curriculum or Drug Prevention and Education California, call 1-800-775-8750.
Resources:
1 http://www.drugfree.org/newsroom/pats-2011
2 http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57425725/study-teen-marijuana-use-on-the-rise/
3 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_marijuana#United_States
4 http://www.butwhataboutthechildren.org/
5 http://www.casacolumbia.org/upload/2011/20110824teensurveyreport.pdf
6 http://wwwdasis.samhsa.gov/webt/quicklink/US09.htm
7 http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/NSDUH/2k10NSDUH/2k10Results.htm#7.3.2
8 http://www.justice.gov/dea/pubs/abuse/drug_data_sheets/Marijuana.pdf
9 http://www.substanceabusepolicy.com/content/3/1/8
Narconon Centers Confirm Findings Concerning Drug Abuse and Adolescent Digital Social Experience
Narconon® staff regularly encounter teenage enrollees whose lives have gone awry due to addiction. Enrollments include a steady flow of young people who have fallen into unhealthy patterns of using and abusing drugs and alcohol according to Bobby Wiggins, director of Drug Prevention at Narconon International.
When looking for causes, a significant contributor to increased addiction amongst adolescents turns out to be parents who are not paying enough attention. “Assuming that sons and daughters are not at risk of succumbing to the drug culture when they are actively engaged in social media is not a safe assumption,” says Wiggins.
The latest CASA (National Center on Addiction and Drug Abuse) at Columbia University study concludes that parents bear the burden of “preventing drug and alcohol abuse among their children and teens” – including staying on top of social media activity of their teen age children.
The 16th annual National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse: Teens and Parents reports on yet another source of peer pressure that pushes young people toward drug and alcohol use. Findings state, “American teenagers who spend time on social networking sites are more likely to smoke, drink and use drugs. Compared to teens that spend no time on social networking sites in a typical day, those who do are five times more likely to use tobacco; three times more likely to use alcohol; and twice as likely to use marijuana.”
The CASA report further reveals, “Seventy percent of teens report spending time on social networking sites in a typical day compared to 30 percent of teens who say they do not.” The study of 12 to 17 year olds shows that by far the largest majority are engaging in a freewheeling exchange of opinions, ideas and trends. “40 percent of all teens surveyed have seen pictures on social networking sites of their peers “getting drunk, passed out, or using drugs.” Half of teens who have seen these images on social networking sites first saw such pictures when they were 13 years of age or younger; more than 90 percent first saw such pictures when they were 15 or younger.
The CASA survey underscores the importance for any parents or caregivers of children to not only be alert to what is transpiring on the computer screen or hand held devices, but also that they must be on the same page about the messages they send to teens. One of the findings states: “Teens whose parents don’t agree completely with each other on what to say to their teen about drug use are more than three times likelier to use marijuana, and three-and-a-half times likelier to expect to try drugs in the future, than teens whose parents agree completely on what to say about drug use. Teens whose parents do not agree completely with each other on what to say to their teen about drinking alcohol are twice as likely to use alcohol as teens whose parents agree completely on what to say about drinking.”
“The loss to the nation’s bright, young people who get caught up in drugs is one of the biggest tragedies we allow”, says Wiggins. “In our centers, we see that these same teens caught up in adolescent use of marijuana and other drugs once they complete the Narconon Drug Rehab Program exhibit qualities of leadership and high creativity any parent would be proud of. We see that parental pride when their sons or daughters graduate.”
Adolescent drug abuse is a growing problem. It can be handled.
For more information on the Narconon programs, please visit http://www.narconon.org/.
http://www.casacolumbia.org/templates/PressReleases.aspx?articleid=650&zoneid=87
http://news.narconon.org/deadly-combination-factors-drives-teens-marijuana-ecstasy-alcohol/
http://www.narconon.org/drug-rehab/drug-rehabilitation-services.html
Synthetic Marijuana Manufacturers Big Problem for DEA
Narconon Addiction Specialists Urge Parents to Stay Alert to Synthetic Pot and Its Risks
On March 1, 2011, the DEA took steps to change this. They evoked emergency powers to put a year-long ban pending testing on five lab-manufactured chemicals contained in these products, JWH-018, JWH-073, CP-47,497, JWH-200, and cannabicyclohexanol. Each substance is a designer drug that mimics the primary psychoactive ingredient, THC, found in marijuana. The chemicals are sprayed onto herbal plant matter that is packaged and sold as aromatic incense. But did this ban solve the problem?
“Unfortunately, the DEA can only ban specific psychoactive chemicals,” explains Bobby Wiggins Drug Prevention Specialist of Narconon International. “As soon as the banned compounds are no longer found in the product, vendors are right back in business. The problem is manufacturing labs are able to make tiny alterations in the molecular structure of the THC-like derivative compounds used, which allows them to replace banned chemicals with new ones that have similar, but possibly more potent properties that are outside DEA jurisdiction.”
Case in point, even as 30 states work to block the sale of K2, an incense product that led to psychosis severe enough to prompt a healthy 18-year-old athlete to shoot himself in the head, K3 arrived on the scene boasting that it was 100% free of banned chemicals and legal in all 50 states. Of course, the new product’s packaging also reads, “not for human consumption.”
Synthetic marijuana has been around for almost two decades but it was largely ignored as few people were impressed by its properties. But In late 2008, herbal incense products started showing up from Europe containing traces of a psychoactive chemical known as HU-210. The compound is a Schedule I controlled substance that can be from 100 to 800 times as potent as THC.
In 2009, Germany banned the sale of another herbal incense-type product, “spice,” because tests revealed it contained JWH-018 and another potent chemical, CP-47 497, developed by a drug company in the 1980s for research purposes. Its effects are three to 28 times more potent than THC.
According to the U.S Department of Justice, between March 2010 and December 2010, U.S. poison control centers received over 2,700 synthetic cannabinoid related calls from 49 states. It’s too soon to say if long-term use of THC derivatives cause permanent harm, but so far there is evidence of damage to the lungs, brain, heart, and other vital organs. Attributed deaths in 2010 were nine.
“With authorities hampered, the burden falls heavily on parents to keep this drug out of kids’ hands,” says Wiggins. “Kids might reason that it is okay because they aren’t breaking any laws, but they are messing with very potent and addictive drugs. If you suspect your son or daughter could be using synthetic marijuana or other drugs, get help”
For more information on the Narconon programs visit www.narconon.org.
Narconon Drug Prevention Specialist Spells out the Danger of Marijuana in Less than One Minute in New Video
Every day, youth receive many conflicting messages about drug use from their friends, movies and music. What is needed to cut through all the noise is clear, precise information about drugs. That’s what this new video from Bobby Wiggins, a drug prevention specialist for decades, now provides.
When a young teen first steps out on his (or her) own, away from his parents’ influence, he is immediately bombarded with confusing and sometimes oppressive influences. She may be influenced about simple things like the proper dress to be fit in with their peers, how much makeup to wear and how late to stay out. Differing opinions among their friends challenge their parents’ teachings.
But independent teenage years also bring far more critical influences and decisions. When is the right time to start being sexually active? And is it right to take drugs? Which drugs are OK? Which ones are dangerous?
Most teens lack the specific guidelines to help them at this time of their lives. Drug education classes lean heavily in the direction of scare tactics and adamant directions that the teens should “not use any drugs” without explaining why that is. Drug education ends up being mired down in conflicting opinions and just become more “orders from grown-ups on what to do.”
To make things worse, the controversy and conflicting ideas that are pushed by media outlets and legislative bodies provide no clear message to teens. Marijuana use is bad… but it’s OK for sick people. Doctors say so. Prescription drug abuse is also bad… but that’s OK for sick people too. Doctors say that as well. Alcohol use is bad, but teens see adults drinking at sports events and social gatherings all the time. And as for the alcohol and drug use in movies and music videos – that’s pretty much a never-ending display of substance abuse.
What teens need is crystal clear information that cuts through the noise, conflict and confusion. A new video from Bobby Wiggins, a drug education specialist for decades, lays the truth about marijuana right on the line. A former addict, Mr. Wiggins knows all too well what happens to youth who lack clear information about drugs. “It’s my mission to prevent people from becoming addicted in the future by teaching young people WHY it’s dangerous to get started using drugs,” explained Mr. Wiggins.
“No one I’ve ever known has intended to become an addict,” he added. “I should know. I’ve helped thousands of people get off drugs after they got trapped in their drug or alcohol abuse. By spreading drug education far and wide, it’s very simple: in the future, there will be fewer addicts who need treatment.”
Mr. Wiggins’ quick and to-the-point video on the primary problems with THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, is available on YouTube at: How long does weed stay in the system?. Mr. Wiggins meets the challenge of fast and clear education in this one minute video that provides enough specific information about marijuana to make the viewer stop and think. And that may just be the moment that can save that young person from thinking that drug use is fine, because “everyone else is doing it.”
Mr. Wiggins learned how to overcome his own addiction through the services of the Narconon drug and alcohol rehabilitation program. From its modest beginning inside the Arizona State Prison system, the Narconon program has grown to provide drug rehab services and drug education classes through more than 120 centers around the world. Mr. Wiggins has helped forward this movement by developing many of the drug education curricula used by Narconon volunteer and staff education specialists. After two decades of developing and delivering classes, he is now utilizing the reach of the internet and posting his drug education messages on YouTube for anyone to see. Anyone can find answers to questions like “How Long do Drugs Stay in the Body?” “Is Ecstasy Safe?” and “What do Drugs do to Your Nervous System?”
“It’s not enough to tell young people ‘just say no.’ They need to be able to think for themselves in all kinds of challenging situations,” Mr. Wiggins offered. “Their best friend lighting up a joint is a powerful inducement to join in. It takes a strong message to enable that young person to maintain an independent viewpoint, right at that moment. That’s what this anti-marijuana video and all my other anti-drug videos are about.”
Narconon drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers send their staff and volunteers out into the community to deliver anti-drug classes to thousands of people annually, focusing on schoolchildren, companies and community groups. Corporate drug education classes can save companies tens of thousands of dollars in losses by preventing addiction among valuable and experienced employees.
Civic groups enlist the participation of Narconon drug education specialists for community events to spread the word about the better life that can be lived when one is drug-free.
For more than 45 years, Narconon centers and staff have been dedicated to the elimination of drug abuse and addiction. Mr. Wiggins and the international network of Narconon centers show no signs of slowing down in the least.
For more information on Narconon drug education services call us or email us at info@narconon.org.
Also another video released earlier this year: Long Term Effects of Weed
Deadly Combination of Factors Drives Up Adolescent Use of Marijuana, Ecstasy and Alcohol
Narconon® Drug Prevention Specialists say teens desperately need information to help them abstain from drug use.
There has been a radical change in how drugs are perceived by American adolescents, which has caught some educators and parents off guard. The study was conducted by the Partnership at Drugfree.org (formerly the Partnership for a Drug Free America). The prestigious organization has released the 22nd in a series of annual surveys involving 2,500 high school students in the United States.
Veteran drug prevention specialist Bobby Wiggins at Narconon International says the results of the survey are not surprising. “If drug prevention is not pushed aggressively and consistently, if teens and preteens are not advised of the factual dangers of using drugs, the likelihood that young people will fall prey to drugs before they reach adulthood is substantially increased as we have seen by this report.”
Overall teenage use of drugs and alcohol declined from 1998 to 2008. However, even during that time, the use of ecstasy and marijuana rose. At the same time, the percentage of teens claiming they drink to combat stress also rose.
Wiggins says that kids today are more inclined to encourage their peers to do drugs because they believe they are not harmful. At the top of their “not harmful list of drugs” are no surprise, alcohol, ecstasy and cannabis.
One in four teens smoked marijuana between 2008 and 2010 – an increase of seven per cent. The use of ecstasy in the past year rose from six to 10 per cent. Almost 50 per cent of high school students did not view heavy drinking as a “great risk.” Six in ten said they had their first full alcoholic drink by age 15. One in five claim they drink because of school stress.
Slightly better news – there’s been little evidence of relaxing attitudes regarding methamphetamines, cocaine or heroin amongst those surveyed.” Overall, teens are wary of drugs they believe are addicting; but it is wishful thinking that this will protect them once they engage in drug use,” says Wiggins. ”
The survey also found that parents feel unprepared to respond to underage drinking by their children and almost a third felt there is very little parents can do to prevent their kids from trying alcohol.
“We know that when we give teens straight information about drugs and alcohol they are far more inclined to make the decision to stay drug and alcohol free. But if they lack vital information about drugs and their effects, they are extremely vulnerable to invitations to use drugs,” says Wiggins.
Narconon’s experts urge parents and educators to renew commitment to drug prevention education. Narconon drug education presentations have resulted in drastic change in the attitudes of teens and preteens toward drug taking. For those who have already gotten caught in the trap, Narconon Drug Rehabilitation Centers can help young people get back on track. “It is a terrible thing to stand by while your child’s life unravels because of drugs,” says Wiggins, “It doesn’t have to happen.”
If you want to help someone or have questions, please call 1-800-775-8750 or email info@narconon.org.
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