Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 4 December 2008 — Page 21

The Muncie Times • December 4, 208 • Page 21

Increase in Marijuana Seizures Matches Increase in Admissions to Addiction Treatment

In recent years, there's been an increasing trend toward domestic cultivation of marijuana, often by the same groups of Mexican drug traffickers that have brought the drugs across the borders for years. Other ethnic groups have joined them in this activity, including Asian and Cuban drug trafficking organizations. Until very recently, most of these groups cultivated marijuana in heavily guarded outdoor plots, often using federal or state lands, putting tourists, sheriffs and park rangers at risk. The most recent trend is toward indoor grows, converting single-family homes into hydroponic marijuana gardens. Hydroponic marijuana is

generally more potent than other forms, and demands a higher price. Figures on seizure tell the tale of expansion. Number of plants seized has increased from 2.6 million plants in 2000 to 4.8 million plants in 2006. This means that there is plenty of supply for the more than two million people who start using marijuana each year at the average age of 17.4 years. Studies show that those who start using marijuana at age 14 or younger have twice the chance of becoming dependent on the drug as someone who starts at age 15-17. It's estimated that each year, more than 4 million people are dependent on or abusers of marijuana. This

means that they use enough to damage their life but continue despite the harmful effects. Admissions to treatment have steadily increased right along with the drug's average potency, increas - - ing from just under 150.000 in 1994 to nearly 300.000 in 2006. "There are plenty of people who may tell you that you can't get addicted to this drug and that it is not damaging to smoke it," stated Derry Hallmark, Director of Admissions and Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor at Narconon Arrowhead. Narconon Arrowhead is one of the country's leading drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers, located in Canadian, Oklahoma.

"Those who come to Narconon for rehabilitation for help with an addiction to this drug would say differently. Just like with any other drug, users can become dependent on the effects of marijuana so that they don't think they can feel 'normal' and function in life unless they use the drug. But just like any other drug, we can help them recover their drugfree life. "Seventy percent of our graduates stay drug-free after they complete this program because they have fully addressed the cravings, guilt and depression they suffered before they came here," Mr. Hallmark added. "The Narconon program is an long-term residential alternative to

traditional 28-day treatment programs, and works in a entirely drug-free way to help a person build a new life free from addiction." Find help for any kind of addiction by calling Narconon Arrowhead at 1-800-468-6933 for a free addiction assessment. Or visit their website at www.stopaddiction.com. The Narconon program was founded in 1966 by William Benitez in Arizona State prison, and is based on the humanitarian works of L. Ron Hubbard. In more than 120 centers around the world, Narconon programs restore drug and alcohol abusers and addicts to a clean and sober li f yle.

(Dog) Gcme But Not Uorpotten f ByMcKJnsey *

In 1899, a cartoonist drew a cartoon predicting that a bridge for trolley traffic would be built from Mew York to London by the uoth century. In 1913 ? a woman made a parachute jump for the first time. In 1980, Joe Bowen, of Powell County, Kentucky, set a world record by walking 3,008 miles on stilts from his home to Los Angeles.

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In :194.0, heavyweight boxer Gene Tunney te in “Reader’s Digest’' about three likely resu ’ smoking. Fie said smokers would “smell so strong ^ .01 s will never bite you/’ “you will cough in your sieep and so robbers will not try to steal your belongings,” and “you will have many diseases...and die young.”