Banner Graphic, Volume 15, Number 279, Greencastle, Putnam County, 9 July 1985 — Page 30

had tried it, and 5.5 percent were daily users. While children under the age of 12 were not surveyed, many in the 12 to 17 age group reported that they first tried marijuana, and even started smoking it regularly, while they were still in grade school—and probably before their parents even suspected they knew about the drug. What happens if you drive after smoking marijuana? Marijuana delays a person's response to sights and sounds —so that it takes a driver longer to react to a dangerous situation. The ability to perform sequential tasks can also be affected by smoking marijuana. As a result, a marijuana smoker's biggest driving problems occur when faced with unexpected events, such as a car approaching from a side street or a child running out from between parked cars. The greater the demands of a driving situation, the less able the marijuana user will be to cope. The driver who doesn't feel high may still be under the influence of marijuana, since its effects may last for several hours after the high has passed. The combined use of marijuana and alcohol is more hazardous than the use of either alone. But combined use is becoming widespread; one researcher reported that nearly half of regular marijuana users combine alcohol with marijuana use. Surveys have indicated that from 60 to 80 percent of marijuana users sometimes drive while high. Marijuana's effects on the body. Most of the information on marijuana's effects on the body has been established through studies on both humans and animals, some only by research on animals. Stringent U.S. drug-testing laws require that most research be conducted on men over 18; very few studies have involved women, and none have used adolescents. Marijuana research is relatively new by scientific standards. Many more years and additional studies will be needed before the long-term of marijuana use are fully known. How long does marijuana stay in the body after it is smoked? When marijuana is smoked, THC, its active ingredient, is absorbed by many tissues and organs in the body. The body, in its attempt to rid itself of the foreign substance, chemically transforms the THC into metabolites. Human tests on blood and urine can detect THC metabolites up to a week after marijuana is smoked. Tests involving radioactively labeled THC have traced these metabolites in animals for up to a month. Can marijuana cause brain damage? To date, no definitive neurological study of humans has turned up evidence of marijuana-related permanent brain

What Can Parents Do?

Sooner or later, nearly all youngsters find themselves in situations in which they must decide whether or not to take drugs. These decisions are especially hard to make in the midst of conflicting information, peer pressure, curiosity, and the many other influences that are part of adolescence. If your child has not tried marijuana, consider yourself fortunate, but do not discount the possibility that it could happen sometime in the future. Learn the facts and be prepared to answer questions or deal with the situation if it should occur. If you think your child has tried marijuana or may even be smoking it regularly, try to remain calm. Outbursts of anger and emotion can only interfere with your ability to communicate with your child. Open communication between you and your child is essential. If you find yourself unable to control your feelings, consider bringing in a third party whose advice and counsel will be respected by both you and your child. It your child was tne one who told you about using marijuana, you should be

damage. However, in a recent study c rhesus monkeys, the animals were trained to smoke a marijuana cigarette 5 days a week for 6 months The researcher reported that persistent changes in the structure of the monkeys' brain cells followed. Further research is ongoing. Some researchers feel that the possibility of subtle and lasting changes in brain function from heavy and continuous marijuana use cannot be ruled out. How does marijuana affect the heart? Marijuana use increases the heart rate as much as 50 percent and can bring on chest pain in people already experiencing a poor blood supply to the heart. Smoking marijuana can be especially harmful to people with heart conditions, or those who are at high risk for heart ailments. How does marijuana affect the lungs? Scientists believe that marijuana can be particularly harmful to the lungs because some users inhale the unfiltered smoke deeply and hold it in their lungs as long as possible, thereby keeping the smoke in contact with lung tissue for prolonged periods. Repeated inhalation of smoke, whether marijuana or tobacco, inflames the lungs and affects pulmonary functions. In one study on humans, it was found that smoking five joints a week over time is more irritating to the air passages and impairs the lungs' ability to exhale air than smoking almost six packs of cigarettes a week. Another animal study using marijuana in dose levels similar to daily human use found that extensive lung inflammation developed after 3 months to a year of use. Can marijuana cause cancer? While marijuana smoke has been found to contain cancer-causing agents similar to those in tobacco smoke, there is no direct evidence so far that marijuana can cause cancer in humans. However, biopsies of human lung tissue chronically exposed to marijuana smoke in a laboratory showed cellular changes called metaplasia that are considered precancerous. In laboratory tests, the tars from marijuana smoke have producted tumors when applied to animal skin. Does marijuana affect the body's ability to fight infection? This question remains unresolved. Some reports suggest that white cell formation central to the body's immune response is affected by heavy marijuana smoking. Some laboratory animal studies have found that the immune response is significantly suppressed in mice and rats subjected to high doses of marijuana. Other studies have not confirmed these findings. Because the immune response is so important to good health, long-term studies are essential to determine if marijuana users become more susceptible to disease.

proud that you created the atmosphere that encouraged your child to confide in you. As you discuss marijuana with your son or daughter, try to find out why he or she smokes and how often. The reasons most often cited are, "Because everybody else does" or "It makes me feel good." A closer look may reveal that your child smokes marijuana to avoid rejection by the other kids, to overcome shyness, or to cope with boredom or feelings of failure. If you suspect your child may be smoking marijuana to get your attention, take a look at your relationship. Perhaps spending more time with your child is called for. Consider planning activities together, away from home, school, and business pressures. Try listening and becoming sensitive to your child's feelings and problems, no matter how trivial they seem. If your child smokes marijuana regularly, consider seeking help from a doctor or other health professional. You may have to do this without the youngster's consent.

Do you know how to recognize Alcohol/Chemical Dependency? Chemical dependency is a chronic, progressive, multiphasic, treatable illness, resulting from a wide variety of factors. Often the use of alcohol or mood altering drugs has progressed slowly from a simple pleasure, to habit, to a debilitating illness. The illness affects the person, the family and others. Some symptoms are: □ Drinking/Using more and more all the time. □ Being capable of handling more. □ Having problems in job and family life. □ Going on the wagon, trying to quit. □ Getting upset when people talk about drinking/using. □ Avoiding places where alcohol/drugs are not used. □ Having blackouts. □ Feeling guilty. □ Drinking/using in the morning. □ Skipping meals when drinking/using. □ Losing control of use. The realization that there is a problem in your life or someone close to you is the first step toward seeking assistance.

It takes community effort...

A community drug problem is best solved through a community effort. Parents need to know that together they can have an even more lasting effect. First, it's important that all parents attempt to work together as a unit. Peer pressure among adolescents is enormous, and if a large percentage of kids are being subjected to the same rules and regulations, the job will be easier. You will probably find, in fact, a sense of relief among many adolescents once parents reassert their authority. Parents must get involved. They could start by calling the parents of their child's friends and asking them to join a support

Definitions for Various Levels of Drinking Heavy Drinkers Persons who drink every day. If they drink twice or more each day, they need only consume one or two drinks. If they drink less than that, they typically drink three or four drinks and occasionally will have five or six drinks. Moderate Drinkers Persons who drink at least once a month but typically several times during a month; for example, someone who drinks a couple of drinks every day but occasionally (less than half the time) has three or four drinks, would be classified as a moderate drinker. Similary, the person who only drinks once or twice a week and usually will have five or six drinks would be considered a moderate drinker. Light Drinkers Persons who drink at least once a month, but typically limit their consumption to one or two drinks on any occasion; someone, tor example, who drinks every day or nearly every day but never has more than one or two drinks would be considered a light drinker. Infrequent Drinkers Persons who drink a least once a year, but less than once a month. Abstainers Persons who drink no alcoholic beverages as often as once a year.

group to explore mutual problems and solutions. Care should be taken not to judge or accuse any parent. Discuss the facts and the children's attitudes toward marijuana, alcohol and other drugs. Above all, communicate to parents that they need to do something to show their kids that they love and care about them. Preventing illegal drug use by schoolage children may be difficult, but it's not impossible. Keep in mind that the children involved are going through a very difficult time in their lives. "Nice" kids, "good" kids are as likely to experiment with drugs as anyone else.