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Feds: Teen use of pot can lead to dependency, mental illness

By JENNIFER C. KERR,
AP
Posted: 2008-05-09 00:38:18
WASHINGTON (AP) - Depression, teens and marijuana are a dangerous mix that can lead to dependency, mental illness or suicidal thoughts, according to a White House report being released Friday.

A teen who has been depressed at some point in the past year is more than twice as likely to have used marijuana as teens who have not reported being depressed - 25 percent compared with 12 percent, said the report by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.

"Marijuana is a more consequential substance of abuse than our culture has treated it in the last 20 years," said John Walters, director of the office. "This is not just youthful experimentation that they'll get over as we used to think in the past."

Smoking marijuana can lead to more serious problems, Walters said in an interview.

For example, using marijuana increases the risk of developing mental disorders by 40 percent, the report said. And teens who smoke pot at least once a month over a yearlong period are three times more likely to have suicidal thoughts than nonusers, it said.

The report also cited research that showed that teens who smoke marijuana when feeling depressed were more than twice as likely as their peers to abuse or become addicted to pot - 8 percent compared with 3 percent.

Experts who have worked with children say there's nothing harmless about marijuana.

"I've seen many, many kids' lives negatively impacted and taken off track because of marijuana," said Elizabeth Stanley-Salazar, director of adolescent services for Phoenix House treatment centers in California. "It's somewhat Russian roulette. There are so many factors, emotional, psychological, biological. You can't predict the experimentation and how it will impact a kid."

The drug control policy office analyzed about a dozen studies looking at marijuana use, including research by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Overall, marijuana use among teens has decreased 25 percent since 2001, down to about 2.3 million kids who used pot at least once a month, the drug control office said.

While the drop is encouraging, Walters appealed to parents to recognize signs of possible drug use and depression.

"It's not something you look the other way about when your teen starts appearing careless about their grooming, withdrawing from the family, losing interest in daily activities," Walters said. "Find out what's wrong."

On the Net:

White House Office of National Drug Control Policy: http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
05/09/08 00:36 EDT
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Recent Comments

1 - 10 of 95
95 comments

erink91321 09:17:30 PM May 09 2008

Since the Government commisioned this study then it also needs to commission a study on the effects of Genetic Food Modification, Pollution, The New Pesticides, The New Fuel Additives, The Backfire effects of Atempted Weather Control, The Known Harmful effects of Cell Phone Towers Etc Which All are Harmful to the Health of Animals, Humans and Benificial Insects alike. We Must Demand a study and a Solution to the above Problems. Our Health Depends on it. These Problems pose a far greater challange than someone who smokes

phutchthedog 02:34:03 PM May 09 2008

If you don't believe that long-term marijuana use fries your brain, take a careful look at the comments from a certain young man, within the first ten responses listed. He admits to regular pot use for the past 11 years, and says he is "smarter" than his non-using peers, but is unable to draft a coherent sentence.

emeraldnredding 02:33:32 PM May 09 2008

renega- Only those who know you and also your doctor knows how its affected you.

emeraldnredding 02:30:45 PM May 09 2008

It must be true that pot heads are mentally incapacitated because they are so defensive that they always bring up alcohol as a way to cover their own marijuana
habit.

renega7402 02:13:37 PM May 09 2008

I guess i've been mentally ill for 36 years

renega7402 02:10:47 PM May 09 2008

this just in feds say teens and alcohol lead to dependence, depression and suicidal thoughts

senorrae 02:04:25 PM May 09 2008

Man good news guys i didnt shot myself but i jammed my toes on my desk. And I'm really hunger that i can kill someone...if I werent so high.

camdriven 01:54:50 PM May 09 2008

Gather all the world's supply of pot, dump it into a huge volcano and presto!......No more wars, senseless crimes, hatred, terrorists, etc., because everyone would be too busy giggling at each other and too buzzed to even think of anything but candy and ice cream.... Wow! What a concept!!! Anybody with me on this?!?

senorrae 01:53:06 PM May 09 2008

Man, all this is making me depressed. I'm going to smoke endo. Please guys pray that I dont blow my brains out. If i do my pipe collection is going on ebay and my friends are going to smoke my remains. And Timmy if you read this dont smoke my pole you faggot.

senorrae 01:47:55 PM May 09 2008

What actually passes off as a study? If the government is doing another study on pot just sign me up. I ve smoked pot since I was 14, that was 11 years ago. And contrary to popular believe...I am smarter and more success then my peers who never smoked, also more relaxed. I remember one of my high school classmates tell me that he would make more money than me and have a better job because he never smoked. The truth is I make a little under 100,000 a year and dude works as a busy-boy at a resturante that my pothead friend owns.(Well its cause dude still goes to college...but i graduated before he did) I guess potheads laugh first and last but then forget what thier laughing about.

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