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

inmytree

here we go again....

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080509/ap_on_he_me/teens_drugs

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

By JENNIFER C. KERR, Associated Press Writer 2 hours, 47 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - 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.
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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."

Pacomc79

define depression or ADD Or Bipolar... geez. All RIDICULOUSLY OVERPRESCRIBED "conditions". Maybe there are simply too many psycologists in the world kind of like lawyers and politicians. Teenagers are the most emotionally waffling group of people on the planet, I'd be MORE worried if they weren't ever depressed.

I could use exactly the same study to describe alcohol or cigarettes.

I imagine they wasted plenty of money in this study....


Thier conclusions in this story could have nothing at all to do with Marijuana use. Marijuana users are by nature more likely to be rebellious as are most teenagers by nature (obviously it's breaking the law so is alcohol use but that is socially accepted) The depression could come from breaking up of a family, depression about grades...girls/boys. what have you. People naturally are emotional. Being depressed is a NATURAL emotion as a teenager. Smoking pot and or listening to music is a past time... some grow out of it, some take it up as a hobby and or lifestyle just like anything else.


THis is an unbelievably hilarious study. What a waste of money. Might as well do a Channel 2 ACTION NEWS piece to scare parents about toad licking.


This is like saying teens who have parents who smoke are more likely to smoke.

Teens that have friends in gangs are more likely to join gangs....dirt is brown, the sky is blue.

Do you think they actually read this stuff or proofread them before they are published to read how shot full of holes they are?

Who the fuck authorizes these worthless trainwreck "studies" ? oh wait... that's right... nevermind.

NMyTree

This the same White House that has permitted the FDA to pass and approve countless pharmaceutical drugs, which have either killed or severly damamged thousands upon thousands of people, right?


This is the same White House that swore there were WMD in Iraq, right?

Seems to me the White House doesn't know it's ass from it's elbow, about anything.

They should just shut the fuck up and stay out of people's lives.

NMyTree

Pacomc79 wrote:

define depression or ADD Or Bipolar... geez. All RIDICULOUSLY OVERPRESCRIBED "conditions". Maybe there are simply too many psycologists in the world kind of like lawyers and politicians. Teenagers are the most emotionally waffling group of people on the planet, I'd be MORE worried if they weren't ever depressed.

I could use exactly the same study to describe alcohol or cigarettes.

I imagine they wasted plenty of money in this study....

Exactly. Just another huge pile of crap being shoveled by the White House.

I'd like to see all the numbers, details and paperwork on this alleged study.

Seems to me they simply sat down, watched Reefer Madness, took notes and called it a study.

The War On Marijuana.......continues

Hell, I don't even smoke it.

But I'm considering taking it up just in an act of defiance:D

Pacomc79

NMyTree wrote:

Exactly. Just another huge pile of crap being shoveled by the White House.

I'd like to see all the numbers, details and paperwork on this alleged study.

Seems to me they simply sat down, watched Reefer Madness, took notes and called it a study.

The War On Marijuana.......continues

Hell, I don't even smoke it.

But I'm considering taking it up just in an act of defiance:D

I'm with you. I don't smoke it either, Probably wouldn't even if it were legal... but my gosh... This passes as a study?

macgyver06

when i smoke sometimes it makes me get off the subject im talking about... its really not that big of a problem.. I mean its a horse!? they are meant to run... if they get hurt... and cant run anymore.. you have to put them down.... but thats still no reason to bet on dog races.

josevolution

macgyver06 wrote:

when i smoke sometimes it makes me get off the subject im talking about... its really not that big of a problem.. I mean its a horse!? they are meant to run... if they get hurt... and cant run anymore.. you have to put them down.... but thats still no reason to bet on dog races.

he he he ..

Snake

I dont have any scientific knowledge or personal experience, but I think for the most part its all about who takes it. Some people get effected by others dont. I think its also the reason your using it. Same with cigarettes, somepoepl smoke all there lives, dont get anything but bad skin and a raspy voice. Others smoke a lot for 4 years and die. Its all about the person to me.

Again this is just my opinion, not based on anything really.

FinsburyParkCarrots

In the meantime, there's flouride in the water and Aspartame in God knows what else.

Commy

so. I used to grow chronic. The goddamn top of the line ganja. We had more weed to smoke than we needed. We were shakin the buds to get the pure thc crystals, and taking straigt bonghits of keef. HAve I had any adverse affects? Yes. Not to sound like a drug counselor but I am still dealing with the side affects. Too much of a good thing catches up to you it seems.

If I had to do it over again I would though. That was such a positive experience in my live. Gettiung so fucking high nothing really mattered, I might trade it for peace of mind-but little else. we had fun.

my2hands

take 2 and pass

elmer

the "strong silent type" are now reckoned as potential columbines....... the self-pitying cry-babys get all the attention, s'what they want hence their proliferation in this age.

Vedderlution_Baby

But coke can put you in the white house

bootlegger10

Vedderlution_Baby! wrote:

But coke can put you in the white house

Does coke also keep someone from MOVING ON!

Vedderlution_Baby

bootlegger10 wrote:

Does coke also keep someone from MOVING ON!

I don't know. Why not ask the people who are so up in arms about marijuana.

12345AGNST1

Oh no another reason why pot is so bad.... when will they ever give up?

I smoke pot, its great. Maybe that journalist should try it and lighten up.

he still stands

12345AGNST1 wrote:

Oh no another reason why pot is so bad.... when will they ever give up?

I smoke pot, its great. Maybe that journalist should try it and lighten up.

Its much better than Xanax, thats for sure. The key with any "drug" is discipline. Don't sit around and "do drugs" all day, but a couple nights a week or on the weekends is cool. All of the people close to me are pot smokers and they all are very successful, no depression (that I know of), kind and generous people.

LaterDays

So... does marijuana cause depression in kids, or are kids who suffer from depression more likely to smoke pot?

Anyway, I like this headline better: Marijuana chemical may treat depression

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/11/06/2082792.htm

I smoked throughout high school, smoked (heavily) throughout Physics undergrad program, smoked throughout Law school, and I smoke now. I've never experienced anything close to what could be considered "depression." As Willy Nelson said (paraphrased): "Stress is one of the leading causes of death in this country... and marijuana happens to be the number one cure for stress."

MerkingBoy

I see how I fucked my life. :(

Collin

I just did a study. I called all my friends, they're all pretty damn happy!

Conclusion; marijuana makes people happy.


"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."



Damn hippies!

Anyway, sounds like a typical teenage kid to me.

searchlightsoul

he still stands wrote:

Its much better than Xanax, thats for sure. The key with any "drug" is discipline. Don't sit around and "do drugs" all day, but a couple nights a week or on the weekends is cool. All of the people close to me are pot smokers and they all are very successful, no depression (that I know of), kind and generous people.

Most post-grad students I know smoke weed. There also damn smart, focused and disciplined people.