While drug abuse can occur anywhere, among any group of people, different drugs tend to be more prevalent in certain circles. This makes sense because people often do the drugs that are easiest for them to get their hands on, or experiment with what friends or co-workers are using.

As odd as it may sound, it seems that even Wall Street professionals follow the crowd at times when it comes to drug abuse. A list of drug test data was recently compiled that showed trends among investors. While cocaine used to be high on the list of Wall Street users, it has dropped in popularity. Found in 16% of positive tests in 2007, in 2008 it was only found in 7% of positive tests. The drug of choice now, by far, is marijuana, coming in at 80% of positive tests. Amphetamines are also growing in popularity, up to 10% in 2008 from 3% a few years ago.

Wall Street is a place of fast-paced business, long hours, and grueling responsibilities. It might not surprise us to hear that even these kinds of professionals are sometimes taken over by substance abuse. For these men and women, it usually begins as a feeling of entitlement. They have huge paychecks and successful jobs, they endure hard work and stress; therefore they deserve to treat themselves to some drugs now and then. But the stress doesn’t end, and in fact it builds, and these business people go from occasional user to addict.

Ignoring a Drug Problem

The overall incidence of drug abuse for Wall Street professionals doesn’t seem to be that high, compared to national averages. In a country where 3.6% of the workforce tests positive for drugs, only 2% of the investment industry failed drug tests last year. This doesn’t necessarily mean these business people use drugs less than other workers. It simply means they are getting caught less often. Random drug tests are not as common on Wall Street as they are in many factory settings, for example. And given the power and money that Wall Street investors hold, some employers simply deny that their workers have a problem. If the employee is holding their own and staying productive, some employers will be careful not to cause a stir, even if it means looking the other way when they know an employee is using drugs.

Getting Help

The personality of many investment bankers may be prone to addiction. These are the risk-taking controllers who are under a great deal of pressure. But they are also the kind of people that will do their best to balance an addiction with a full time job. They are hard working, love to live a fast-paced life, and they don’t easily quit.

But it is necessary for even these people to get help for an addiction. There are many detox and rehab facilities that have programs specifically designed to help business men and women. Luxury rehab facilities are often able to whisk the person away, treat them, and get them back to their office in no time. It is important, however, for these professionals to dedicate enough time to recovery and that they continue to work at sobriety after they return.

Sources

Pot Soars on Wall Street, Real Estate Investors Just High All the Time

Wall Street Pee Tests Expose Startling New Drug Trend: Less Coke Snorting, More Pot-Smoking

Wall Street Drug Use: Employees Giving Up Cocaine for Pot and Pills

As treatment specialists, counselors, and educators, it is the job of many to keep an eye on substance abuse statistics. It is also important for teachers, law enforcement, government, and parents to follow and be aware of what teens are up to, and how their drug and alcohol use is increasing or decreasing. But we need to be careful that we do not put too much weight behind numbers and statistics. These can easily be manipulated, and can either frighten us or lure us into a false sense of security. A more accurate way to look at adolescent drug abuse would be to study 5 or 10 year trends, which will tell if the increase or decrease is likely to have significant meaning in the long run.

Monitoring the Future (MTF) is a survey that measures drug, alcohol, and tobacco use and the attitudes of teenagers toward these substances. MTF has given us data on our nation’s teens since 1975. The survey is funded by NIDA and is conducted by the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research.

Positive Statistics

The results from the MTF survey from 2009 are in general very positive. According to the research, there were drops in tobacco, methamphetamine (from 2.3% to 1.6%), cocaine (from 4.4% to 3.4%), alcohol, and hallucinogen (from 5.9% to 4.7%) use among 8-12^th graders. It seems that adolescents’ attitudes towards substance abuse are also more encouraging. Teens now see certain drugs and alcohol as harmful, and do not believe these drugs are very available to students anymore. These trends have been positive in these areas for the past 5 years, as more and more students become more educated and aware of the risks for drug abuse.

These trends are great; they are exactly what we want to see among our young people. But we have to be careful not to get too relaxed and think we are doing a good enough job with drug prevention. We still need to educate more youth, and there are still plenty of kids that are abusing these substances that need our help.

Negative Statistics

On the other hand, marijuana is still being used just as often by students as five years ago, and teens don’t really even see marijuana as dangerous. Prescription drug abuse has been steadily increasing, as well as inhalant abuse. These two forms of drug abuse are the newest trend, and they are replacing the old ways of getting high. But again, if we focus too much on an increase in numbers of kids getting high with inhalants or prescription painkillers, we can trick ourselves into generalizing that all teens are doing these things, or at least are exposed to them. We need to empower our adolescents and let them know that they are not alone, that there are many other teens that have made the commitment to stay clean also.

With cautious optimism we should prepare our students for the world and its peer pressure. Educate them, teach them the risks, and warn them about statistical trends. But then encourage them and give them confidence because they can indeed be one of the many that do stay clean.

Sources

Teen Drug Abuse Continues Its Three-Year Decline

Statistics on Teen Drug Abuse

Youth Trends

SAMHSA

Even though it is considered by some to be the most harmless illegal drug there is, marijuana still causes a lot of problems. In a handful of states, marijuana is legal for medicinal purposes. This comes after years of advocates pushing for the drug to be legalized for patients, to treat things like chronic pain, nausea, and anxiety. Many people are trying to make marijuana completely legal, but that kind of progression seems pretty far off.

Medicinal Marijuana

For those states that do permit marijuana for medical purposes, authorities are having a hard time enforcing the laws regarding this substance. While they need to and want to maintain the rights of patients, lines are often blurred between medicinal use and recreational use. If police go after pot growers who are supplying for users for illegal recreational purposes, they run the risk of cutting off the supply also for patients who use it legally. Unless you legalize marijuana possession for growers, dispensaries, and distributers, there will be a negative effect on patients. But, if all these other people are allowed into the loop to supply it to patients, you can expect that some will be selling it to others who aren’t patients as well. The way some of these states are enforcing or not enforcing marijuana use has caused havoc for both authorities and patients.

Marijuana and Teens

Many people feel strongly one way or another about the place marijuana holds in our society. There is much support for the legalization of marijuana to relieve pain and distress to patient. But in many ways, even this is causing an obstacle for certain other groups of people, including teens and adolescents, who are easily influenced about things like drugs. A recent study done by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) suggests that the medical marijuana issue is causing confusion among teens about the seriousness of marijuana and drugs in general. Many teens today think that marijuana is not that bad for them to use, since it is legal for some patients. The result is that marijuana usage in teens is on the rise again and more teens are even in need of treatment for the habit.

Effects of Marijuana

Then there’s the question of what marijuana does to the mind and body. It may not be as addicting as painkillers, or as life-threatening as heroin, but marijuana does have negative effects on the body. It slows the brain, it effects motor coordination, and it increases heart rate. Over time, marijuana is thought to cause brain damage, including memory loss and learning problems. Some people may deny it, but marijuana also is both physically and psychologically addicting. Part of the danger with marijuana is that it is often seen as so harmless. Many people are drawn into just trying marijuana, but then they find themselves years down the line, still using it, or moving on to more dangerous drugs. Before they know it they have lost control of their lives. We need to set boundaries with this drug, and make it clear to young people that it is dangerous to get caught up with any kind of substance.

Sources

Medical marijuana-The legal questions

Medical-pot bill one political puff away from passage

Medical marijuana blurs lines on dangers for teens

For most visitors, Canada has been the perfect host for this year’s Winter Olympics. They have friendly citizens, top of the line facilities, and beautiful scenery. The weather has been a bit unpredictable, but if that’s the biggest problem with the Olympics this year, the Canadians have put on a pretty winning event.

Marijuana Friendly City 

Vancouver has been successful in keeping their rowdies quiet, not talking too much about their heroin and methamphetamine addicts, and not bringing up their homeless or their crime statistics. It is a lovely place, and people are friendly and very welcoming. In fact, to some people it has been too friendly. While athletes are not allowed to use any kind of drugs, the city of Vancouver has been dubbed a “marijuana friendly city”. Marijuana is not officially legal in British Columbia except for medicinal use, but as long as people are not causing harm because of it, the police will generally not stop them. Many shops line the streets of Vancouver that sell all sorts of drug paraphernalia, including fancy bongs, designer glass hookahs, and other smoking devices. Shops, such as the Cannabis Culture Magazine Shop, are almost commonplace, as well as advertisements for the different kinds of marijuana people can buy.

British Columbia first made a name for itself as a pot smoking area when local athlete Ross Rebagliati tested positive in the 1998 Winter Games, but was not penalized because he claimed he had been exposed to pot at a local Vancouver party. Many locals use marijuana regularly and openly. Vancouver even had a short run of the marijuana Olympics at the Herb Museum in 2008, but that was soon shut down.

Stepping Up Patrols

But just because British Columbia is known for its leniency toward drugs doesn’t mean all the expectations of visitors are going to come true. Much of the marijuana use has slipped underground while visitors are in town. So while pot-minded visitors may be hoping to be allowed or even encouraged to get stoned with the locals, this might not be the case.

Authorities in Vancouver have stepped up security in an effort to protect both safety and the city’s image. Local establishments like the ones at Whistler have seen an increase in police presence, something that is usually minimal. The police force has more than doubled during the Olympics, sending 60 police out to patrol the party scene.

The result is that while normally active bars and establishments are usually jumping on weekends, there has been an apparent lower-keyed atmosphere. Some locals are disappointed that they aren’t able to show the area’s true colors, but for those focused on the competitions at hand, the city is doing a good job of welcoming their guests from around the world.

Near Olympics, Vancouver’s (mostly) legal drug zone

Revelers say Whistler cops are killing the buzz

Let’s talk about that elephant in the closet, BC

Cool Canadians are flying high, and dodging bears while we do it

Pothead or stoner is a term often used to refer to someone who regularly smokes marijuana. The term, although derogatory, is often fitting, as marijuana tends to mellow the mind. A recent story about a pot grower from Florida who fell for the police’s ransom note illustrates this point perfectly.

Steven Locasio of Marathon, Florida, was recently picked up for cultivation and sale of marijuana after he fell for one of the oldest tricks in the book. Police found Locasio’s plot of 6 marijuana plants growing in a wooded lot, but weren’t able to trace it back to the person responsible. So they seized the plants, and as a last ditch effort, left a fake ransom note saying, “Thanks for the grow! You want them back? Call for the price…We’ll talk.” It didn’t take Locasio long to take the bait and call the ransom number, ready to negotiate. When he met to buy the plants back for $200, he was surprised to find out it was the police he was dealing with.

Marijuana and Brain Damage

While it may be debated whether or not this guy should win the dumbest pothead award, you can’t deny that doing drugs interferes with intelligence. Some drugs actually seem to “fry” the brain, just as the anti-drug tv campaign from the 1980’s stated. People do dumb things all the time when on drugs. The majority of crimes that are committed are drug-related. Sometimes it is because the person is so desperate to get their hands on their drugs that they will do anything to get them. Other times, a person’s judgment is just clouded because of the drug use. Many drugs, however, physically change the chemistry of the brain. A new study done in 2009 at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre in Montreal showed that marijuana caused long lasting changes in serotonin and norepinephrine levels of the brain. This causes increased anxiety, stress, and depression, even after the marijuana use has stopped. Marijuana has also been found to impact the user’s cognition and emotion. All these effects on the brain should be a concern for those that use marijuana, and when the exposure is more frequent or carries on for an extended period of time, you can expect the damage to be even worse.

So while those under the influence of marijuana may seem laid back and relaxed, the drug is actually causing long-term or permanent damage to the brain. Problem solving, memory, concentration and perception may all show the effects. Marijuana may also affect the rest of the body adversely. Rapid heart beat, low blood pressure, respiratory problems, and decreased immune system function are all possible side effects.

Marijuana is one of those substances that many people don’t see the harm in. It is the most commonly used recreational drug and because it doesn’t cause fatal overdoses, many see it as harmless. But based on the evidence of recent studies, as well as other known adverse effects of marijuana, it should be avoided just like other drugs.

Sources

Fla. Cops Hold Pot Plants Hostage, Leave Ransom Note for “Dumbest” Grower

Teen Marijuana Use Might Have Lasting Effects on Mood, Anxiety

Mind Over Matter: Marijuana

The Health Effects of Marijuana

The baby boom generation has been the subject of many studies over the years. This generation, usually categorized as individuals born between 1946 and 1955, is known for its large size, its love of rock and roll music, and its strong political stances. A new study released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) tells of another, more alarming characteristic. The study reports that 9.4 % of people in the 50-59 age group today have done drugs in the past year. This is an increase of 4% in the last 12 months, the highest increase of any age group.

The report goes on to say that 90% of these baby boomers that use drugs today began using them before they were 30. What this study shows is that people in this age group, that once started recreationally using marijuana, cocaine, and other drugs, are still at it today. While many generations tend to grow out of things like drug and alcohol abuse, this group doesn’t seem like it is going to.

Recreational Drug Use

There are a few reasons that we can speculate as to why some baby boomers still use drugs today in their 50’s and 60’s. First of all, this group was the first one to extensively use drugs for recreation. It was the culture of the 60’s; the pot-smoking, cocaine-trying teens and 20 somethings that felt drugs enhanced their way of living. It was and still is simply the way of life for many.

Prescription Painkillers

Another thing that caused this generation to keep using drugs is that during their life, prescription painkillers became widely available. Drugs had become a quick fix for many things including stress and anxiety, and now pain was solved by powerful painkillers. This generation didn’t have to be convinced to take medicine for pain, leading to the problem of painkiller addiction that so many are suffering with today.

Resistant to Treatment

Thirdly, when baby boomers were younger, it was not culturally acceptable for people to admit to an addiction problem and seek help for it. Because of this, baby boomers kept on doing the drugs or abusing alcohol through the years, never getting help.

The future of baby boomers might cause some concern in our country today. Baby boomers may require more medical care as they age because of the toll the drugs have taken on their bodies. Add this to social security and health care concerns because of the large size of this population and it causes some to worry that our system won’t be able to support all the baby boomers as they get older.  

Time will tell how serious the problem of baby boomers aging will be. With a large focus in our country of help and treatment for substance abuse, many people in their 50’s and 60’s are now beginning to get treatment. We need to encourage treatment for everyone with an addiction. It’s never too late to ask for help.

Sources

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=8341707&page=1

http://ezinearticles.com/?Baby-Boomers-Addiction-and-Alcoholism-May-Take-Down-Medicare-and-Social-Security-Programs&id=1087785

http://www.usnews.com/blogs/planning-to-retire/2009/08/20/baby-boomers-still-using-illegal-drugs.html

It’s the beginning of another season of football, and another pro sports player is in trouble with substance abuse. In the history of sports, there have been countless athletes abusing drugs and alcohol, but it seems that the problem may be getting worse as time goes on.

The NFL season is starting up again. Fall is in the air, kids are heading back to school, and athletes are being suspended for substance abuse. Last week, it was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ safety Tanard Jackson that was caught for some sort of substance abuse and suspended for four games. Jackson will leave quite a void in his team as he serves out his suspension, but his team is not the only one that is struggling to fill positions because of substance abuse. Charles Rogers has had problems with marijuana and was recently suspended form the Detroit Lions, Tennessee Titan Chris Davis was recently charged with a DUI, and those are just the ones that have made recent headlines this season. Some of the athletes are able to get help and get back into the game, such as Miami Dolphin running back Ricky Williams, who reportedly still remains clean. We could name many other pros that have had their careers put on hold while they dealt with substance abuse. Even a great like Michael Irvin was a user and Brett Favre battled with prescription painkillers for a time.

The Hazards of being a Pro Football Player

One of the downfalls of these pro football players is their wealth. Money can buy almost anything, including a lot of drugs. The temptations are all around these players, they have easy access to the substances, and with stressful careers and the pressure to succeed, sometimes it becomes pretty easy for them to fall into substance abuse. They have so much free time during the off season to do things like drugs that they get hooked then and can’t stop once they start playing again. And given the apparent climate in pro sports for substance abuse, peer pressure can affect even these guys. Everyone is doing it.

Many of these players, like all of us, fall into denial. They may not be willing to give up their career to get treatment, and there are probably plenty of teammates and agents that are willing to look the other way also, in order to keep their success going.

Unfortunately, these players are not only jeopardizing their own careers or lives, but pro sports athletes also have quite a bit of influence on today’s youth. When these kids see their heroes get involved with something like drugs or alcohol abuse, it makes it a little more difficult for them to say no.

Sources

http://www.muskogeephoenix.com/sports/local_story_234235635.html

http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/the_sporting_blog/entry/view/29305/charles_rogers_liked_weed_and_pills_a_lot

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/238954-t-jacked-tanard-jacksons-indiscretion-puts-the-bucs-in-a-bind 

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7016145877?Bucs’%20Safety%20Tanard%20Jackson%20Suspended%20Four%20Games:%20Substance%20Abuse%20Violation

Anyone who isn’t familiar with Diane Schuler at this point is either trying to avoid current events or is as oblivious as her husband. To bring everyone up to speed, Diane Schuler is the 36 year-old business executive who at 1:30 PM on July 26^th 2009,  drove 1.7 miles in the wrong direction on a curvy highway before slamming into an S.U.V., killing its three passengers, as well as herself, her 2-year-old daughter and her three young nieces. She had a blood-alcohol level of more than twice the legal limit and tested overwhelmingly positive for Marijuana. Her husband, Daniel Schuler, is a security guard paid to be a professional observer, however, he is publicly stating that he has never seen his wife drunk.

While this situation is beyond horrific, it has all the elements that makeup a perfect alcoholic tragedy. It has been said on the record that Diane Schuler had over 15 ounces of undigested vodka in her system, a vodka bottle in the car, a head full of marijuana and behavioral issues, and a minivan filled with kids…that alone is a recipe for disaster. Throw in a husband who is either one of the most profound enablers of all time or the denial world champion and early death is no longer a recipe, it is a certainty.

Mr. Schuler is being skewered by the media as practically an accessory to murder – that won’t ever change. He was charged with a DUI in 1995 so the thought that one alcoholic could live with another alcoholic capable of consuming the volume of Vodka Diane Schuler did before she drove with innocent children, is pretty far-fetched. Regardless, if Mr. Schuler was aware of her consumption and let her get behind the wheel of a car that would destroy countless lives, then he is indeed an accomplice. I know there are people who will read this and say: how can you say Mr. Schuler was an alcoholic based on one DUI? Let me explain something to anyone still deluding themselves with the notion that he might not be, if you are an adult who has consumed enough alcohol to impair your judgment to the point where you think driving is ok…you better hit a meeting.

The point of sharing this story with all of you is not what you might think. Sure, it is a cautionary tale about the dangers of alcoholism and the enablers that help it incubate, but this is something far more eye-opening, this is one of the purest examples of how poorly equipped people are with the knowledge necessary to recognize and alter a potentially disastrous situation. This is a story about accountability and I’m afraid that number of people that allowed this tragedy to unfold is pretty far reaching. Is her husband still fostering his own disease and chose to look the other way? Did her employer or coworkers know she had a problem and not intervene? Is there nobody in this woman’s life that who saw what she was and where she was heading? The fact is, people have a responsibility to report and they need to be educated and empowered with the tools to do so properly. This isn’t snitching, this is saving lives and more often than not, they are the lives of the innocent.

If a fraction of the money spent on imprisoning non-violent, drug and alcohol related convicts, we could establish a system of checks and balances that arms citizens with the tools necessary to report questionable behavior and prevent tragedy. Reward them for their insight and save lives. Beyond employer involvement, which is getting better, let’s introduce an anonymous reporting system that is well defined and implemented at the student level. Preemptive measures need to be taken, and quickly. If one person had stepped up and reported Mrs. Schuler’s behavior, there would be 8 fewer caskets in the ground today.

It’s time to stop thinking after the fact. I think the saying goes…”an ounce of prevention is better than fifteen ounces of undigested alcohol in a dead woman’s stomach”.

Think about it.

-Jim Bevell

CEO TSN

561 577-3174

jimb@tsnemail.com

Marijuana is one of those substances that seem to regularly cause a lot of stir in our country. It’s the kind of thing that always has a new story popping up about it, and sometimes the topic becomes tiresome. But a group of marijuana advocates in California are hoping to cause a lot more discussion in upcoming days as they use a new tactic to make marijuana legal – taxation.

Potential for Government Revenue

The timing is perfect for these advocates. Just when the Los Angeles City Council was really struggling with balancing their budget, marijuana advocates were given the chance to speak up, and they suggested the government tax their medical marijuana dispensaries. Given the timing of the proposal during an economic crisis and the immense size of the marijuana business in the state, the idea is starting to sound like a good one to many. The issue has no organized opposition as of yet, and voters have already been given the chance to cast ballots regarding the proposal in Oakland.

Because the medical marijuana business is an underground one for the most part, with marijuana being illegal in the eyes of the federal government, no one is sure how much money this kind of tax could bring in. However, advocates estimate the money to be in the millions or even billions of dollars for the state.

Marijuana Addiction

Marijuana has been dismissed by many in recent years as being a harmless drug that everyone tries at some time in their life. Seen as more of a recreation than an addiction, few resources are out there specifically for marijuana addiction treatment. But there are many people in our country that have struggled for years with pot addiction and it ruins their lives. It can easily become an obsession, causing the user to neglect even the important things in their life. It may also be more dangerous because it is so often downplayed, or even romanticized laughed about in movies and books. However, for those that have become dependent on it, it is frustrating to go through the anxiety, sleeplessness, and restlessness that come when they try to quit.

Medical Marijuana

For all the stories of people’s lives being affected negatively by marijuana, there are those that see this substance as a lifeline and the key to peace in their lives. These are the people that use marijuana for medical purposes, to ease chronic pain and anxiety. This other, medical side of marijuana is one of the reasons this subject has caused so much debate in recent years, including the tax debate in California now. 

Future of Marijuana

It’s hard to predict where our country will stand on the issue of marijuana in the future. While the President’s administration has said it has no plans to legalize the drug, it has indicated that it will not criminalize medical marijuana dispensaries in the future. Even if it is made legal for medical purposed only, care must be taken to educate the public about the risks of this drug, and the potential for addiction or the likelihood of it being a gateway to other drugs.

 Sources

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-pottax19-2009jul19,0,2020081.story

 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/19/fashion/19pot.html?hp

http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/19/if-marijuana-is-legal-will-addiction-rise/

Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States. It has had its ups and downs in the history of our country, causing a lot of confusion and controversy about its benefits or risks. It was used extensively in our country by the 1920s, but then in 1937 Congress passed the Marijuana Tax Act, which criminalized marijuana. Research minimizing the risks in the 1940s, as well as World War II, led to the Hemp for Victory campaign. This is when the U.S. Department of Agriculture encouraged farmers to plant hemp and even handed out the seeds and draft deferments to those farmers that would grow hemp. It was common to see marijuana establishments in major cities for recreational use in the 1960s. At that time, marijuana was not seen as being a threat to society, and many people made use of it casually. But then the war on drugs in the 1980s made it again unlawful to possess marijuana.

Is it any wonder, given the history of marijuana, that there would be confusion and differing opinions about marijuana today? And how are people supposed to get help for an addiction to this drug when so many people don’t even acknowledge it as a problem?

Struggling to Get Help With Marijuana Addiction

Whether or not our government should say it is ok to use marijuana is a discussion for another day. What can’t be argued against is the fact that many people in our country are addicted to marijuana and wish they weren’t. It usually happens gradually, with a casual smoke here or there with friends. But it can quickly lead to an increased tolerance for the drug, depression, memory loss, loss of coordination, and many other problems. It is the most common drug used by young people, and it is often the drug kids start with. It is also often the drug that many people stay with, and after years of addiction, some people today are ready to quit and are looking for help to do so.

Few Marijuana Addiction Treatment Options

The problem is that with all the treatment facilities and programs out there, relatively few places specialize in marijuana addiction treatment. It simply isn’t seen as that big of a deal to use marijuana, and many people tend to focus on rehabilitation for those doing substances like cocaine, prescription painkillers, or even alcohol, instead of marijuana. That leaves millions of people left to suffer with this overlooked addiction in silence.

There are a few resources for those looking for help for marijuana addiction. Marijuana Anonymous is one resource that was created by those that were frustrated about the lack of support for marijuana treatment. It uses the 12 step recovery program that Alcoholics Anonymous uses, but it provides support for marijuana addicts. For those that prefer a less personal approach, Marijuana Anonymous Online was created to give support and resources via the internet. By contacting organizations like these, it is possible to get help for marijuana addiction, even in a country that doesn’t always see this addiction as a problem.

Sources

http://www.marijuana-anonymous.org

http://www.ma-online.org/

Chennell, Tom Adolescents and Marijuana

http://www.higheredcenter.org/high-risk/drugs/marijuana

Palfrey, Judith Marijuana and Kids-Is Occasional Use OK