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xxdr_zombiexx

Marijuana use a problem in Tiverton
East Bay Newspapers | Friday, May 7, 2004

Marijuana is easier for juveniles to attain than alcohol

TIVERTON — Less than two weeks ago, a teacher at Tiverton Middle School spotted a pouch being passed from a 14-year-old girl to a 13-year-old boy during school hours. At such young ages, one would expect the pouch to contain bubble gum or perhaps a childish love note.

The pouch, however, contained marijuana and the two youths were transported to the police station, where they were charged with possession of marijuana. The children were turned over to the custody of their parents.

Possession of marijuana was the third leading cause for arrest among juveniles in Tiverton in 2003 — underage drinking was the fourth, according to a study released by the Rhode Island Justice Commission (vandalism is first and assault second).

[zombienote: How do you spell failure? $20 billion for "druuug enforcement" and a massive propaganda blitz, and pot is still in the hands of 13 year-olds. Total policy failure.]

"It is a problem," said Detective Michael Carr, the juvenile officer at the Tiverton Police Station who says he's seen children as young as 12 years old charged with possession of marijuana. "There is a lot of marijuana use, not only in Tiverton, but it's a problem nationwide."

Students at Tiverton High School don't even attempt to conceal the fact that they smoke marijuana, according to Student Assistance Counselor Maura Brown.

"They don't even try to hide their discussions after school in the hallways," she said. She said she often overhears kids asking one another, "How much you gonna buy? Where you gonna do it?"

"I feel like I'm inundated with it as I walk down the hall," she said.

When Ms. Brown began working at the high school three years ago, she had thought alcohol use would be the most common drug use among Tiverton teens.

"To my surprise, it's not," she said. "It's marijuana. It has become so normalized in this community that it's shocking."

"Kids glamorize the use of the drug and they work adamantly to convince me it's OK, that it's 100 percent natural, that there are no negative consequences and they advocate for legalization," she said.

Ms. Brown's anecdotal evidence supports the findings of a statewide study completed by Initiatives for Human Development and presented to the Tiverton Substance Abuse Task Force last September. It found that while 70 percent of Tiverton teens see tobacco use as a great danger, only 44 percent believe smoking marijuana is dangerous.

Marijuana is easier for juveniles to attain than alcohol, and it costs less, according to Detective Carr. A marijuana cigarette now costs between $3 and $5, he said, while a six-pack of beer costs about $5.

[zombienote: F-a-i-l-u-r-e: to not succeed at a given task. To not meet an established goal.]

Some parents in town even share their children's lax attitude toward the drug.

"Even when you confront the parents they're like, 'Kids will be kids. It's experimental,'" Ms. Brown said. Some students have told Ms. Brown that their parents smoke pot with them, or even supply it to them.

Despite the youths' efforts to convince her that marijuana is safe, Ms. Brown's office is covered with posters describing the drug's harmful effects. She is also advocating for Tiverton Schools to begin education at the elementary level to teach children that marijuana is dangerous.

Detective Carr has also seen kids who are reluctant to believe marijuana is harmful.

"The kids don't acknowledge that there are side effects," he said.

[zombienote: Brace yo-self. Here come da madness....]

Based on a person's genetic and personal traits, it can be a gateway drug to other drugs, Detective Carr said.

Studies have shown the carcinogens in a marijuana cigarette are more harmful than tobacco. Repeated use of marijuana can hinder growth, harm the immune system and the reproductive system, he said.

Today's marijuana is also more potent than it was in the 1960s, Detective Carr said. Parents who may have smoked marijuana themselves when they were young may not realize that the marijuana their children may be smoking is much stronger today.

Tiverton Middle and High Schools have a zero tolerance policy when a child is caught with marijuana, Detective Carr said. The police are called immediately and the child is charged with possession of marijuana.

Depending on the child's history, the case with either be referred to family court or will be settled by a non-judicial screening process, he said. Sentences can include suspension from school, substance abuse counseling, family mediation, probation, community service and even a sentence to the Rhode Island Training School.

"Every situation is different," Detective Carr said.

Parental involvement and close oversight is necessary to keep children off drugs, Ms. Brown said. Parents who think their child might be using marijuana should look for changes in their child's behavior.

"Sleeping too much, or not sleeping at all, changes in their eating habits, their friends may change," she said.

Students who are suspected of having a drug or alcohol problem — or problems with anxiety or depression, or a relationship problem — are referred to Ms. Brown, who provides counseling services during her four days a week at the school. Right now, she is overwhelmed with her case load, which currently stands at 125 students and continues to grow.

What the students say

According to the survey of Tiverton High School students presented by the Tiverton Substance Abuse Task Force:

15% — have used illegal drugs more than six times in past 30 days

11% — have had at least one drink ten or more times in past 30 days

46% — say friends wouldn't care if they smokes marijuana regularly

52% — say friends wouldn't care if they had 5 or more drinks in a weekeend

44% — believe smoking marijuana regularly poses a great risk

71% — think using cocaine once or twice poses a great health risk

38% —think consuming five or more drinks once or twice each weekend is of great risk

70% — think smoking a pack or more of cigarettes a day is of great risk

29% — report being offered drugs at least once at school

By Jean Ignatuk

jignatuk@eastbaynewspapers.com

__________________
Alien Space Signal

There's no money for your issue so long as we're squandering $50 billion a year on the DrugWar. Ben Masel

Fear became the ultimate tool of this government - V.

 

Stephanie S.

With drug and alcohol addiction throughout my family I'd say that I am genetically and personally predisposed to addiction as are many successful adults I know...interestingly enough marijuana didn't lead us all down the crank, acid, coke path. Wacky!


Those could also be symptoms of depression, alcohol abuse, or just regular old teenage changes and stages.

For the live of Pete why don't they just give UP???


peace

__________________
"See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda." —George W. Bush, Greece, N.Y., May 24, 2005 (Listen to audio)

Kannibal

Studies have shown the carcinogens in a marijuana cigarette are more harmful than tobacco. Repeated use of marijuana can hinder growth, harm the immune system and the reproductive system, he said

I find that particular line the most ludicrous of all.Where are all the bodies going if cannabis is more harmful than tobacco?thats what it implies no? Hinder growth? I remember when my mom used to tell me drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes did this.
Sounds like someone is a bit out of touch with the truth.

I am beginning to wonder why i'm not a 300 lb lazy sterile midget with high propensity to catch colds n stuff cuz I toke.

I vote too.

freshair

In this school it looks like they stress too much not to smoke marijuana. When you stress a little kid not to do something its going to be on their mind to try it out and see why not. Or try it to be a rebel or who knows why. If people were just more laid back about things there would'nt be this senerio. Givin more freedom people would tend to do whats in their heart. No wonder there is a higher percent of people smoking marijuana in America then there is in Amsterdam.

FitShaced

zero tolerence is BS.yea help the kid ruin its life by suspending them and expelling them.what if little johhny gets good grades and cuz he got caught smokin reefer he gets expelled(or w/e).than they go and blame marijuana like its the reason why the kid has to get a GED.


prohibition....gotta love it.

 

melanotaenia

I agree.......I was a very smart kid in high school and I still chose to smoke, and I still was able to get into an IVY league school and attain great marks in college, all the while smoking weed when I wanted to or felt the need. This school looks like it has been brainwashed by the "reefer madness" and the administration is to blame. These kids are probably going to want to smoke more because it is being put out there as such an awful thing. If I walked into a room with posters all over it saying how bad weed was, the first thing I would think is "why is it so bad? I guess I should get some and find out for myself" and then they smoke and realize that it is not that bad at all, then they are left wondering what the hell these teachers are talking about. Alcohol? BLAH! I would take a joint over a drink anyday. Times have changed, more kids are smoking now, and it is not going to change, as culture changes, so do the people in it.

When I was in college, we had a celebration on 4/20 where we would smoke on our academic quad, there were 3500 kids in my school and we always had about 1000 kids there every year......but here is the funny part; there were teachers there too, teachers who taught me my academics, smoking up and agreeing with us that "hey this is not so bad after all."