Marijuana Awareness Program
Objective
To increase the knowledge of youth and the public about the health risks of marijuana use.
Why?
A 2002 study shows that the percentage of youth who try marijuana doubles from grade 8 to grade 9 (from 16% to 32%).
The results of a 2003 Health Canada poll on substance use among young people 12 – 19 years found that:
- Two thirds of teens 12-19 years do not try smoking pot more than once.
- Less than 3% of teens smoke pot every day.
- 19% of those who have smoked marijuana say they do it out of curiosity; another 19% do it because their friends do it.
- 88% of teens think it is very dangerous to be in a car if the driver has been smoking marijuana.
- 90% of teens say that taking illegal drugs is dangerous or very dangerous.
- 79% of youth say that prolonged use of marijuana will result in worse grades in school.
What Are The Risks?
Marijuana use has become glamorized and normalized, but contrary to popular belief, marijuana, like other drugs, IS harmful!
- It impairs concentration short-term memory, logical thinking and the ability to perform complicated tasks;
- May cause acute toxic psychosis with hallucinations, paranoid delusions, and disorientation;
- Contains up to 50% more tar than cigarettes when smoked;
- Impairs the function of t-cells and in doing so decreases the immune system;
- It impairs judgment and reduces motivation;
- Increased hunger; and
- Increased heart rate.
Weed is Addictive!
“Short-term usage soon becomes a chronic activity – it takes precedence over class, school teams, and eventually, their dreams.
Year after year students fall prey to a drug culture myth – that everyone is doing it and nobody gets hurt. The truth is simply this – not everybody does it; and I have seen the wreckage of those lives ruined by marijuana.”
- A Teacher’s thoughts on marijuana.
Learn More …
To learn more about these programs, please
contact PASAGE Saint John Inc.