BLOWING SMOKE

PARENTS WONDER IF TODAY'S STRONGER MARIJUANA DOES MORE HARM

Teens constantly discover, explore and test the boundaries of their growing
universe. Experts say this is why many try marijuana for the first time in
their teen years.

The marijuana they're smoking is more potent than marijuana in the '60s and
'70s. But whether it's enough to cause more harm is being debated.

Here, questions and answers about illegal marijuana use by teens:

Q. What are trends in teens' use of and access to marijuana?

A. Marijuana use has been declining gradually among eighth, 10th and 12th
graders since 1996 and 1997. But access has not decreased. Since 1975, high
school seniors every year say that if they wanted marijuana, they could
easily get some.

Q. I've heard reports that potency of marijuana has increased by up to 30
percent since the '60s. Is that true?

A. Potency of marijuana has increased, but not to those high levels. The
potency of marijuana is measured by the levels of the active ingredient
THC. According to the University of Mississippi's Marijuana Potency
Monitoring Project, levels of THC, rose from lower than 1 percent in the
mid-1970s to higher than 7 percent in 2002. Although sinsemilla --
marijuana with higher THC levels -- is available, it's much less common and
is very expensive.

Q. Does the higher potency mean it is more harmful to the body?

A. That is being debated. Pro-marijuana groups say that the higher potency
does not necessarily translate into more-intense effects on the body.
Anti-marijuana groups say the higher potency has the potential to be more
harmful. No studies examining the effects of different potencies are available.

Q. Why are teens more likely to try marijuana for the first time in the summer?

A. Teens have more free and unsupervised time in the summer.

Q. I want to talk to my teenager about drugs but am not sure what to answer
if asked about my previous marijuana use?

A. This is a question frequently raised by baby-boomer parents, some of
whom tried marijuana in the '70s, said Sue Rusche, president of National
Families in Action, a parent-based drug-prevention organization. Some
people believe that children are not automatically entitled to know
everything about their parents' lives, including use of prohibited
substances or sexual conduct. Others believe that it's important to be
honest with one's children, but also to follow disclosure with a discussion
about how children can learn from their parents' mistakes. Use statements
such as, "We didn't know at the time that it wasn't a smart thing to do,
but we do now," Rusche said.

Q. What risks does marijuana pose to teens?

A. For teens, there are three health risks, according to "Marijuana and the
Responsible Parent," a guide from the Environmental Resource Council.

* Dangerous behavior while high. A teen who is high may not be able to
judge time, may develop a false sense of well-being and may be unable to
think straight. Impaired judgment may lead to dangerous driving, unsafe
sex, drowning or accidental harm to others.

* Burnout, lack of motivation, dulled existence. A teen may become
forgetful or socially inept, or may seem OK but actually live with a blurry
detachment.

* Lung damage from inhaling marijuana smoke.

Q. What are signs that my child may be using marijuana?

A. Sometimes there are signs; in other cases, there aren't. Watch for the
following possible signs:

* Your child has red, bloodshot eyes, is unsteady on his feet, acting silly
for no reason, has a hard time remembering things.

* Drug paraphernalia such as rolling papers in the room, the smell of
marijuana smoke on clothes.

* Your child uses a lot of room deodorizers.

* Your child shows a significant behavior change or has new friends you
suspect may be using drugs.

* Your child is careless with grooming, hostile, withdrawn or depressed.

* Your child isn't doing as well in school or favorite activities.

Q. How is medical marijuana used differently from recreational marijuana?

A. Patients use medical marijuana to treat symptoms or ill effects of
diseases and conditions. In people with AIDS-related wasting syndrome,
marijuana can increase appetite. Marijuana may reduce pressure inside the
eye in people with glaucoma. Those with cancer sometimes use marijuana for
relief from nausea, an adverse effect of chemotherapy.

Q. How can parents keep their kids marijuana-free?

A. They can do the following, said Marilyn Pritchard, manager of the
Alcohol, Tobacco and Drug Prevention Program at the Orange County (Calif.)
Health Care Agency, and Carolyn Secrist, program supervisor:

* Keep open the lines of communication with their kids. Have a discussion
about drugs, don't just lecture kids about them. This includes listening to
them. Teens may seem like they're not listening or don't want to hear what
you have to say, but they're really hearing more than they'd like you to know.

* Know where your kids are and with whom they're spending time.

* Organize activities that keep your kids busy so they're not bored. Look
at activities in sports, the arts, music, dance that your teens like.
Choose activities that your children enjoy and enable them to develop
self-esteem and skills.

Make sure that these are supervised by caring adults. You can find choices
in your community or you can coordinate activities for the kids with other
parents.

* Additionally, the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign suggests that
parents be involved, set clear rules, be firm, praise positive behavior and
make sure to set aside time for family.