The week of May 17-23 is National Prevention Week, an annual health observance supported by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and dedicated to increasing public awareness of, and action around, substance abuse and mental health issues.



There are three primary goals of National Prevention Week:



• To involve communities in raising awareness of behavioral health issues and in implementing prevention strategies

• To foster partnerships and collaboration with federal agencies and national organizations dedicated to behavioral and public health

• To promote and disseminate quality behavioral health resources and publications



The Safe Communities Coalition of Hunterdon/Somerset shares these goals in all of their initiatives and programs. In honor of National Prevention Week, the Coalition is proud to present this five-part series of articles on a variety of substance abuse topics, such as marijuana; e-cigarettes and vaping; alcohol; prescription (Rx) drugs; and heroin.



Marijuana



There are currently a lot of misconceptions and myths about marijuana in the news today. One such myth is that marijuana is not addictive. However, 1 in 10 people who use marijuana will become addicted, developing a dependence that produces withdrawal symptoms and cravings. The rate is higher for adolescents and teens - 1 in 6 - due to the fact that their brains are still developing, and therefore more susceptible to addiction.



Today's marijuana has an average THC level of 15% (the chemical that gets you high), compared to the marijuana of the Woodstock Era which was only 3% THC content. Regular marijuana use interferes with learning, memory, increasing the risk of poor grades and dropping out of school. "Research shows it can lower your I.Q. as much as 8 points, which may not sound like a lot, but may be the difference of your child getting into a college of their choice or receiving a scholarship. Are you willing to take that chance?," asks Jerri Collevechio, Senior Director of Community Coalitions and Prevention and chair of the Marijuana Workgroup for the Hunterdon Coalition.



Teen marijuana use has been steadily increasing, as the perception of harm has decreased. Locally, only 41% of high school seniors thought marijuana was harmful, and according to a recent driving study, as many as 1 in 5 teen drivers say they drove under the influence of marijuana. (National Institute on Drug Abuse 2012). Marijuana affects the part of the brain for decision making, perception, coordination, alertness and concentration - all skills needed for driving safely.



For more facts based on the science of marijuana, attend the One Voice Summit: Stoned Truths, Wednesday, June 10, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Copper Hill Country Club in Ringoes. The event is free and a light breakfast and lunch will be served.

One Voice is a collaboration of Faith Leaders, the Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office and the Safe Communities Coalition, whose goal is to share a common message to the community, presented with "one voice" through our faith leaders. This year, we are honored to have Dr. Kevin Sabet, Author, President and co-founder of S.A.M. (Smart Approaches to Marijuana) and Director of the Institute on Drug Policy at the University of Florida, as our keynote speaker for the event.

To register for the Summit, call Hunterdon Prevention Resources at 908-782-3909 or email Cathy Canterino at ccanterino@hunterdonprevention.com.



The goal of the Safe Communities Coalition is to live in a safe and healthy community by eliminating drug use, underage drinking and prescription drug abuse. Through wide-spread community collaboration, environmental change, and community education in Hunterdon and Somerset counties, the Safe Communities Coalition will address areas of concern including, but not limited to, reducing Rx drug abuse across the lifespan, underage drinking, tobacco, marijuana, heroin, and other drug use.

For more information on the Coalition, visit our website at www.safecoalition.org.

