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FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794
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Posted on 10/11/2003 7:00:29 AM PDT by AAABEST
LEE COUNTY, October 10, 2003 - Marijuana is often thought of as a relatively harmless, recreational drug and the debate over its medical value rages on. But there's new evidence that it’s more harmful than many people think. A recent report shows a dramatic increase in the number of marijuana-related emergency room visits nationwide. The same is true in Southwest Florida.
The Transitional Living Center in Fort Myers is near the end of a long road of recovery.
"The road had a lot of bumps in it,” said Marci, a recovering addict.
Marci knows the road well. She didn't want to show her face, but was willing to share her story.
"I have 20 years of using marijuana and I'm only 33,” said Marci.
Marci just finished a 28-day program at the center, although she may stay at the center for up to a year. She’s there for her addiction to what many consider a safe drug.
"It destroys dreams, it destroys families, it destroys lives,” said Marci.
Dr. Roger Howell, Emergency Department Medical Director at Lee Memorial Health System has seen first hand what marijuana can do. Lee County’s emergency rooms have seen a dramatic increase in the number of marijuana related visits.
“It's perceived in younger individuals as a safe drug which it's clearly not," said Howell.
In the last three years, the number of marijuana related emergency room cases has more than doubled. Experts say it's because more people are smoking pot and the pot is a lot more potent.
"The marijuana that is being used on the streets are in combination with other drugs that the user is simply not aware of,” said Howell.
And if you think smoking pot doesn't lead to using other drugs, substance abuse counselor Christine Holmes says think again.
“The average 14 year old has most likely tried marijuana and a kid who has tried marijuana is 100-times more likely to try another drug like cocaine,” said Holmes.
Marci learned that the hard way, but hopes sharing her story will help others from traveling down the same road.
"Don't even try it because it's not worth the experimentation,” said Marci.
For Marci, experimentation came at a high cost. She lost her two children and control of her life.
"I will find my way back to a normal life,” said Marci.
It will be an uphill battle. Marci has a new job and she may stay at the Transitional Living Center for up to a year.
But for Marci, staying on the right path is worth every step as she reaches the end of a very long road.
In 2000 there were 120 marijuana related emergency room visits in Lee County. The number jumped to 242 in 2001. In 2002 it rose over the 300 mark.
Last year in the US there were at least 38,000 traffic accidents involving marijuana use.
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FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794
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It is in the breaking news sidebar! |
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It happens every day.
L
Is marijuana addictive?
Psychologically - perhaps - to someone that has the right mentality.
Physiologically - IMO, no more so than chocolate.
Some personality types can be 'addicted' to just about anything.
Should you smoke pot when you're going to be operating machinery? NO!
That goes for a car, a crane, or anything else that you shouldn't do when drinking alcohol.
It will affect your reaction time, and sometimes your reasoning.
Should it be illegal? IMO, no.
But isn't the feeble minded who are attracted to drugs in the first place?
I know someone who claimed they were addicted to banana nut muffins. Every day she would have a banana nut muffin at 10 am and then after a certain time she said she began to crave them and felt she couldn't go without. Addiction is interesting, people get addicted to computers --- all sorts of things ---- but some addictions are more harmful than others.
What it's usually laced with is the DDT still legally used in Mexico. The government likes that tho, anything that can link health problems to use is a propaganda plus.
Not necessarily.
There are quite a number of fine, upstanding, intelligent people that smoke the occasional doobie.
People that you would normally never think about in that context until you accidentally find out.
I was talking about other recreational (harder) drugs.
From talking with young folks it seems that a lot of what they get today is laced with PCP or some other (much stronger than marijuana) drug.
If you truly believe that, I have a bridge across the Pacific I'd like to sell you.
I saw in this movie once that using "Mary Jane" made a person want to rape and kill. The movie was called "Reefer Madness," and it was a documentary made by the government about the horrors of "M." Then this nice man sold me a watch and a bridge both for only ten bucks! That was a wonderful night.
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