cannabisnews.com: UW Tries New Tack in Drug Project UW Tries New Tack in Drug Project Posted by FoM on January 14, 2002 at 11:34:01 PT Kimberly B. Marlowe, Seattle Times Staff Reporter Source: Seattle Times Consider two men who smoke marijuana every day, one a grandfather running a small business in Pierce County, the other a single computer programmer in Seattle. College educated, articulate men with active lives and myriad interests, they've been getting high all of their adult lives. One recently quit, but the other has no intention of giving up pot. John, 52, and Erik, 27, are miles apart in their attitudes about marijuana, but both participate in the Marijuana Check-Up, a research project at the University of Washington designed for the adult marijuana smoker "who isn't interested in treatment but wants a chance to ask questions or express concerns." The men, who asked that their last names not be published, have met one-on-one with interviewers several times over the past year. The free sessions are a kind of barter: John and Erik get factual information about marijuana and someone to talk to, in confidence, about smoking pot and how it fits into their lives. The interviewers, in turn, say they get useful, candid responses to questions about how and why adults of all ages and all walks of life smoke marijuana — and why some of them choose to quit while others do not. The $1.3 million project, paid for by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, is not intended to take the place of prevention and treatment programs or 12-step fellowships for marijuana smokers, say project organizers. Nor is it meant to give marijuana smokers an "out" to avoid quitting or addressing their use. Rather, it is meant to attract people who, for a variety of reasons, are not choosing traditional treatment options. "We know that many people are highly ambivalent about how they relate to alcohol, tobacco, cocaine or marijuana," said project leader Roger Roffman of the UW School of Social Work. "On one hand, they have concerns and questions; on the other hand, they are hardly ready to commit to any change, much less walk into an agency for treatment." The idea behind the Marijuana Check-up, Roffman says, is to "offer support to someone struggling with ambivalence — in a way that is nonjudgmental and respectful." Participants "can look at their marijuana use without being pushed, prodded, labeled or diagnosed," he said. John says the unpressured atmosphere is what he likes about the interview sessions. "I could tell right off that the main focus was not going to be about quitting," he said. "It was just somebody for me to talk to in private." It isn't clear how many marijuana smokers might want or benefit from something like the Marijuana Check-Up, but there's no question that pot smoking is a fact of American life and is often cited by smokers for problems they experience. About 14 million people nationwide use illicit drugs, and marijuana is the choice 76 percent of the time, according to a 2000 study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. A 1997 study by the agency found that of marijuana users who said they smoked pot at least 12 days in the previous year, more than half reported problems related to their drug use, including negative effects on their health and family life. Last year, 9,109 people in Washington state were admitted to state-funded treatment programs for marijuana abuse, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. These admissions were in addition to private and federal programs, as well as countless 12-step groups that operate independently and do not keep membership records. The four-year Marijuana Check-Up continues through the fall, and Roffman projects that as many as 250 participants will meet with a counselor for up to six sessions. Roffman hopes the project model will add to "the continuum of care that now ranges from education to treatment." He says the Marijuana Check-Up is a way to reach a wide range of concerns and interests, such as those of John and Erik. John has had more than one man's share of zoned-out nights and weekends the past 33 years. His wife hated his smoking and the drinking that often went with it. His two kids sat through drug-education classes in school, squirming with the knowledge that their dad was a pothead. Buying the stuff humiliated John. "Here I am, 52 years old, hanging around outside some creepy, smelly house waiting to buy pot," he says, his face flushing red at the recollection. "That was one of the worst feelings." He decided to quit smoking dope and drinking last year after a painful confrontation with his wife. "She looked at me one day and said, 'I've lived with your drinking and smoking pot for almost 25 years, and I'm sick of it. I want you clean and sober.'" But the 12-step meeting John attended made him uncomfortable, and he never went back. A self-employed small-business owner, John was worried about his insurance company finding out if he sought treatment with a doctor. He answered an ad for the Marijuana Check-Up, went through the initial screening and was matched with one of the project's interviewers, all of whom are trained counselors. "I was very emotional around this time," John said. "I guess I felt that I kind of cheated my kids and my wife all those years." He was also "very anxious" about facing a life without pot, which he said helped him focus on tasks during the workday and relax at night. John said he has not smoked marijuana or had a drink for several months and says he doesn't miss it. He credits his sessions at the Marijuana Check-Up with easing the transition. "I feel a new freedom, which is ironically why you smoke pot in the first place — to be free," he said. Erik, who like John started smoking marijuana as a teenager, says he has no plans to quit. "I find I enjoy a lot of things better — reading, eating, sex, music," said Erik. "It heightens my senses." But an occasional burning sensation in his lungs made Erik seek answers to the physiological effects of marijuana. He called the Marijuana Check-up last year. "I saw they were looking to help people out, and it seemed like a good thing to support," he said. At the start of each session, the interviewer asks Erik to rank his interest in evaluating or changing his marijuana use. Usually Erik says he is not considering any changes, but occasionally he says he's open to some discussion. The sessions are shaped by his responses, he said. When he indicates any interest in evaluating his pot use, the interviewer asks questions about how and when he smokes marijuana, said Erik. "She might make a couple of suggestions like, 'Why don't you try waiting 10 minutes to see if you really want to smoke,' and that kind of thing." Erik says sessions are "more like a workshop than counseling." When he starts sessions by saying he does not want to make any changes, he spends his appointment asking specific questions or viewing videos on topics about marijuana or health-related issues, he said. "The environment definitely makes you more aware about your pot usage," said Erik, "but I was really surprised that there was no pressure. I kind of drive the whole show, and if I want to make a change, or not, that's cool." Marijuana Project:For information on the Marijuana Check-Up, call 206-616-3457 or go online at: http://depts.washington.edu/mcu/ Source: Seattle Times (WA)Author: Kimberly B. MarlowePublished: Monday, January 14, 2002Copyright: 2002 The Seattle Times CompanyContact: opinion seatimes.comWebsite: http://www.seattletimes.com/Related Articles:Anti-Drug Media Campaign Launches New Websitehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11726.shtmlLooking for Ways To Keep Pot Smokers Drug Freehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11212.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #15 posted by E_Johnson on January 15, 2002 at 08:43:43 PT How do they know this isn't a DEA front? This all sounds a little too sweet to be true. Non-judgmental counseling from NIDA??? Condifentiality regarding a Schedule I substance?A substance that NIDA and the DEA have a huge financial vested interest in keeping Schedule I? [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by dddd on January 15, 2002 at 03:12:10 PT I concur, Dark Star ....EJ is indeed,,most eloquent and excellent........dddd [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by Dark Star on January 15, 2002 at 02:53:31 PT E_Johnson You are an articulate and innovative voice in the debate. Thank you for being here in the wonderful forum that FoM has created! [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by FoM on January 14, 2002 at 22:21:04 PT Just a Note about E-Mail I feel I need to mention about my e mail problems once again. I do my best to read all the mail I receive and answer those I can. Doing news like I do somethings just don't get done because I just physically can't. I need to also mention that I don't open attachments or respond to emails that are from free email services. I've had problems with email so I hesitate to use it more then necessary. I hope everyone understands. Thanks everyone. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by FoM on January 14, 2002 at 19:17:11 PT Patrick He sure defended Prince Harry. He says it like he sees it. Very refreshing. Thanks again for the heads up! [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by Patrick on January 14, 2002 at 19:12:53 PT FoM No problem. Glad you were able to tune in. I like Jesse's attitude! It's refreshing having someone like him speaking at the state level of government.I like what he said about being weird for not smoking a joint growing up in the sixties.I was weird back then. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by FoM on January 14, 2002 at 18:42:35 PT Thanks Patrick I just turned it on. Thanks! [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by Patrick on January 14, 2002 at 18:39:25 PT Larry King Tonight Jesse Ventura brought up the issue of medicinal marijuana and Oregon's assisted suicide law and states rights on Larry King!!!!! Way to go Jesse! [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by goneposthole on January 14, 2002 at 16:33:01 PT Good one E_Johnson [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by E_Johnson on January 14, 2002 at 16:04:21 PT Nazis try new tack in Jewish project Consider two men who are Jewish every day, one a grandfather running a small business in Lodz, the other a single factory engineer in the ghetto in Warsaw. College educated, articulate men with active lives and myriad interests, they've been been Jewish all of their adult lives. One recently quit, but the other has no intention of giving up Judaism.The Nazi party is testing a radical new way to deal with this problem. Moishe, 52, and David, 27, are miles apart in their attitudes about Judaism, but both participate in the Judaism Check-Up, a research project at the University of Berlin designed for the adult European Jew "who isn't interested in treatment but wants a chance to ask questions or express concerns." The idea behind the Judaism Check-up, Dr. Mengele says, is to "offer support to someone struggling with ambivalence — in a way that is nonjudgmental and respectful." Participants "can look at their Jewish identity without being pushed, prodded, labeled or diagnosed," he said. Moishe decided to quit believing in God and going to the syangogue last year after a painful confrontation with his wife. "She looked at me one day and said, 'I've lived with being beaten up by Cossacks and attacked by brown shirts for almost 25 years, and I'm sick of it. I want you to become Gentile.'" He answered an ad for the Judaism Check-Up, went through the initial screening and was matched with one of the project's interviewers, all of whom are trained SS counselors. "I was very emotional around this time," Moishe said. "I guess I felt that I kind of cheated my kids and my wife all those years by clinging to my own identity." He was also "very anxious" about facing a life without Judaism, which he said helped him focus on tasks during the workday and relax at night. David, who like Moishe started being Jewish as a teenager, says he has no plans to quit. "I find I enjoy a lot of things better — reading, eating, sex, music," said David. "It heightens my senses."But an occasional beating by Nazi thugs made David seek answers to the physiological effects of European Judaism. He called the Judaism Check-up last year in 1938.He hasn't been heard from since. His relatives in America are very anxious by now. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by krutch on January 14, 2002 at 13:18:59 PT: Treatment "Last year, 9,109 people in Washington state were admitted to state-funded treatment programs for marijuana abuse, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration."I wonder how many of these people sought this treatment voluntarily. I am willing to bet that at least half of them where forced into treatment by the courts. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on January 14, 2002 at 13:09:59 PT The Cost I've thought about how could smoking marijuana cause family problems if getting arrested isn't considered. The cost of buying it could really hurt a family. Because it's illegal the price is so high that it could effect a family that way. That's the only thing I can think of. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by MikeEEEEE on January 14, 2002 at 12:59:06 PT Who are they asking? A 1997 study by the agency found that of marijuana users who said they smoked pot at least 12 days in the previous year, more than half reported problems related to their drug use, including negative effects on their health and family life. Was this study based on people with addiction problems that pursued treatment?Was this study based on people arrested with the resulting legal problems?What was the geographic location, age group, etc.?These guys tend to leave out the facts. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by goneposthole on January 14, 2002 at 12:56:55 PT smoking marijuana is so much fun that I no longer consider it a problem.It is healthy. No regrets at all. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on January 14, 2002 at 12:29:58 PT New Activist's Web Site - No Jail For Pot Hi Everyone, This new web site was sent to me and thought I'd pass it on to all of you to check out.THE PURPOSE OF THIS SITE is to make available a place for everyone who supports the idea of Nojailforpot to sign his name to this idea, and make it proudly public for everyone to see. When enough people sign this petition, the resulting political force will compel the laws to change: there are nearly ONE MILLION PEOPLE IN JAIL in the United States for NON-VIOLENT ACTIVITIES related to the use, possession, cultivation, transportation or sale of marijuana. http://www.nojailforpot.com/ [ Post Comment ] Post Comment