cannabisnews.com: More Seek Help for Marijuana Addiction





More Seek Help for Marijuana Addiction
Posted by CN Staff on March 04, 2005 at 10:35:00 PT
By Kevin Freking, The Associated Press
Source: Associated Press
Washington -- The admission rate for those who seek treatment for marijuana use nearly tripled between 1992 and 2002, according to the latest data compiled by the federal government.The numbers released Friday reflect a growing use of marijuana in the 1990s and an increase in the potency of marijuana, said Tom Riley, a spokesman for the White House's Office of National Drug Control Policy.
"This report makes clear what people in the public health community have known for years, which is marijuana is a much more dangerous drug than many Americans realize," Riley said. "This report is a wake up call for parents that marijuana is not a soft drug. It's a much bigger part of the addiction problem than is generally understood."The study on treatment rates was conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which estimated that 41 states experienced an increase in the number of people who sought treatment for marijuana use during the decade studied.Overall, the admission rates rose from 45 per 100,000 people in 1992 to 118 per 100,000 people in 2002, which is the latest year such numbers are available."Marijuana is not a harmless substance, and these treatment trends emphasize that point, said Charlie Cook, the administrator for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Source: Associated Press (Wire)Author: Kevin Freking, The Associated PressPublished: March 4, 2005 Copyright: 2005 The Associated Press CannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml
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Comment #35 posted by potpal on March 05, 2005 at 06:47:33 PT
cnn
10:30 estHeadlines news just had a ehhh 15 second blurb on mj. The mentioned the report about the increase in people seeking treatment but stated proponents sited that it coincided with and increase in mj arrests.  
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Comment #34 posted by Taylor121 on March 04, 2005 at 20:34:40 PT
better
More balanced but still could have used some quotes from the Institute of Medicine.
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Comment #33 posted by FoM on March 04, 2005 at 20:24:51 PT
Revised Associated Press Article
More Seek Help for Marijuana Addiction By Kevin Freking, The Associated PressMarch 4, 2005Washington -- Treatment rates for marijuana nearly tripled between 1992 and 2002, the government says, attributing the increase to greater use and potency. "This report is a wake-up call for parents that marijuana is not a soft drug," said Tom Riley, a spokesman for the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. "It's a much bigger part of the addiction problem than is generally understood." Advocates of legalizing marijuana disagreed, saying the trend was largely due to an increase in marijuana arrests and had almost nothing to do with more people seeking treatment because they thought their own health was at risk. "They have the option of going into treatment for marijuana or going to jail," said Paul Armentano, senior policy analyst for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. FBI records show a substantial increase in marijuana-related arrests during the decade studied, from about 340,000 in 1992 to about 700,000 in 2002. The study on treatment rates was conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which estimated that 41 states had an increase in the number of people who sought treatment for marijuana use during the decade studied. The estimates reflect the number of people who get help at a drug or alcohol treatment center, which can include clinics, hospitals or private doctor's offices, administration officials said. Admissions declined in three states: Alaska, New Mexico and Massachusetts. Three others, Arizona, Mississippi and Kentucky, had incomplete data from which to draw a conclusion. The report said comparisons were difficult in four states — Ohio, Texas, West Virginia and Virginia — because of changes in the facilities that reported. However, a map in the report showed Virginia as one of the states that had experienced an increase. SAMHSA official Deborah Trunzo could not explain the discrepancy. Overall, the admission rates for marijuana treatment rose from 45 per 100,000 people in 1992 to 118 per 100,000 people in 2002, the latest year such numbers are available. "Marijuana is not a harmless substance, and these treatment trends emphasize that point," said SAMHSA Administrator Charles Curie. A spokeswoman for the agency said the study did not determine whether people sought treatment on their own or were ordered to do so by a court. "We have no way of knowing why there are so many more going for treatment. The data just tells us that there are," said spokeswoman Leah Young. She added, "Being forced into treatment does not indicate you don't need it." Dr. Terry Horton, who treats people for drug addiction at the Phoenix House in New York, said he's not surprised by the federal government's numbers. "We provide long-term residential treatment, and when they need that level of care, it's a severe problem we're dealing with, and it almost always involves marijuana and alcohol," Horton said. Treatment can take up to two years and involves working with individuals on their attitudes and behaviors. Horton said he was skeptical of assertions that the treatment trends were simply the result of stiffer law enforcement. "That's just a fallacy," Horton said. "We're in the trenches, and we take care of individuals whose lives are very much disrupted by any number of substances, including marijuana." The Drug Policy Alliance, which seeks to legalize marijuana and regulate it along the lines of alcohol, said an increase in the number of people forced into treatment for marijuana takes up bed space for those addicted to more harmful drugs. On the Net: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: http://www.oas.samhsa.gov Copyright: 2005 Associated Press
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Comment #32 posted by Sam Adams on March 04, 2005 at 20:14:47 PT
unkat
yeah, you summed it up pretty well. The government is like the creature in "The Blob", expanding and covering everything to grow itself into a bigger creature. Spreading its poison. Now they've corrupted the substance abuse treatment industry and its well-intentioned practitioners. Bush even wrapped the tentacles around the Church, forever tainting them with federal funds...."faith-based" programs. Now the church will have to toe the federal line or lose money. I don't know if it's working as activist to change the MJ laws, or if it's something else, but every day I live I become more libertarian now. I think part of it is also being a kid in the 70's - there was a lot of bicentennial stuff going on around 1976, and I think I really bought into the whole freedom idea. I want the freedom to die without a seat belt. I want the freedom to smoke cheap cigarettes. I want the freedom to starve in my old age because I didn't plan for retirement. I don't want safety and security, not if it means giving up freedom. Not if it means working for scumbag government bureaucrats and their minions until July or August of every year.
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Comment #31 posted by unkat27 on March 04, 2005 at 19:35:45 PT
The ONDCP are Vampires and Vultures
rchandar is right. The govt creates these stats by forcing people who have been arrested for possession of cannabis into 'treatment' which is mainly just regular counceling sessions. A person does not have to be 'addicted' to be forced into these sessions, just arrested for possession. This is govt spin-propaganda to further demonize cannabis so that the PTB and all the greedy capitalists can continue to suck the blood and destroy people's lives for nothing, like the vampires and vultures that they are. There's much profit in the war on drugs and cannabis persecution is the base for about 70 percent of it. The pigs love all that easy money. Legalization of cannabis would take most of it away. Their extra homes on the coast, yaghts, condos, and exotic island real-estate is much more important to them than the masses of cannabis users who enjoy the benefits of its many medicinal and recreational uses. Off with their heads!!!!
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Comment #30 posted by FoM on March 04, 2005 at 19:28:19 PT
Taylor121
Good luck to you and Texas! I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you.
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Comment #29 posted by Taylor121 on March 04, 2005 at 19:26:34 PT
TEXANS: Super Important Action Alert! This it it! 
On Tuesday, the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee will hear testimony on H.B. 254, which would reduce the penalty for possession of one ounce or less of marijuana to the equivalent of a traffic ticket. Chances like this don't come around too often in Texas. So,let's show our support.There are three things you can do to help.1. Pack the room.We need supportive -- and appropriately dressed -- activists to attend the hearing. The more supporters we have, the more lawmakers will realize that this is an issue that simply won't go away. The hearing will be held in Austin in room E2.016 in the capitol building on March 8, at 2:00 p.m. Please e-mail mmckey mpp.org if you are interested in testifying.2. Urge the committee members to support the bill.Please visit http://mpp.org/TX/action.html to use our
electronic system to send a letter to the committee members
supporting H.B. 254. It takes only a moment, but it can make a huge difference. Or, if you prefer to call these legislators, visit https://ssl.capwiz.com/mpp/dbq/officials/?lvl=L to find their names and numbers. And visit http://mpp.org/TX/letters_81.html to get talking points.State legislators truly do listen to their constituents.
According to former U.S. Congressman Billy Evans (D-GA),
"Legislators estimate that 10 letters from constituents
represent the concerns of 10,000 citizens. Anybody who will
take the time to write is voicing the fears and desires of
thousands more."http://mpp.org/TX/action.html3. Pass this alert on to your friends and family and tell them to repeat steps one through three.H.B. 254, introduced by Rep. Harold Dutton (D-Houston), would spare those possessing small amounts of marijuana from having to serve jail time. The bill would make possession of less than one ounce of marijuana a Class C misdemeanor. Under current law, possession of less than two ounces of marijuana is a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail.http://mpp.org/TX/action.html(Please visit http://www.mpp.org/TX/bills_1006.html to see the bill.)Commenting on H.B. 254, Rep. Dutton stated that Texas has "been tough on crime for the last decade or so, and now it's time to be a little bit smart on crime."http://mpp.org/TX/action.htmlThank you for supporting the Marijuana Policy Project. With enough citizen pressure, March 8 will mark a significant turning point in Texas' marijuana policies. 
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Comment #28 posted by mayan on March 04, 2005 at 18:25:43 PT
Cannabis = WMD's
How long will the AP parrot the ONDCP's bogus propaganda? I suppose it doesn't matter much as neither the AP nor the federal government have any credibility left to lose!"WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION"Need I say more? THE WAY OUT IS THE WAY INSan Francisco 9/11 Truth Alliance Upcoming Events - March 9th - 12th:
http://www.septembereleventh.org/sf/index.phpJFK & 9/11 - Amazing Ironies, Striking Similarities & Curious Coincidences:
http://rense.com/general63/ccur.htm9/11 Was an Inside Job -A Call to All True Patriots:
http://www.911sharethetruth.com/
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Comment #27 posted by knowhemp on March 04, 2005 at 18:18:12 PT
HAHAHA
The study on treatment rates was conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration,I like the way they call it a study! Hilarious! As if they didn't just pull up the numbers! This reminds me of that scene in Half Baked where Dave Chappelles character goes to treatment and all the real addicts boo him. What's NOT funny is a large group of readers will look at this and say 'No, it's more dangerous now, I read about it!' And a few of the people who are trying to defend cannabis won't realize how they came up with this illusion, and will be stopped in their tracks. With this kind of boloney out there it really makes it difficult for semi educated cannabis proponents to debunk all the myths. 'I used to suck d*** for coke! You ever suck d*** for marijuana!??? - Bob Sagat in Half Baked
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Comment #26 posted by siege on March 04, 2005 at 17:28:46 PT
CANNABIS GRAN’S BID TO BE MP
She said: “I was at the Legalise Cannabis Alliance conference last week in Norwich and they have asked me to be their candidate.http://www.hexham-courant.co.uk/news/viewarticle.asp?id=186450CANNABIS GRAN’S BID TO BE MP
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Comment #25 posted by siege on March 04, 2005 at 17:10:40 PT
car set.
Taser on 13 yr old girl - twice
At 65 Lbs in tn she is still in a car set.The Gov't. has found a way to kill us off just shoot us with a Taser I would think this is unconstitutional they have give us a death  sentence and what about the ones that have to take HART med. any one with a Prescription Drugs is die.
is this what there saying.
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Comment #24 posted by The GCW on March 04, 2005 at 16:29:33 PT
Government creats the "treatment trends" !!!
"Marijuana is not a harmless substance, and these treatment trends emphasize that point, said Charlie"""THCUIt's unfair to inflict drastic punitive actions to users, which are greater than the harms of cannabis itself, then, further, cite those harms as reasons to stop using cannabis.  
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Comment #23 posted by FoM on March 04, 2005 at 15:38:35 PT
Thanks Sukoi
I archived the article. I appreciate the link!
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Comment #22 posted by Sukoi on March 04, 2005 at 15:08:12 PT
An interesting article
Toking the Curehttp://www.citybeat.com/current/news2.shtml
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Comment #21 posted by gloovins on March 04, 2005 at 14:12:24 PT
Please take a look at Florida now
Taser on 13 yr old girl - twicehttp://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050302/APN/503020775The last paragraph says something..."Taser Inc. says its guns are a non-lethal alternative to shooting dangerous suspects. But about 100 people have died nationally since 1999 after being shocked with a Taser, including recent deaths in Pensacola, Hollywood, Naples and Delray Beach. Many of those who died were drug users."Drug users? How many cannabis vs hard drugs (PCP, Meth). I bet if cannabis in their system, it was counted against the suspect, but I'll bet none had ONLY cannabis in their system. Btw, was alcohol &/or tobacco counted, mmm?Just a thought.
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Comment #20 posted by FoM on March 04, 2005 at 13:28:27 PT
Just a Note
My post was about hard drug addiction not Cannabis. I never think of Cannabis as a substance that needs treatment. Just stop using it and maybe a person might have a few restless nights sleep that everyone has from time to time for different reasons. If I stopped drinking coffee for a week or two I think it wouldn't be a nice feeling.
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Comment #19 posted by FoM on March 04, 2005 at 13:09:57 PT
Drug Addiction
The only way to treat someone for drug addiction is this way in my opinion.* The person has to ask for help because they feel they need help.* The counselors must try hard to help the person even if it is just by listening closely to how they feel.* If a person returns to the drug they seek help to stop using they shouldn't be punished. They punish themselves mentally enough.* Believe in the addicted person that they really are trying.* Be kind and know that it might not work for every person and there is not much you can do about it.* Jail only angers a drug addicted person. They are sick not criminals.Thanks for reading my rant.
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Comment #18 posted by rchandar on March 04, 2005 at 13:00:40 PT:
...it's just stupid bulls %t
It's so stupid--When you look at it, what the hell "treatment" do they really offer?? It's all "counselling"; they don't give you any medications or anything. Just a bunch of hot-air counselors preaching to you about how weed is bad, weed users are sorry criminals with no focus. No one actually "teaches" you anything because at rehab, people are there for anything from sex addiction to coke to alcohol to crystal meth to...tobacco. That ain't treatment!If the government is serious about rehabilitation policy, they'll commission marijuana-only rehab clinics and focus more on medication and counselling from a licensed psychiatrist. If you want to get off pot, usually what you need are DRUGS--Prozac, Zyprexa, stuff like that--and a doctor who can level with you sympathetically, not dogmatically.But that'll never happen. They're just a bunch of bureaucratic idiots.--rchandar
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Comment #17 posted by rchandar on March 04, 2005 at 12:55:42 PT:
yeah...
There's no doubt, if they threaten you repeatedly with jail time, you'll seek treatment.I just don't want to. If you go to rehab, to the police forever you're always a junkie, and they'll follow you wherever you go. Just say "no" to it.Do whatever you've got to do. Smoke when the cards are good, lay low when you know things are bad. STAY OUT OF THEIR HANDS.--rchandar
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Comment #16 posted by Sam Adams on March 04, 2005 at 12:26:07 PT
professional liars
More 1984-ish garbage. Anyone that drinks or does hard drugs just laughs at the idea of detox, or rehab, for marijuana. I know that in my state, the percent of people checking themselves into rehab for MJ was less than 5%, and over 20% each for coke, H, and alcohol. This was before forced MJ treatment really got going, though.I remember a friend that went into rehab for coke & alcohol said that out of 35 people in his group, 1 guy was there for MJ, and he took a lot of good-natured abuse about it from the other addicts.It just keeps adding up. Governement forces people into treatment they don't need. Where does it end?  More parasites, this time, well-wishing treatment professionals.  My question is, how many more parasites can we afford? We need jobs that produce something, that generate value. Soon 80% of the people here will work for the government, and the other 20% will be working 90 hours per week to pay their taxes.  
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Comment #15 posted by FoM on March 04, 2005 at 12:24:40 PT
AOLBites
Thanks!
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Comment #14 posted by AOLBites on March 04, 2005 at 12:24:20 PT
more contact info
Arkansas Democrat Gazette - (202) 662-7690 - 1190 National Press Bldg, Washington, DC 20045Kevin Freking, Arkansas Democrat Gazette. Phone: (202) 662-7690http://www.rra.org/board.html
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Comment #13 posted by AOLBites on March 04, 2005 at 12:17:56 PT
ahem. AP? no, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette...
http://www.google.com/search?num=100&hl=en&lr=&q=Kevin+Freking+drug&btnG=Search aparently he works wasington for Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and that gets him AP wires now and thenhis email is on that page down there
This is an alphabetical listing of the news staff of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazet
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Comment #12 posted by dongenero on March 04, 2005 at 11:54:18 PT
author?
Authored by Kevin Freking, The Associated Press????More like, ONDCP release cut and pasted by Kevin Freking, The Associated Press.Sad example of supposed "journalism".The major media is officially obsolete to the american public.
This BS argument is so deceptive and old. Unfortunately, many people believe what they read from these major outlets.
Journalism in this country has huge credibility problems. 
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Comment #11 posted by cloud7 on March 04, 2005 at 11:42:14 PT
...
"The admission rate for those who seek treatment for marijuana use nearly tripled between 1992 and 2002"Incidently, marijuana possession arrests (and thus forced treatment) have tripled between 1992 and 2002. (http://www.drugwarfacts.org/marijuan.htm)
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Comment #10 posted by FoM on March 04, 2005 at 11:39:51 PT
Hi Marc!
Good to see you! You got that right too.
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Comment #9 posted by Marc Paquette on March 04, 2005 at 11:34:40 PT:
THAT'S ALL BULL!
There's a difference between voluntary and forced treatments.Many judges will either give the choice of jail or treatment.Most "offenders" will chose treatment..of course!It has nothing to do because marijuana is addictive or dangerous.Marc
http://www.medpot.net/forums
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Comment #8 posted by potpal on March 04, 2005 at 11:34:18 PT
Different avenue..
Send email to Jon Stewart or Bill Mayer. Increasingly, it appears that our comedians are the ones who get to the truth in these times. 
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Comment #7 posted by Max Flowers on March 04, 2005 at 11:25:30 PT
Frecking AP
I just sent an email, although I have a gut feeling it will just be laughed at.
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Comment #6 posted by kaptinemo on March 04, 2005 at 11:16:47 PT:
To answer a most important question
You can let them know how you feel about Gannon-style 'journalism' by writing to info ap.orgA link to there is available at this page: http://www.ap.org/pages/about/faq.html#1
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on March 04, 2005 at 11:14:51 PT
Max Flowers 
I agree it wouldn't make a difference it's just the AP. 
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Comment #4 posted by Max Flowers on March 04, 2005 at 11:10:54 PT
garbage journalism
Yeah let's call this bullsh-t. Who do we talk to to expose this dishonest crap? AP? Would it even do any good?
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Comment #3 posted by kaptinemo on March 04, 2005 at 10:51:13 PT:
Looks like Gannongate journalism to me
Namely, just cutting and pasting from Guv'mint ONDCP handouts. Is this guy a bona fide journalist, or another Gannon/Guckert clone? Looks like the latter to me. I'm writing AP to ask precisiely that question; may I suggest we all do the same and point out what Observer has?
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on March 04, 2005 at 10:49:18 PT
observer
Exactly!
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Comment #1 posted by observer on March 04, 2005 at 10:46:40 PT
These are Court-Ordered - Not Sought
These are not people "seeking" anything. They are people forced by goverment into the "treatment" or be jailed. That isn't "seeking" anything. That's coercion. Notice how this propaganda piece leaves off mentioning the JAIL held over their heads.
Drug War Propaganda - book now in print
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