Community Advocate

The results are in: http://www.aadac.com/documents/PChADSumReport-electronic.pdf sounds favorable in general: The majority of parents were satisfied with their child’s safety while at a PSH. Most parents were satisfied with the services initially provided through PChAD, but satisfaction dropped off over time. Eighty-five per cent of youth would recommend the services to friends or relatives in need. The majority of youth were satisfied with the services provided at discharge; this was sustained over time. Fifty-eight per cent of youth indicated an improvement in their quality of life one month after discharge, and this percentage continued to increase over time. More than half of youth reported having a better relationship with their family following discharge. A key finding was that about half (49%) of youth who participated in the evaluation reported seeking treatment voluntarily after leaving the PSH.

FYI: http://www.aadac.com/87_142.asp The Responsible Host (Alberta Alcohol & Drug and Addiction Center) Good info.

Yes, they're all full of crap. There is no crime, there are no addictions, and there are no wars. So, we need no cops, we need no addiction counsellors, and we need no army, navy, nor airforce. Everything is rosy. None of this is really even happening, is it? Ignorance is bliss. Denial is dangerous. Enjoy the bliss while it lasts.

And that is your choice to make. Others who can think for themelves prefer to think with a clear mind, and yet others do not need assistance from mind-altering substances to remain patient with ignorant people. Whatever floats your boat, s'long as you're not sinking mine. OFF TOPIC: Hey, did you know you can choose sections of a post to quote, you don't need to quote an entire post for reference? And if you're not addressing any particular part of the post, did you know you can reply and this board will quote the name of the person you are replying to?

Kids will always be able to obtain cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, and guns. Legalization changes none of that. This is about kids. Any adult pot smokers here who haven't been smoking it since they were teens? I don't know any myself. And the ones who started as teens don' t have a problem - they could quit it they wanted to, but they like smoking it. So, they're adults. Leave them alone. For me, it's ALL about the KIDS and families who are torn apart by their teens drug use, abuse, and consequent addiction. PS: Can you refer me to a case even under current law where an adult has gained a criminal record having been caught with 'a plant'?

The teenaged brain is hardwired for risky behaviour. Drugs cav exacerbate that condition. A brain in the process of development is negatively affected by drugs on many levels, from unnoticeable to problematic, and some unknown until years down the road. Teens are already hardwired for risky behaviour without drug use: http://www.webmd.com/parenting/news/200704...-risky-behavior and they're getting into trouble with police: http://www.bcfedpolice.com/Portals/9/docs/...ends%202007.pdf Here is how mj affects the teen brain: http://theantidrug.com/drug_info/mjmh_intr...on_to_brain.asp and here's what the expert says: http://theantidrug.com/drug_info/mjmh_ask_the_expert.asp Potential for ome pretty serious consequences for the future, indeed. These people aren't making this stuff up...... Young people who use marijuana weekly have double the risk of depression later in life.1 Teens aged 12-17 who smoke marijuana weekly are three times more likely than non-users to have suicidal thoughts.2 There is evidence of increased risk for schizophrenia in later years in some teens who smoke marijuana.3 and to learn about the effects on the teenage brain that is still developing you can take a virtual tour of the brain here: http://www.theantidrug.com/drug_info/mjmh_virtual_tour.asp

Teens are already hardwired for risky behaviour without drug use: http://www.webmd.com/parenting/news/200704...-risky-behavior and they're getting into trouble with police: http://www.bcfedpolice.com/Portals/9/docs/...ends%202007.pdf Here is how mj affects the teen brain: http://theantidrug.com/drug_info/mjmh_intr...on_to_brain.asp and here's what the expert says: http://theantidrug.com/drug_info/mjmh_ask_the_expert.asp Potential for ome pretty serious consequences for the future, indeed. These people aren't making this stuff up...... Young people who use marijuana weekly have double the risk of depression later in life.1 Teens aged 12-17 who smoke marijuana weekly are three times more likely than non-users to have suicidal thoughts.2 There is evidence of increased risk for schizophrenia in later years in some teens who smoke marijuana.3 and to learn about the effects on the teenage brain that is still developing you can take a virtual tour of the brain here: http://www.theantidrug.com/drug_info/mjmh_virtual_tour.asp

Thanks for the clarity on that. I agree, the complexities are missed when we look at things from the paradigm of having an agenda to follow. Learning takes a back seat to self-expression sometimes. dumb question: fta - full time articling?

http://personalitydisorders.suite101.com/a...tional_disorder : For discussion FMI: http://lakemarypsychiatric.com/index.php?id=5,6,0,0,1,0 http://lakemarypsychiatric.com/index.php?id=5,6,0,0,1,0 http://www.thespec.com/printArticle/262009 I keep getting this feeling that we are still over-pathologizing our kids because their behaviours don't meet our expectations. Then, once we have the labels of diagnoses for them, we look to medications to solve the 'problem' behaviours. Often we miss the diagnoses of learning disabilities in the process of looking for the cause of the behaviours. I heard from a psychologist over five years go that there were motives to delete this Oppositional Definance Disorder from the DSMV. It seems it's still being used, and more than ever lately, in our schools and from younger and younger ages, parents of preschoolers are now looking for labels for their 'abnormal' children because teachers are recommending it. Thoughts?

The point: smoking is physical addiction that can be overcome with the mind alone, at least temporarily. And, if it can be done temporarily, it could be done for good. The mind can receive information that none is available, and the mind can force the body to suffer through the nicotine withdrawl. Perhaps that is because the brain tells the body to hang on, because it's over in a few hours. Just found it fascinating that the brain can do that with an addiction. I suppose it would be much harder to do that with an alcohol addiction (I've seen someone go into those shakes and fall to the ground in an epileptic seizure-nasty!) as the withdrawl symptoms may be much more visible. btw: your tv addiction (if it is a true addiction, which means you have to do it even when you don't really want to, and it is having a negative effect on your life) may result in you losing touch with your family in a meaningful way (spending less time with family), not getting important things done (becoming unmotivated) , setting you up for heart disease and other health problems (getting fat) , so while something doesn't seem like a dangerous passtime in the moment, (like smoking a few cigarettes), it could be for the long run. Good example because that same activity could prevent you from 'burn out', as it is mindless non-interactive and relaxing, which may counteract the stress you bring home from work.

Isn't it amazing what the mind can do, even in addiction? People addicted to smoking can ride on an airplane for 14 hours and not have a cigarette and not freak out. I think that is because their brains have convinced the physical addication that they'll just have to do without - can't do it - so don't even think about it. The brain is an amazing thing, on drugs, and off. While you know your own personal experience from your own personal experience when withdrawing from thc for two weeks, you don't know the personal experience of others. I do know people who have sought out rehab for marijuana, and more people are entering these programs for mj addictions as they find it is negatively affecting their lives, interfering with their motivation, and causing income loss, family loss, etc. (just like the 'real' drugs). Those people will tell you that it is possible to become addicted to mj. You may say that it is a psychological addiction, fine. But the psychological addiction is for the physical feeling of relaxation for some. (For others, it just creates paranoia! )

For the record, I am neither a prohibitionist, nor a liar. Our police have found cyrstal meth in the pot they have confiscated from our kids. I know this as fact from the source. I don't see where anyone has claimed that pot should be illegal because some has been found to contain cm. It's a warning - a precaution, a truth. I enjoyed your post - you make a whole lot of sense to me, and you articulate what I'm thinking very well.

So can younger teens - from the age of 14 - the age of sexual consent.

Thank you for this info!

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2008/01...4781262-cp.html perhaps we need to start testing the teachers, and the muffins too!

I gotta agree with that, but sure am enjoying the horse jokes!! I love puns!

Nope, at the expense of playing one-upmanship here - the worst is METH LABS

So you agree it is possible with a good lawyer? And you think that it is unlikely that it would be worthwhile for the complainant? It is possible. This is my point.