Wood County Prevention Coalition
Uniting For A Drug-Free Community Since 2004
Cancer risk to kids from cannabis use
Western Australia (WA) researchers have warned that cannabis use causes genetic mutations that can be passed on to children and grandchildren.
University of WA scientists found cannabis alters a person’s DNA structure, potentially exposing future generations to serious illnesses and diseases such as cancer.
They said the implications for future generations had not been understood and were alarming.
The link between cannabis use and illnesses such as cancer was known but the research was among the first to look at why it occurred and the impact on future generations.
Associate Professor Stuart Reece and Professor Gary Hulse, from UWA’s School of Psychiatry and Clinical Sciences, reviewed all studies in the area.
Professor Reece said the research found cancers and illnesses were likely caused by cell mutations resulting from cannabis properties chemically interacting with a person’s DNA.
A person might appear to be healthy, yet unseen damage to their DNA could be passed on to their children and cause illnesses for several generations.
“With cannabis use increasing globally in recent years, this has a concerning impact for the population,” Professor Reece said.
“Even if a mother has never used cannabis, the mutations passed on by a father’s sperm can cause serious and fatal illnesses in their children.
“The parents may not realise they are carrying these mutations, which can lie dormant and may only affect generations down the track, which is the most alarming aspect.”
Professor Reece said when the chemicals in cannabis changed a person’s DNA structure it could lead to slow cell growth and serious implications for foetal development of limbs and organs.
“The worst cancers are in children exposed in utero to cannabis effects,” he said.
Drug Free Action Alliance's Press Release Regarding HB 523
We are dismayed that the Ohio General Assembly has passed House Bill 523, a hasty attempt to legalize marijuana for medical purposes without scientific or FDA approval to protect public safety and health, and goes against the beliefs of the American Medical Association, the National Glaucoma Society, the American Society of Addiction Medicine and other esteemed medical groups. Drug Free Action Alliance has been hopeful that true FDA-approved medications taken from the components of the cannabis plant will be approved within the year. However, we are disappointed that the Legislature has approved this bill that includes edibles that can appeal to children while not allowing science to guide the so-called medical process. Parents’ abilities to keep their children safe and drug free just got harder because of this ill-advised piece of legislation.
In the same week that the Washington Post reported that Colorado, a state that has touted the success of its’ medical and recreational marijuana program, is tops in the nation in all illegal drug use, Ohio has begun to go down the same road to higher drug use and sending the mixed message to our young people that marijuana is not only safe but now a “medicine.” As a mountain of evidence has grown that marijuana increases earlier onsets of psychosis in individuals, our General Assembly has ignored the mental health crisis we have in this state and given more people access to this drug. With studies and data showing that marijuana use leads to a larger black market, decreases an employer’s ability to find safe and productive workers and drastically increases negative health impacts of marijuana use by young people, our General Assembly continued to pass this piece of legislation that only hurts Ohio’s chances to increase health and wellness in our state.Report reveals that on an average day 1.2 million full-time college students drank alcohol and 703,759 used marijuana
Thursday, May 26, 2016
On an average day 1.2 million full-time college students in the U.S. (ages 18 to 22) drank alcohol and 703,759 smoked marijuana, according to a new report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The report also shows that on an average day 239,212 part-time college students (age 18 to 22) drank alcohol and 195,020 used marijuana. The report differentiated full-time and part-time college students by their college enrollment status.
The report also sheds light on how many of America’s 9 million full-time and 2 million part-time college students’ start using substances on an average day. For example, on an average day 2,179 full-time college students drink alcohol for the first time and 1,299 start using marijuana. In addition, on an average day, 649 full-time college students start using hallucinogens, 559 start the non-medical use of prescription pain relievers and 447 start using cocaine.
In addition, the report shows that on an average day, 453 part-time college students drink alcohol for the first time, 153 start using marijuana, 129 start the non-medical use of prescription pain relievers, 117 start using hallucinogens and 80 start using cocaine.
Full-time college students who used alcohol in the past month drank an average of 4.1 drinks per day on the days which they drank; while part-time college students who used alcohol in the past month drank an average of 3.8 drinks per day on the days which they drank.
“Substance misuse at any age can jeopardize one’s health and long term well-being, but college students may be particularly at risk because of the pressures they face at this critical juncture of their lives,” said SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) Director Frances Harding. [READ MORE]
Wood County Prevention Coalition Meeting
Friday, Sep 16, 2016, 08:30 AM
Wood County Educational Service Center 1867 N Research Drive, Bowling Green, OH, United States
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
About Us
Our Vision: Helping youth be drug-free, productive and responsible citizens.
Our Mission: We are a coalition of compassionate community members working together to coordinate high quality programs for the prevention of youth substance abuse in Wood County.
Email: mkarna@wcesc.org
Website: wcprevention.org
Location: 1867 Research Drive, Bowling Green, OH, United States
Phone: (419)-354-9010
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WCPCoalition
Twitter: @woodpccoalition