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Public Health Kicks Off Youth Marijuana Use Prevention Campaigns

The Chronicle - 7/26/2018

July 26--Lewis County Public Health & Social Services (LCPHSS) has introduced two new campaigns aimed at preventing pre-teens and teens from experimenting with marijuana.

"The Marijuana Can't, You Can" campaign provides facts about marijuana's effects on developing brains, along with social, educational and professional, and legal consequences of marijuana use.

The second program, called "Teens are Under the Influence . . . of You!" emphasizes the impact adults have on teen behavior.

According to the Washington State Department of Health, which provides funding and materials for the programs, one in five 10th graders in Washington reported using marijuana in the previous 30 days.

The most recent Healthy Youth Survey results from Lewis County indicate that 16 percent of 10th grade respondents report having used marijuana at least once in the previous 30 days. These results were part of more than 2,100 Lewis County student participants in grades six, eight, 10 and 12 in the fall of 2016.

The county's results from this survey also revealed that as kids get older, marijuana use increases. Three percent of sixth graders reported using at least once, while 53 percent of 12th graders reported at least one use. "Heavy use," which was defined as 10 or more days in the past month was self-reported by 3 percent of Eighth graders, 6 percent of 10th graders and 15 percent of 12th graders. No sixth graders reported heavy use.

"The 'Marijuana Can't, You Can' campaign encourages young people to pursue their future dreams and immediate personal goals by helping them to see that marijuana may distract from achieving them," according to Public Health.

The "Teens are Under the Influence . . . of You!" program is aimed at adults, because research shows adults are still the number one influence in teens' lives, especially when it comes to preventing substance use such as marijuana, according to Public Health.

"Both campaigns have very different target audiences and strategies to reach these audiences. For the parents we hope the campaign will give them some action items to take the steps towards starting a conversation around marijuana use. We want them to have the tools necessary to effectively talk with their kids. You have to look at both teenagers and adults for a comprehensive prevention campaign," said Casey Peters, LCPHSS Community Contracts Coordinator.

For more information about the campaigns, or to request posters for your facility, contact Casey Peters, 360-740-1424 or Casey.Peters@lewiscountywa.gov.

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