Legalize Marijuana...

Some Bipolar Patients Disagree with Lily Drugs Best For Manic Episodes

2011-08-17T22:49:00.000-07:00

Johnson & Johnson says Lilly drugs found among best for manic episodes. Anti Psychotics are far more effective than mood stabilizers in tackling acute manic episodes, researchers found, and Eli Lilly's Zyprexa, Johnson & Johnson's Risperdal and generic haloperidol outperform the rest. "Strikingly, some anti psychotic drugs were overall significantly more effective than mood stabilizers,"
"These results have potential clinical implications that should be considered in the development of clinical practice guidelines."Mania, defined as an "excessively raised mood," affects around 1 percent of the population worldwide, and experts say it tends to alternate with periods of depression. These swings define the diagnosis of bipolar disorder. while haloperidol "seems to have won the race for pole position in the treatment of acute mania," management of these episodes is not always the primary treatment aim.
"Instead, the main goals of treatment are attention to long-term mood stability and prophylaxis," they said, suggesting that haloperidol may not always be best in these circumstances.

Hate to Burst your Bubble but Most Bipolar Patients Would Disagree with your Findings. At least the ones who are worried about taking a safer drug with little to no side effects or the patients that can think for themselves and not being over drugged by your medications...After 15 years taking the Big Pharm Drugs for Bipolar & PTSD you can keep your poison and side effects and I will stick to the most natural drug with safer side effects... My Medicine ~ Marijuana.. At least with Marijuana I still have a Thought Process and a Conscience.Cannabis can help Calm or Reverse your different Bipolar Episodes.. Learn Your Symptoms and the Different Marijuana Strains to Control your Symptoms. Sativa Strain is preferred during Daytime its an Uplifting, Energetic High, Feeling of Optimism & Well Being, Provides a Good Measure of Pain Relief for Certain Symptoms (Great for getting Housework done without Vegging Out) Great During Depressive State by Calming/ Reversing the symptoms. Stavia Strain is not great during Certain Mania Episodes During Rage or Euphoria Moments it can make these Symptoms Worse.. A Few Pure Sativa Strains have Very High THC they are known to have a Quite Spacey or Hallucinogenic Effect. Find the Sativa Strain and THC Level thats Best for You.. Indica Strain is preferred in Late/Evening it has a Pleasant Body Buzz, Great for Relaxation, Stress Relief, Overall Sense of Calm & Serenity, Very Effective for Overall Body Pain Relief, Often to Treat Insomnia/Night Sleep Aid. Can Work Great in Mania State When Rage Or Euphoria is Dominant to Calm/Reverse Symptoms. Can Make Depressive Episode Worse (Sativa Strain can Calm/Reverse when Depression is dominant). A Few Pure Indica Strains are Very Potent in the THC and Cause Couchlock Effect enabling you to sit still & enjoy the experience .Find you Strain and THC Levels for You.. Know your Symptoms and Get Educated on Different Strains to Match Your Individual Symptoms or Illness and that can help you in a more natural way with safer side effects..
Its about Your Health and Life. I will choose the drug based on whats best for me not what a pharmaceutical company ( that makes money by selling drugs ) to tell me what is best based on unknown research.

A Vicious Cycle " War on Drugs "

2011-07-25T18:46:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I often consider myself to be a bit of a conspiracy theorist when it comes to the government. So, I just want to rant for a moment.

This has all come up because of a recent debate that I had where I found myself defending my generation, better known as Generation “Y”. Apparently, my generation is viewed as the slacker nation among our parents, and grandparents. I feel like the below statements have a lot to do with this image of our young people. I grew up hearing stories from my parents & grandparents of how “Old America” used to be. Unfortunately, my generation no longer has the opportunities that were once available to our parents and grandparents. Big companies are outsourcing, and the ones that do remain in the States go to “temp agencies” for their hiring process, therefore the company itself is not responsible for providing the benefits that would normally be available to full time and long term employees. I feel like our government has taken many of the simplicities away from us, since the “War on Drugs” began in the Nixon years. (Let me remind you, over 40 years ago!) I honestly feel like this is when America began fading away. However, I will also say that I feel like we are under the same scrutiny that the hippie era experienced. No matter whether you agree or disagree… I think we can all agree that, We Need a Revolution to end the Vicious Cycle!

So here goes the ranting!

Am I the only one that sees our government as a tool to corrupt peoples lives, as well as our economy? Particularly when it comes to drugs, jails, and institutions. For instance, a person with addiction problems… It has been proven that addiction, no matter in what form (i.e. drugs, hoarding, games, eating, etc) is a disease that must be treated. The solution is not to jail and institutionalize these people. If the government must get involved, I think they should focus more on the recovery process rather than the alternative prescription med solution, which is obviously creating more addicts! I feel like we are being forced by our government to take “their” medications, which in my opinion are some of the worst drugs out there. Why is a drug only safe or unsafe because our government says so? It has been proven time after time that FDA approved drugs can be far more fatal, and addicting than many street level drugs. And this so called “War on Drugs” has been going strong for 40+ years… Are we any closer to solving the problem? NO, we are not! We have more addicts today than ever. It seems our government is only “ok” with us using FDA regulated prescription meds. I also feel like this is part of the plan. People think that if the government tells you it is okay to take it- well then it must be good. We take prescription drugs for one ailment; the side effects will cause another ailment- hence, another drug to take… and so on and on it goes. (Vicious Cycle!)

Many people end up in our jails & prisons, or mental hospitals, and treatment facilities- most of which are state and/or federally funded; taking a tremendous toll on our budgeting crisis that is already in effect. Not to mention it ties up our court systems for more threatening cases that should have top priority. Once a case enters the court systems, lawyers get involved- money, money, money… but it’s all coming from the people’s pocket and going into the governments’. Then, the people are labeled via their criminal records- making it impossible to work for a decent company. Therefore, no medical benefits or retirement plans are available to that person. (Not that many companies offer such benefits anymore, anyway) In my opinion this only will lead them to depending on the government for support. (Vicious Cycle!)

Jails and institutions are only breeding grounds for addiction and mental illnesses. Meanwhile, our school systems, our economy, and jobs are on a constant decline. Also keep in mind that if addicts are jailed, their addiction (no matter if they do overcome it) will follow them around for the rest of their lives making it nearly impossible to remove themselves from the vicious cycle of addiction. I feel like this has had a negative impact on our unemployment statistics as well. Once you’re in the “system”- it’s nearly impossible to get a job, forcing those people into lower positions, which put them in a lower demographic, where their addictions are constantly haunting them. Many of these people also receive government benefits, in the form of disability checks, welfare, and/or food stamps which obviously negatively affects our economy if we have too many capable people receiving these benefits. A surplus of government handouts only keeps people from trying to improve their lives. Why would they want to try and do better? They live better off government benefits than they would if they took a job making minimum wage. The sad part about it is many people, who are addicts (even if it is prescription meds) spend the only money they have to buy their medications. (Vicious Cycle!)

Another biggie is government funded treatment facilities. I’m mainly emphasizing on the Meth epidemic that has swept our country. Our government’s solution was to open clinics and provide, for a small fee, a daily dose of Methadone. This is NO BETTER than meth itself. People are just as addicted to Methadone as they are the opiates that they’re trying to kick in the first place. They also experience many of the painful effects trying to come off of Methadone as they do heroin, meth, etc. This is just a prime example of the government control, and the effects of brainwashing. (Simply a Vicious Cycle!)

Cristie Clark

Drugs Is A Health Issue.

2011-07-19T20:07:00.000-07:00

I read this article with dismay. Will law enforcement and the public never learn that our approach to drug use has failed and will continue to fail so long as we insist on treating drug use as a criminal act instead of a health issue?

The “drug war” started more than 40 years ago under Richard Nixon, and in that 40 years more than $1 trillion has been wasted. And for what? Has drug use dropped or ceased altogether? No. Has arresting and incarcerating adults for minor drug offenses stopped others from using drugs? No. Has the drug war made acquiring drugs difficult? No. Has the drug war stopped drugs from coming into or being produced in this country? No. Has the drug war increased the price or decreased the purity of drugs available? No. Has it kept drugs out of the hands of children? Certainly not.

It has created the horrific prison overcrowding we see in Alabama. In our prison system, which was built to hold about 12,000 people, we are running at 195 percent capacity with nearly 30,000 inmates. The state Legislature refused to address this issue in this last session, so now the federal government is coming in to take it over. It has created a police state where everyone is a potential suspect. It has created no-knock, SWAT team raids on the suspicion that someone might have a couple joints in their home. These raids place everyone involved, police, suspects, kids and family pets in extreme danger.

People who are addicted to a substance need no additional help in further complicating their lives. Addiction is a private family matter and should be treated as such. Imagine if we had alcohol task forces who went around kicking in doors, Swat armed with guns, and imprisoning everyone who liked to occasionally drink a beer?

Some might argue that the U.S. Constitution delegates powers to the feds to arrest MMJ providers because of the schedule 1 status of cannabis in the Controlled Substance Act .

2011-07-19T19:47:00.000-07:00

Education will set us free.......

U.S. Constitution,

“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” Some might argue that the U.S. Constitution delegates powers to the feds to arrest MMJ providers because of the schedule 1 status of cannabis in the Controlled Substance Act . However, the CSA’s schedule 1 requirements are: “1) Schedule I.– (A) The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse. (B) The drug or other substance has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. (C) There is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision.” Clearly, cannabis doesn’t qualify on B and C, and the Merck Medical Manual of Diagnosis and Treatment clearly states that cannabis is not physically addictive, so it doesn’t meet criteria for A either.

Has anybody read this???

Why do the feds not follow there own rules??

Conclusion: The power to regulate MMJ is not delegated to the federal government because it does not meet their own criteria to be a schedule 1 drug. Therefore, they have no power to regulate it and must reclassify or remove it from the list. Isn’t it ironic that tobacco meets all three criteria of the CSA Schedule 1, and yet, tobacco companies are instrumental in preventing the consumption of the non-addictive, medically safe and effective cannabis (visualize outstretched politician’s hands)? Meanwhile, tobacco, which clearly meets all three criteria of a schedule 1 drug (A) highly physically addictive, B) no medical use, C) not safe even when used under the directions of a physician and in fact proven to cause cancer), is legal, sold for a hefty profit, and the profits consequently used to influence the decisions of politicians making laws.

When will the Feds reschedule tobacco and arrest Big Tobacco???

"The evidence in this record [9-6-88 ruling] clearly shows that marijuana has been accepted as capable of relieving the distress of great numbers of very ill people, and doing so with safety under medical supervision. It would be unreasonable, arbitrary and capricious for DEA to continue to stand between those sufferers and the benefits of this substance in light of the evidence in this record."

-- Judge Francis L. Young
DEA Administrative Law Judge
Administrative ruling on Petition to Reschedule Marijuana
Sep.

The Constitutional Rights of Patients and Medical Marijuana

2011-06-23T21:28:00.000-07:00

The Constitutional Rights of Patients and Medical Marijuana

The Hemp Connection: Celebrate and Honor Flag Day by Re-Legalizing Cann...

2011-06-15T22:46:00.000-07:00

The Hemp Connection: Celebrate and Honor Flag Day by Re-Legalizing Cann...: "Happy Flag Day! If you don't know what Flag Day is, please let us share some of the History behind it and why I ask each of you today ..."

In Reference to My Chaotic Companion...

2011-06-14T21:41:00.000-07:00

Phone Calls Received. To Ease Nerves, This posting has nothing to do with how I am feeling at this moment. This is a Post about My Chatoic Companion ( Bipolar ).. This is to express feelings..Personal experiences might be present in my writing and some are in the past tense. It may be dark to some but I never said it was Beautiful.. Not to Worry.. Its always better to let it out than hold it in.. No matter how painful it may be or appear..

Thanks for Caring & Lots of Love .....

Pot Dealer's Tragic Choice Ended in Death | Video - ABC News

2011-06-10T00:40:00.000-07:00

Pot Dealer's Tragic Choice Ended in Death Video - ABC News
MUST SEE VIDEO.. This is Our Governments ( WAR ON DRUGS ).. To Keep Us Safe...

My Chaotic Companion...

2011-06-09T01:04:00.000-07:00

That’s funny. You don’t look Bipolar.

Just rode the waves of emotional highs and lows and didn't think much about it.

Imagine waking up one morning and saying to yourself: That's it. I am done.

Today is the day to end it all. Be careful...

If you say it too loud and people hear you, they'll think you're crazy

and lock you in a mental asylum.

Then again, were all a little crazy at times. Aren't we?

My Manic Episode.

My extreme high.

In my manic periods, I feel as though I am flying, effortlessly getting through the day. The feeling of being invincible with no second thought of all the destructive things I am doing. Body feels charged with energy, I can forget about trying to sleep, so insomnia sets in when my mind needs rest the most. Talking rapidly and forcefully without finishing my sentences, and constantly interrupting others. Time seems to go by twice as fast as usual. Thoughts racing through my mind as if you are tiring to listen to several conversations at once. A struggle just to deal with people, Pacing around and can not focus or concentrate on a simple task. Agitation and frustration starts to set in. Like a ticking time bomb ready to explode at any given moment. A simple comment or question aimed towards me makes its worse, I scream back. WHAT!! Without even recognizing how I just reacted. The guilt begins to set in; I know it’s not really me acting that way, then anger towards myself for not being able to have control over it. I lose my appetite and begin feeling depressed and ashamed.

My symptoms are dynamic and occur in clusters of changing intensity. Sometimes mania dominates, sometimes depression, and I have no way of knowing which it will be or for how long. A day to day struggle, I received a life sentence and can’t understand why.

Soon I lose control of my moods and sensations.

I hear imaginary muffled voices and tunes. Tears may flow regardless of how I feel. As my thoughts continue to race, I lose my ability to concentrate and become extremely anxious—an anxiety that may turn into either pleasure or rage. I feel all-powerful at one moment and suicidal the next.

I make plans and promises that I will not even remember at the end of the day.

Eventually depression takes over. I become so physically ill that I am too weak to function. I ache all over. The world seems drab and dull. I want nothing to do with other people, and I feel as though my presence is a burden to them. I do not even want to answer the phone or go to the door. I cannot carry on a conversation, because everything people are saying to me seems like a cruel attack.

Activities that usually bring pleasure seem foreign to me. I am overwhelmingly anxious and feel as though I have never done anything right in my life. I am also extremely indecisive; a simple task like getting out of bed and taking a shower takes all morning to plan and complete.

Just when I think the agony cannot possibly get worse, it does. It seems as though it is never going to end. It is as if there is no future, no present, and no past—an eternal void. My mind and body are ravished by these constant shifts in mood.

My mind races, feeling of anger and hopelessness and then it considers suicide.

The Hanging.

The flashbacks keep coming back they won’t go away. The thought of dealing with this for another day.. Why? Sitting on the couch while the Tears slowing falling off my checks, the images won’t stop no matter how loud the screams are coming from inside of me. Pacing the kitchen floor, pulling at fist full of hair. I begin to argue with my own mind. I am incapable of controlling it, full of rage, Yelling at it for it to stop. The voices get louder while images appear.

I receive step by step images like an instruction manual.

Step one: Get a rope.. Crying, Searching all over the house for rope, but I have to be quiet my family is asleep and we don’t want to wake them. Ok no rope.. Wait just unplug the phone and use the cord. Standing there with the cord wrapped around each fist pulling to make sure it would not break, I look up and see the light fixture, grabbing a chair standing on my tippy toes while tying one end of the cord to the fixture and the other end around my neck, the tears were flowing faster down my cheeks as I said my sorry and goodbyes to my family.

Ok kick the chair. The cord tightens around my neck and all I could do is gasp for air and kick. I start to feel light headed everything goes black.. Finally Peace and quiet, no more racing thoughts, no more voices can be heard. An amazing feeling comes over me as it has been what I been searching for all these years.

As I opened my eyes and everything is a blur, trying to focus on someone sitting next to me. Asking what was going on since my memory was in a fog, a voice responded back you are in the hospital; I found you hanging in the kitchen and had to cut you down. I suddenly recognized the voice of my husband. I can tell he was pissed by the tone of his voice. I hear.. Why did you do that? What the hell were you thinking? No matter how many questions were asked I just stared at him, there were too many emotions going on to explain. Like he would understand anyways.. I wanted to yell (why didn’t you leave me there) it was going to be over with. I would not have had to go through one more day like this, but my anger quickly changes as I looked at him and can see the pain that I just caused. Then quickly the thought of my kids raced through my mind. The feeling of being ashamed overpowers me for what I just done. Too late for apologies as I am untied for thee hospital bed and strapped into a stray jacket and sent to a mental hospital. Now under control of doctors I am feed multiply drugs and become into a zombie state with no emotions or thoughts of my own..

I get a funny feeling
that comes from deep inside
I get all mad and angry
wanting to go and hide

Doctors call it an illness
some people think it's just me
But the thoughts and feelings
no one are able to see

Some say your psycho

Some say your just weird
It's like I'm a different person
and the old me just disappeared

Thoughts are racing, body is tired

Soul is fragile, scared and dead

Sick of hearing it’s all in your head

Wishing there was help
Wish it would just go away
Maybe if I keep praying real hard
it will some day

Harsh words & violent blows
Hidden secrets nobody knows
Eyes are open, hands are fisted
Deep inside

I'm warped & twisted
So many tricks & so many lies
Too many when’s & too many whys
Nobody's special, nobody's gifted
I'm just me

Warped & twisted
Sleeping awake & choking on a dream
Listening loudly to a silent scream
Call my mind, the numbers unlisted
Lost in someone

So warped & twisted
On my knees, alive but dead
Look at the invisible blood I've bled
I'm not gone, my mind has drifted
Don't expect much

From someone so warped & twisted
Burnt out, wasted, empty & hollow
Today is just yesterday's… tomorrow
The sun died out, the ashes sifted
I'm still here, warped & twisted

Can't you see
That you are not wired like me

You will never know
This monster inside of me
All the ugliness I see

YOU say is not there

Those of you

Who are not like me
Are blind, you see

You

Who are just not wired like me

Failed D.A.R.E Program

2011-06-08T19:37:00.000-07:00

As parents, caregivers and other important adults in the lives of young people, we know talking with our children about drugs is an important responsibility. However, many of us question the wisdom of the “just say no” anti-drug messages that does not fit with the complex lives our children lead. We as parents must make it be known to our kids that no matter what… they can have an open and honest conversation with us.

Putting safety first requires that we provide our young people with credible information and resources. We also need to teach our children how to identify and handle problems with alcohol and other drugs—if and when they occur—and how to get help and support.

Parents and educators need to abandon these failed anti-drug programs based on scare tactics, misinformation and zero-tolerance policies, and instead, focus on engaging youth in Open and honest discussions about drugs and the risks associated with drug use. Effective drug education requires an interactive environment in which students feel free to ask questions and raise concerns, without fear of judgment or punishment. Students need and deserve effective education and counseling that provide accurate, non-judgmental, science-based information about drugs.

Educators should produce an atmosphere of trust with their students to discuss questions or concerns they may have and the harms associated with drug use, not try to scare them into abstinence by bringing in the police. When schools identify students with substance use problems, they should provide special assistance and counseling to these young people and engage them in restorative practices

No parent wants his or her child to use drugs. We urge young people to avoid alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, but national surveys show us that substance use is common among high school students and most young people accept it as part of teenage social life. If we ignore the reality of teen drug use and fail to provide young people with honest, informative drug education, we increase their risk of falling into abusive and dangerous patterns.

We need reality-based approaches to drug education at home and in school that have open and honest dialogue around the risks and consequences of drug use. Students need drug education that respects their intelligence and gives them the tools to stay safe and healthy. Clearly, students, parents, and educators need to work together to address the problems that drug abuse presents to schools and communities. Drug education programs should help students make safe and sensible lifestyle decisions.

Currently, the largest such program is the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program. Without a doubt it had good intentions, and even though it has been called ineffective by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of the Surgeon General, National Academy of Sciences, and Government. The science shows that D.A.R.E. is not effective in achieving its stated goal of reducing student drug abuse.

Perhaps it should be no wonder that this program would be doomed to failure. It is built on fear and distrust between students, parents, educators, doctors, and law enforcement As those of us know, who went through it, the D.A.R.E program employs uniformed police officers – not health care professionals – to teach students about drugs. Rather than providing students with science-based information about drugs, the students are scared with horror stories about drug addiction. They are told to avoid drugs because of the legal and disciplinary consequences of their use, by the same people who will send them to jail if they are caught.

It undermines the open relationship necessary for students to ask candid questions about drugs or their drug problems for fear that they might be reported to law enforcement authorities.

It has taught the youth to be afraid to speak openly with there doctors, educators, and parents about drugs fear of being incarcerated, and shows distrust towards our law enforcement.

The D.A.R.E abstinence-only approach fails to effectively reach students who have used or are at high risk of using drugs. It doesn’t provide a fallback strategy for students who don’t “just say no.” This flawed program can’t be improved by making superficial changes to its curriculum and calling it “New D.A.R.E.” The federal governments $120 million a year anti-drug ad campaign has repeatedly been shown to be a failure in encouraging young people to stay away from drugs. In addition the federal government has wasted billions of taxpayer dollars on, exaggerated often laughable, anti-drug media campaigns that have failed entirely to curb youth drug use.

Not surprisingly, in recent years the General Accounting Office, the Department of Education, and the U.S. Surgeon General have come to recognize the ineffectiveness of the D.A.R.E. program. Yet local D.A.R.E. programs still receive federal funds (directly or indirectly) and the (SDFSCA) Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities Act still promotes drug education policies which break down the crucial trust between students and their educators needed for effective drug education.

It is time to stop wasting tax dollars on fear-based anti-drug advertising campaigns and instead channel resources into providing young people with honest information about safety, risk and treatment.

A Letter to Every Parent and Child...

2011-06-07T00:20:00.000-07:00

Dear James,

This fall you will be entering high school, and like most American teenagers, you'll have to navigate drugs. As most parents, I would prefer that you not use drugs. However, I realize that despite my wishes, you might experiment.

I will not use scare tactics to deter you. Instead, having spent many years researching drug use, abuse and policy, I will tell you a little about what I have learned, hoping this will lead you to make wise choices. My only concern is your health and safety.

When people talk about "drugs" they are generally referring to illegal substances such as marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine (speed), psychedelic drugs (LSD, shrooms, heroin etc)..

These are not the only drugs that make you high. Alcohol, cigarettes and many other substances (like glue) cause intoxication of some sort. Then there is the legal drugs, prescription drugs Lortab, Soma, Oxycotin, Xanax and Prozac just to name a few.

The fact that one drug is legal and another is illegal does not mean one is better or worse for you. All of them temporarily change the way you perceive things and the way you think.

Some people will tell you that drugs feel good, and that's why they use them. But drugs are not always fun. Cocaine speeds up your heart, Meth can lead to psychotic behaviors and severe dental problems. The ability to function both mentally and physically will decrease and people sometimes die suddenly from taking heroin. LSD can make you feel disoriented, effects (called a “trip”) vary greatly from person to person, Alcohol can cause impaired judgment, balance difficulty and impaired speech, Cigarette smoking leads to many illness and cancer such as lung cancer, dental problems. Prescription drugs have numerous side effects that can affect you physically and mentally. Marijuana alters the way you think, behave and react.

I have tried to give you a short description of the drugs you might encounter. I choose not to try to scare you by distorting information because I want you to have confidence in what I tell you. Although I won't lie to you about their effects, there are many reasons for a person your age to not use drugs or alcohol.

First, being high on marijuana or any other drug often interferes with normal life. It is difficult to retain information while high, so using it -- especially daily – can affect your ability to learn.

Second, if you think you might try marijuana, please wait until you are older. Adults with drug problems often started using at a very early age.

Finally, your father and I don't want you to get into trouble. Drug and alcohol use are illegal, and the consequences of being caught are huge. Here in the United States, the number of arrests for possession of marijuana has more than doubled in the past six years. They are serious about "zero tolerance." If caught, you could be arrested, expelled from school, barred from playing sports, lose your driver's license, be denied a college loan, and/or be rejected for college.

Despite my advice to abstain, you may one day choose to experiment. I will say again that this is not a good idea, but if you do, I urge you to learn as much as you can, and use common sense. There are many excellent books and references, including the Internet, that give you credible information about drugs. You can, of course, always talk to me. If I don't know the answers to your questions, I will try to help you find them.

If you are offered drugs, be cautious. Watch how people behave, but understand that everyone responds differently -- even to the same substance. If you do decide to experiment, be sure you are surrounded by people you can count upon. Plan your transportation and under no circumstances drive or get into a car with anyone else who has been using alcohol or other drugs. Call us or any of our close friends any time, day or night, and we will pick you up -- no questions asked and no consequences.

And please, James, use moderation. It is impossible to know what is contained in illegal drugs. The majority of fatal overdoses occur because young people do not know the strength of the drugs they consume, or how they combine with other drugs. Please do not participate in drinking contests, which have killed too many young people. Whereas marijuana by itself is not fatal, too much can cause you to become disoriented and sometimes paranoid. And of course, smoking can hurt your lungs, later in life and now. James as your father and I have always talked to you about a range of activities (including sex), think about the consequences of your actions before you act. Drugs are no different. Be skeptical and most of all be safe.

Love Mom…

Her Sons Response :

Dear Mom,

It has been eight years since I entered high school on the heels of your advice about drugs:

"James -- be skeptical and, most of all ,.. Be safe." Although I'd like to tell you that I never needed your advice because I never encountered drugs. I'd prefer to be as honest with you as you have been with me.

Just as you predicted, I spent high school and college navigating a highly experimental teenage drug culture. While some of the substances that I encountered were illegal, like marijuana, cocaine, and Ecstasy, many were not, like alcohol, cigarettes, and Ritalin. Because you explained that a drug's legality does not mean that it is better or worse for me, I approached every substance with skepticism, moderation and common sense.

Our household mantra of 'safety first' guided me through a maze of difficult decisions, particularly in college where alcohol use and abuse is widespread. Because you didn't lie or exaggerate the risks of drug use, I took your warnings seriously. I always made plans for sober transportation; I refused to leave friends alone if they were highly intoxicated; and I was never afraid to call home if I found myself in a dangerous situation.

Of course you advised me not to use drugs, but as an expert in the field, you knew that I was likely to experiment. Most parents panic in response to this likelihood, but you and Dad remained levelheaded: You didn't impose rigid rules that were bound to be broken, and you didn't bombard me with transparent scare tactics. Instead you encouraged me to think critically and carefully about drug use. When I inquired, you armed me with truthful, scientifically based information from which I could make my own decisions. This was excellent practice for adulthood, and we built a loving relationship based on trust and truth.

Mom, your work does so much more than teach parents how to talk to their kids about drugs; your work keeps parents and kids communicating at a time when most kids shut their parents out. Our relationship is a perfect example. For never ceasing to communicate with me, even when I tried to shut the door on you, and for tirelessly keeping me, my sisters, and so many other kids safe.

Thank you.

Love, James