Help the Hills presents program on marijuana use
What if your child came home one day and told you some of their friends at school had started experimenting with pot?
It is these questions and more that were addressed on Tuesday, Aug. 18 when Help the Hills presented "Marijuana: Hashing Out Fact From Fiction" with Dr. Shannon Murphy. The event took place from 6-7:30 p.m. in Tyson Hall at Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church. Topics included use among teens, recreations verses medical use and the physiological impact of marijuana use.
"We are on the cusp of great change when it comes to preventing drug use in our children," Murphy said. "I speak to you through a pediatric lens and also as an advocate for families, parents and communities."
Murphy, Homewood resident and mother of three, is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics (AAP) and is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics Practice Advisory Committee for Adolescent Substance Use and is regional coordinator of the Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM). She was selected by the AAP to work on a national committee to develop a toolkit for physicians to aid in the identification, intervention and referral of adolescents at risk for mental health and substance abuse issues.
Murphy emphasized that it is a myth that marijuana is harmless and not addictive. She also discussed legalization of marijuana and its effects on communities including schools and work environments.
Murphy's advice for parents is to talk to children early and often, look for teachable moments, base drug related messages on facts and set clear expectations.
"If kids start asking questions, parents need to speak strongly and tell them the message has not changed. Marijuana use is still addictive and harmful, and its use has serious consequences," Murphy said.
Help the Hills, an initiative of Leadership Vestavia Hills, was formed in an effort to foster open dialogue with parents, educators and community leaders about drug and alcohol use among youth. The organization hopes to provide information, tips, and strategies to help parents have mature conversations with their children about these topics. This event will be one of several meetings Help the Hills has presented within the past year.
For more about Help the Hills, visit, leadershipvestaviahills.com.
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