Before we celebrate in La Plata County that national and state data show youths’ use of marijuana is declining (“Teenage marijuana use down nationally,” Herald, Dec. 17.), let’s take a peek at our own data. These data are from the same survey cited in the article, the Healthy Kids Colorado Survey, which is administered to all 6th- through 12th-graders in our county every other year.

Our overall rates of marijuana use are lower than those cited in the article, but that’s likely because we include younger students in the sample. We purposely include middle schoolers to track prevention efforts aimed at delaying age of first use. Despite many coordinated prevention efforts in our county, 2013 reports show that 11 percent of high schoolers reported trying marijuana before age 13 with the largest percentage (12 percent) trying it for the first time at age 13-14.

Thirty-day use for La Plata County youths actually increased from 14 percent in 2011 to 15 percent in 2013. Lifetime use also increased from 26 percent to 32 percent in the same time period. We are finding the same phenomena as the state; youth perception of risk is declining. This went from 11 percent of youth reporting there is no risk in using marijuana in 2011 to 16 percent believing there is no risk. It may be that youths perceive legal recreational and medicinal marijuana for adults as proof it is either benign or perhaps beneficial.

Youths need to fully understand the newest research that shows negative links between adolescent brain development and marijuana use. This research is specific to youth versus adult use so protection of growing brains is the issue at hand when trying to prevent and reduce youth marijuana use. For more information on marijuana and adolescent brain research: http://abovetheinfluence.com/drugs/marijuana/#facts.

Lauren Patterson

Celebrating Healthy Communities Coalition, Durango