Teenagers Prefer Marijuana To Cigarettes

In 2010 21.4 percent of high school students admitted that they had smoked marijuana during the last month, whereas 19.2 percent students said they had smoked cigarettes during the same period of time, showed the annual “Monitoring the Future” report conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. This year numbers mark the first time that marijuana exceeded cigarettes in the corresponding age group since 1981.

Some public health groups have already started to hails the results of the survey stating it is a significant victory for the campaigns intended for reducing cigarette smoking among adolescents. However, the federal agency which tracks illegal drug consumption stated it was driven by the growth in teenage marijuana usage noting that it is widespread and would be continued, with even eighth-grade students admitting softer attitudes related to the risks of consuming pot.

Richard Gil Kerlikowske, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy at The Obama administration blamed certain medical marijuana ordinances such as California’s Proposition 19 for contributing to the assumption that marijuana is less dangerous for adolescents than tobacco.

“Saying that marijuana is ‘smoked medicine’ is totally wrong,” Kerlikowske declared during a news conference in Washington when revealing the results of the survey. He said that adolescents have got the “wrong message” from the discussions.

In the survey, the percentage of twelve-grade students who reported daily usage of pot constituted 6.1 percent – the highest proportion since the 1980s – and the proportion of 8th- and 10th-grade students consuming marijuana each day also grew, to 1% and 3%, correspondingly. While the younger seniors progress toward graduation, rate of marijuana-smokers will keep growing, scientists said.

Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Drug Abuse Institute, admitted the increase in daily marijuana consumption is especially alarming, since frequent pot smoking has been demonstrated to be more detrimental to learning skills and memory than infrequent consumption – particularly in adolescents, whose brains are developing. Regular marijuana users are also more likely to become addicted to marijuana and other drugs, Dr. Volkow added.

Attitudes toward the Ecstasy as well became softer among high school seniors and usage climbed. Scientists said the growth is the vivid example “generational forgetting,” when a decline in usage is followed by a growth among teenagers who were not targeted by anti-drug campaigns.

In addition to growing trend of marijuana smoking, researchers also found out that 8 percent of high school seniors reported abusing the prescription painkiller medication Vicodin in 2010. Illegal usage of another painkiller OxyContin was not changed held among 10th-graders. 12th grade students admitted using medications prescribed for attention deficit disorder, as around 6.5 percent admitted using them, and nearly the same number consumed amphetamines.

Australian smokers are fuming over the ban on cigarette breaks

Smokers feel frustrated and offended by the recently approved federal ban on having cigarette breaks for Public Health Department personnel. And even officials admit the ban is too hard and impossible to enforce.
Beginning with February 1, smoking employees are prohibited from having cigarette breaks throughout work hours, in conformity with a directive distributed among employees on New Year’s Eve. The corresponding ordinance was introduced by Jane Halton, head of Australian Department of Public Health.

Under the memo, personnel will be allowed to light up only during lunch break, and within at least 50 feet from the entrance of the building. The authors of the ordinance claim their major objective is keeping the professional efficiency and reputation of the Ministry and improving employees’ health.

Anti-smoking advocates admit they believe such move will serve as a gateway for implementing a comprehensive ban on having smoking breaks among public employees.

However, public lawyers were not so optimistic about the ordinance. The vice head of National Council of Civil Liberties, Sam Stosur, named the memo heavy handed and draconian, while Peter Hill, president of TressCox Lawyers which deals with employment laws violations said the directive could be legally overturned in the nearest future.

The spokesperson for Jane Halton said the ordinance was drafted in compliance with Australian Labor Code and the offenders would be subjected to penalties in conformity with APS code of conduct. The directive has an additional provision, according to which employees that are willing to give up smoking voluntarily will be provided with all necessary support.

Before the new directive, New South Wales (NSW) employees of Public Health Department were permitted to have short-time smoking breaks, admitted Victoria Carrey, communications manager of the Public Service Association NSW. However, everyone knows that smoking is dangerous even for those who don’t smoke, so if one considers this measure excessive, he would better begin receiving help for treating his dependence instead of violating the ordinance, she added.

Action on Smoking and Health Australia executive director, Anne Jones admitted that this policy is very reasonable, but difficult to enforce. However, she believes that many smokers would follow it, being afraid of effect the violation of the ordinance could have on their careers.

At the same time, head of the Community and Public Sector Union, Jade Blake admitted that the ordinance has good objective, but the means of enforcing it are not fair. As an example, she cited a similar ban on cigarette breaks imposed last year at the federal Department of Innovation has resulted in intimidations by disciplinary action for those smokers who refused to quit their nasty habit on their own.

How to Get Rid of Cigarette Smell From a House

Step 1

Cigarette smoke sticks to everything! Remember this as you are cleaning. The first thing to do is wash and sanitize all fabric surfaces. Take down the curtains, bedspreads, and even the shower curtain! Wash all of them. Take the covers off of chairs and sofas and wash them if you can. If you can’t, use a carpet cleaner with a hose attachment and clean as much surface as you can. Don’t forget the pillows! If you don’t have access to a carpet cleaner with a hose, try spraying your furniture with OdoBan. It is a great product, it kills germs and leaves a fresh scent.

Step 2

Wipe down the windows. Cigarette smoke leaves a film on even nonporous surfaces. Clean all the windows. You will probably notice the room getting brighter. This would also be a good time to wipe down the blinds with a cleaner. Tar from cigarettes yellow and discolor blinds. If they don’t go back to their original color, it’s best to buy new blinds. You will appreciate this in the long run.

Step 3

Paint the walls. Some of the time, you can get by with washing all the walls with a cleaner but for the most post, you need to paint. Apply a primer first and then select a paint with low VOCs. They are better for you and the environment.

Step 4

Clean the floors. Sweep and mop all hard floor surfaces. Vacuum and clean all carpets. If you don’t have a carpet cleaner, spread a little baking soda on the floor and let it set for about 30 minutes, then vacuum. You can spray with Febreeze afterward if you like.

Step 5

Go back and check all of the less obvious places. Wash toys, throw blankets, and wipe down all counter-tops and cabinets. Don’t forget to clean off fan blades and other light fixtures. That should do the trick.