SAN BERNADINO, Calif., April 22, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Advocates for the legalization of marijuana have gained ground over the last few years through a push for medicinal use. However, Dr. Kay Wachuku believes the consequences of this action could be more detrimental than perceived. His new book, Marijuana Impaired Youths: A Clinical Handbook for Counselors, Mentors, Teachers and Parents (now available through AuthorHouse), is a real look inside the social, emotional and physical effects the drug has on abusers.
"The main purpose of the book is to educate the general public on the dangers of the new hybrid of marijuana grown in the Pacific Northwest United States and British Columbia, Canada...(T)his new breed of marijuana is nothing like the type that was smoked in the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s," Wachuku says.
Marijuana Impaired Youths is a detailed guidebook for parents, teens and young adults. This clinical handbook is intended to educate them and the general public about the implicit and explicit dangers inherent in marijuana use and abuse. Wachuku culminates his 12 years of clinical experience to inform the public about the dangers often left out of legalization advocates' platforms. He offers serious research findings about the health problems associated with medical marijuana and suggests safe, proven alternatives.
He has seen the faces of those affected by this form of drug abuse. Marijuana Impaired Youths uses vivid vignettes of real life clinical cases to illustrate the "challenge, cognitive damage, discomfiture and distortion marijuana abusing youths face." The names have been changed but the stories and effects are real. Through these stories, he shows the hows and whys associated with this kind of drug abuse.
"Few books have taken a close look at how marijuana initially offers a therapeutic comfort to youths who have been emotionally injured by their families, school systems or socio economic inequalities ... (T)he same therapeutic comfort later turns against the youths who indulge in marijuana abuse, thereby, leading to a self defeating behavior," he says.
In 1992, Wachuku launched the first multifamily unit substance abuse after care treatment program in the city of San Bernardino, Calif. In 1995, NBC news dubbed the program, "Sober Living at its Best." He continues to research treatment protocol for working with youths and has written one other book, Anthology of Monographs on Addiction Studies (available through AuthorHouse).
For more information, visit www.addictionbook.com and www.marijuanayouths.com.
AuthorHouse is the world leader in publishing and print-on-demand services. Founded in 1997, AuthorHouse has helped more than 18,500 people worldwide become published authors. For more information, visit www.authorhouse.com.