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With poisonings on the rise, parents reminded to lock up marjuana edibles

The Washington Poison Center is warning parents about an increase in calls about kids accidentally eating marijuana-edibles. 

A variety of candy-style products exist in the medical marijuana market. Marijuana-edibles can be found in a variety of shapes, sizes, and types that often resemble traditional candies and sweets in their product name and/or appearance, such as brownies, candy bars, cookies, and gummy bears. Both medical and recreational marijuana contain enough THC, the active chemical in marijuana, to cause symptoms in both kids and adults

"The percentage of marijuana exposures among kids ages 1-12 has increased since 2013 from 39% to 47% and represents an alarming trend,” said Dr. Alex Garrard, Clinical Managing Director of the Washington Poison Center.  “This... read more

New Toolkit for Preventing Underage Marijuana Use

Are you waiting for your kids to talk to you about marijuana?  Now that marjuana is legal in Washington for those who are 21 and older, it's more important than ever for parents to talk with their kids about not using marijuana. 

A new toolkit, Preventing Underage Marijuana Use, is now available for educating middle and high-school aged youth and their parents about the health and safety risks for young people, and about Washington's marijuana law.

The toolkit includes a parent's guide with tips for preventing underage use of marijuana, the warning signs of teen marijuana use, and how to get help if a teen is already using marijuana.  The guide discusses the special health risks to teens who use... read more

Help your teen have a prom and graduation to remember

Prom night.  Graduation!  You want these milestones to be fun and memorable for your teen.  But you also worry about their safety at after-event parties, and for good reason.  The most dangerous time of year for teens is from prom night to graduation, especially when it comes to drinking and driving.  So let's keep our teens safe by being informed and prepared.

While most teens will make healthy choices, some may think of prom and graduation night as a “rite of passage” that should include alcohol.  One reason for this is that the alcohol industry spends over $5 billion on ads each year - ads which often imply that drinking alcohol will make you more attractive and popular, and is a key ingredient for fun parties.  A USA Today survey found that teens say ads have a greater... read more

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