IMPACT marijuana program serves students in one-on-one basis unlike IMPACT alcohol abuse groups
Senate Bill 1556, which would legalize marijuana for anyone 21 and older, remains frozen in committee discussions after the 2013 short legislative session ended.
Around 18.3 percent of undergraduate students reported marijuana use within the last 30 days, according to a spring 2013 National College Health Assessment reference group summary.
People at Oregon State University admitted usage was around 23.7 percent in 2012, according to Robert Reff, OSU substance abuse coordinator.
Primarily for students who have been sanctioned due to violations of the law, the Student Health Services IMPACT program focuses on substance abuse recovery and awareness. Guided by Reff, the $115 seminars consist of two sessions, one week apart and function based on the student’s overall needs.
Despite discussions involved with legalizing marijuana in Oregon, Oregon State University Student Health Services plans on maintaining its focus around alcohol abuse.
“Alcohol is going to be our number one priority, with or without the legalization of marijuana,” Reff said.
In addition, Reff said he has not seen any evidence that marijuana helps anxiety or cures terminal illnesses.
“I think people make assumptions that marijuana cures diseases,” Reff said. “It’s really not this cure-all people perceive it to be.”
In some cases, Reff said marijuana could actually increase anxiety levels depending on the personal effects experienced by an individual. Reff did, however, say it has been shown to affect pain and provide relief as a potential treatment.
“There are a lot of individual differences in how people process marijuana and how it affects them,” Reff said.
Jenny Haubenreiser, executive director of SHS, also served as director of health promotion at Montana State University. During her time there, Haubenreiser said Montana became one of the first states to legalize medical marijuana.
“What was happening in that state was really interesting,” Haubenreiser said.
Haubenreiser said repeated use of marijuana could lead to damaging psychological effects and missed classes.
Haubenreiser said most of her concerns stem from little information available on the properties of various marijuana types and different levels of THC within them. In addition, she said a continuing lack of control leads to higher potencies.
“When things aren’t controlled, you really don’t know what you’re getting,” Haubenreiser said.
According to Reff, a lack of funding toward continuing research efforts makes it harder for organizations to release more conclusive studies.
“The sciences behind marijuana aren’t as good as others,” Reff said. “If there’s no profit behind the research, you don’t have a lot of research.”
Reff said the IMPACT marijuana program services students on an individual one-on-one basis to account for unique psychological effects and the potential of academic shortcomings because of abuse.
“If they’re not doing well academically, I really encourage them to discontinue use of marijuana,” Reff said.
Sean Bassinger
Higher education reporter
managing@dailybarometer.com
Marijuana abuse program working with individuals
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