Guest Speaker at Belle Plaine

This afternoon at Belle Plaine, Dr. Christian Thurstone spoke to 7th-12th grade students about the dangers of marijuana and drug abuse.  Dr. Thurstone is one of fewer than three-dozen physicians in the United States who are board certified in general, child and adolescent and addictions psychiatry. He is medical director of one of Colorado’s largest youth substance-abuse-treatment clinics and an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Colorado Denver, where he conducts research on youth substance use and addiction. Dr. Thurstone has completed medical training at the University of Chicago, Northwestern University and UCD. In 2010, he completed five years of mentored research training through the National Institute on Drug Abuse/American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry K12 Research Program in Substance Abuse.  Dr. Thurstone also currently serves as president of the Colorado Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Society and as a team physician serving the National Football League.  In June 2012, the United States Congress awarded him another title: U.S. Army Major. He is honored to treat American service members who need mental healthcare as an Army Reserves officer in the Combat Stress Unit of the 807th Medical Command.

Dr. Thurstone's message to Belle Plaine students focused on the dangers of marijuana use and about how the use of marijuana can have a wide variety of negative affects on the lives of youth.  In his presentation he shared how marijuana use can damage brain development in youth, increase potential addiction, enhance anxiety, diminish IQ, and increase the chances of dropping out of school.  Dr. Thurstone also spoke about how companies who are marketing and selling marijuana products in Colorado are targeting youth and young adults to increase sales.

Dr. Thurstones presence at Belle Plaine was sponsored by the Benton County Substance Abuse Coalition and the Belle Plaine Win With Wellness Group.  Members of Win With Wellness expressed a desire for more information about the dangers of marijuana and tobacco at the 2013 Take Charge Conference held in late September at Kirkwood College.  It's great to see our student leaders working to help make all Belle Plaine students more aware of the dangers associated with drug abuse.

See more about the Win With Wellness Group at- https://sites.google.com/site/bphswinwithwellness/