Press Releases

Leading Addiction, Treatment, Research and Behavioral Health Experts Join Together for “The Truth about Marijuana” Panel

The National Institute on Drug Abuse, The Institute of Behavior and Health, Caron Treatment Centers, Ashley Addiction Treatment, Maryland Addiction Recovery Center and Kolmac Outpatient Recovery Centers experts will discuss misperceptions about marijuana safety

Washington D.C. – March 25, 2019 – Caron Treatment Centers, a leading and nationally recognized not-for-profit provider of addiction treatment and behavioral healthcare, will participate in an educational panel about marijuana along with experts from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the Institute of Behavior and Health, Ashley Addiction Treatment, Maryland Addiction Recovery Center and Kolmac Outpatient Recovery Centers on Saturday, March 30 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the All Saints Church in Chevy Chase, M.D.

“The Truth About Marijuana” event aims to educate attendees about the often minimized and understated risks of marijuana use. The expert panel will provide clinical expert research and reflections on marijuana’s effect on neural activity, addiction and social factors.

“It is crucial for us to understand the changing nature of marijuana, or more accurately THC, in order to both have an informed conversation with our peers as well as those we serve,” said Ben Cort, author of Weed, Inc.: The Truth About the Pot Lobby, THC, and the Commercial Marijuana Industry, who is also the keynote speaker.

Prominent peer-reviewed studies show that marijuana can have a negative impact on the brain, especially for those under age 25 or those prone to mental illness. Recently, a study published by JAMA Psychiatry found that 400,000 cases of depression annually among U.S. teens can be attributed to marijuana. A New Zealand study also showed that long-term marijuana use is associated with a s six-point drop in IQ. In addition, states where marijuana is legal report increased emergency rooms visits, higher incidents of psychosis and a spike in fatal car accidents.

Panelists Include:

Dr. Robert Dupont
Institute of Behavior and Health
Dr. Dupont is the President of the Institute for Behavior and Health. He has been a leader in drug abuse prevention and treatment for 50 years. From 1973-1978 he served as the first Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse and as the second White House Drug Chief (1973-1978).

Dr. Susan Weiss
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Dr. Weiss is the Director of Extramural Research at NIDA. She oversees NIDA’s extramural programs, research training, operations planning and trans-NIH initiatives. Dr. Weiss is also a senior science advisor to the NIDA Director.

Dr. J. Gregory Hobelmann
Ashley Addiction Treatment
Dr. Hobelmann is the Chief Medical Officer at Ashley. He previously served as staff psychiatrist after completing his residency at Johns Hopkins.

Kate Appleman
Caron Treatment Centers
Kate Appleman is the Senior Clinical Director of Men’s Treatment Services at Caron. Her expertise includes a focus on men’s addiction treatment and recovery, relapse treatment and prevention, and working with families impacted by addiction.

Dr. George Kolodner
Kolmac Outpatient Recovery Centers
Dr. George Kolodner is Kolmac’s Chief Clinical Officer. He designed and implemented Kolmac in 1973 after serving as a staff psychiatrist at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Bethesda.

The event will take place At All Saints Church from 9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 3 Chevy Chase Circle in Maryland. The fee for attendance is $15 per person and registration is at: http:/bit.ly/TruthAboutMar

Caron Treatment Centers
With 60 years in the field, Caron Treatment Centers operates lifesaving addiction and behavioral healthcare treatment. Caron is headquartered in Wernersville, Pennsylvania with Ocean Drive and Caron Renaissance located in Palm Beach County, Florida. Caron has recovery centers in New England, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., which offer community and recovery support. Caron’s recovery centers in Atlanta and New York City also offer pre- and post-treatment services. Caron has the most extensive continuum of care including adolescents, young adults, adults and older adults. Caron also offers specialized programming for chronic pain, healthcare professionals, executives and lawyers. Caron’s treatment is customized to meet the needs of individuals and families – with highly trained teams prepared to address co-occurring disorders. Caron offers an innovative approach to ongoing recovery care support for its former patients and their families with online peer groups and other resources during the first year of transition following discharge. For more information on Caron, please visit Caron at www.caron.org or follow us on Twitter.