BATTLE CREEK, MI -- (Marketwire) -- 01/28/13 -- According to a recent article from TIME, new research has strongly suggested that recreational marijuana use prior to adulthood could lead to noticeable declines in IQ points. Although additional researchers have come to question the methods behind the original report, the original authors have confidently stood by their assumptions, noting that marijuana use and addiction can impact cognitive abilities among all people, no matter what their socio-economic backgrounds. A Forever Recovery, Battle Creek, MI based drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility weighs in on this current discussion and notes that while there are many skeptics, marijuana is addictive and could pose a threat to one's mental processing.

TIME reports, "The findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that people who started using cannabis weekly before they turned 18 and continued to use heavily into adulthood lost an average of eight IQ points over that period. That's enough to move someone with an average IQ of 100 from the 50th percentile of scores down to the 29th percentile." A Forever Recovery responds to the severity of this evidence by noting that marijuana use early on in life can pose additional threats for other forms of addiction, but is dangerous on its own as well.

Regardless of this information, others in the scientific community are not sure if the original report properly addresses other issues that can correlate with trends in lower IQ, such as socioeconomic factors. However, as the article states, the original researchers respond, "By restricting our analysis to only include children from middle-class homes, our findings of IQ decline in adolescent-onset cannabis users remain unaltered, thereby suggesting that the decline in IQ cannot be attributed to socioeconomic factors alone."

As a facility that has welcomed clients from many different backgrounds, A Forever Recovery adds in a recent press statement, "Drug addiction knows no socio-economic boundaries. Most drug addicts tend to be inherently smart people whose drug use stems from boredom, using dope and 'hanging out' with dopers. We believe that using any illicit drugs will stunt emotional development, but being clean and sober will allow it to rapidly come back."

Although many may feel that the original report is flawed, A Forever Recovery urges the public not to discount the dangers of marijuana use altogether. The facility concludes in its press statement, "Despite pro-cannabis movements, marijuana access today is too easy and not researched thoroughly enough to make such conclusions. For example, society has not developed any quick, affordable and extensive testing for random use, such as through studies on driving while intoxicated."

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A Forever Recovery, Battle Creek, MI based rehabilitation facility offers innovative treatment programs for individuals struggling with drug or alcohol addiction. As an open-ended treatment center, clients at A Forever Recovery, Battle Creek, MI, can benefit from top-notch detoxification and withdrawal facilities, a peaceful private lakeside location and a highly qualified staff. Founded on the principles taught through Moral Reconation Therapy™, A Forever Recovery establishes an environment in which clients can explore various treatment programs towards optimal recovery without having to worry about a limited timeframe.