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| Signs and effects of marijuana abuse
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Marijuana
Marijuana is obtained from the hemp plant (cannabis sativa) and is typically smoked in the form of a “joint” (small, thin, white marijuana cigarette), a “blunt” (a larger, dark brown cigar filled with marijuana leaves rather than tobacco), pipe, or “bong” (a water pipe). The texture may vary from fine to coarse and the color will vary between grayish-green to greenish-brown. There have been over 600 chemicals found in marijuana, many of which are known carcinogens, with the primary mind-altering chemical being delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC is absorbed by fatty tissues, particularly the brain, and can remain in fatty tissue, causing impairment, for sometimes up to 40 days, depending upon the potency of the marijuana, the quantity used and the frequency of use. THC may be detected by drug tests days and even weeks after the last use. A study found that college students who used marijuana regularly had impaired skills related to attention, memory, and learning 24 hours after they last used the drug. Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug in the United States.
Marijuana effects a person’s memory, problem-solving skills, abstract thinking skills, ability to process new information, concentration, and energy level. Long-term studies of high school students found that very few young people use other illegal or harmful drugs without first trying marijuana, leading many to consider marijuana a “gateway drug.” Using marijuana also puts youth in contact with others who use and or sell other drugs, thereby increasing the risk for legal and harmful health consequences. Studies also found that young people with an average grade of D or lower were more than 4 times as likely to have used marijuana in the past year, than youths who reported an average grade of A.
Is marijuana addictive?
It was once believed that marijuana was not physically addictive and many people still believe that, however, recent research has shown that heavy marijuana users develop withdrawal symptoms when they have not used marijuana for a period of time, just like other addictive drugs. In fact, marijuana does meet the standard criteria for addiction in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), the same as alcohol, cocaine, and other drugs. In the DSM, the criteria for addiction are: increased tolerance, withdrawal symptoms, using the drug despite experiencing negative effects, and giving up certain social, occupational, or recreational activities because of substance use. People being admitted into drug treatment programs for marijuana dependence in the United States has significantly increased in the past 10 years.
What about medical marijuana? Whether marijuana can provide relief for certain people with some medical conditions, including cancer, is a subject of intense debate. THC can be used for treating some conditions, however, there is a legal, FDA-approved medication on the market called Marinol, a synthetic form of THC, that can be used instead of the illegal, crude THC in recreational marijuana. Smoked marijuana has never been scientifically proven to be of medical benefit without other harm being caused to the user. Smoked marijuana, in addition to the THC, also contains hundreds of very harmful chemicals, some known carcinogens, that can cause damage to the user along with any possible benefits. In 1999, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) concluded that smoked marijuana is not recommended for any long term medical use.
Regular marijuana users can experience respiratory problems similar to what tobacco users experience; persistent cough, phlegm, chest congestion). Like tobacco, marijuana deposits tar and other chemicals in the lungs that, over time, can produce cancer. Smoking marijuana leads to changes in the brain similar to those caused by heroin, cocaine, and alcohol. Research has also linked the regular use of marijuana to increased risk for depression, as much as four times.
Street or Slang Terms
· Pot
· Weed
· Mary Jane
· Grass
· Ganja
· Bud
· Smoke
· Chronic
· 420 (”the time is 4:20pm, school’s out, time to smoke)
Signs of Marijuana Use
Lack of energy, Lack of motivation, “I don’t care” attitude, Blood shot eyes. Appear zoned out; in a fog, Inability to pay attention, Distorted sense of time and distance, giddiness, bursts of laughter, forgetfulness, Paranoia, etc.
Marijuana
Marijuana is obtained from the hemp plant (cannabis sativa) and is typically smoked in the form of a “joint” (small, thin, white marijuana cigarette), a “blunt” (a larger, dark brown cigar filled with marijuana leaves rather than tobacco), pipe, or “bong” (a water pipe). The texture may vary from fine to coarse and the color will vary between grayish-green to greenish-brown. There have been over 600 chemicals found in marijuana, many of which are known carcinogens, with the primary mind-altering chemical being delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC is absorbed by fatty tissues, particularly the brain, and can remain in fatty tissue, causing impairment, for sometimes up to 40 days, depending upon the potency of the marijuana, the quantity used and the frequency of use. THC may be detected by drug tests days and even weeks after the last use. A study found that college students who used marijuana regularly had impaired skills related to attention, memory, and learning 24 hours after they last used the drug. Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug in the United States.
Marijuana effects a person’s memory, problem-solving skills, abstract thinking skills, ability to process new information, concentration, and energy level. Long-term studies of high school students found that very few young people use other illegal or harmful drugs without first trying marijuana, leading many to consider marijuana a “gateway drug.” Using marijuana also puts youth in contact with others who use and or sell other drugs, thereby increasing the risk for legal and harmful health consequences. Studies also found that young people with an average grade of D or lower were more than 4 times as likely to have used marijuana in the past year, than youths who reported an average grade of A.
Is marijuana addictive?
It was once believed that marijuana was not physically addictive and many people still believe that, however, recent research has shown that heavy marijuana users develop withdrawal symptoms when they have not used marijuana for a period of time, just like other addictive drugs. In fact, marijuana does meet the standard criteria for addiction in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), the same as alcohol, cocaine, and other drugs. In the DSM, the criteria for addiction are: increased tolerance, withdrawal symptoms, using the drug despite experiencing negative effects, and giving up certain social, occupational, or recreational activities because of substance use. People being admitted into drug treatment programs for marijuana dependence in the United States has significantly increased in the past 10 years.
What about medical marijuana? Whether marijuana can provide relief for certain people with some medical conditions, including cancer, is a subject of intense debate. THC can be used for treating some conditions, however, there is a legal, FDA-approved medication on the market called Marinol, a synthetic form of THC, that can be used instead of the illegal, crude THC in recreational marijuana. Smoked marijuana has never been scientifically proven to be of medical benefit without other harm being caused to the user. Smoked marijuana, in addition to the THC, also contains hundreds of very harmful chemicals, some known carcinogens, that can cause damage to the user along with any possible benefits. In 1999, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) concluded that smoked marijuana is not recommended for any long term medical use.
Regular marijuana users can experience respiratory problems similar to what tobacco users experience; persistent cough, phlegm, chest congestion). Like tobacco, marijuana deposits tar and other chemicals in the lungs that, over time, can produce cancer. Smoking marijuana leads to changes in the brain similar to those caused by heroin, cocaine, and alcohol. Research has also linked the regular use of marijuana to increased risk for depression, as much as four times.
Street or Slang Terms
· Pot
· Weed
· Mary Jane
· Grass
· Ganja
· Bud
· Smoke
· Chronic
· 420 (”the time is 4:20pm, school’s out, time to smoke)
Signs of Marijuana Use
Lack of energy, Lack of motivation, “I don’t care” attitude, Blood shot eyes. Appear zoned out; in a fog, Inability to pay attention, Distorted sense of time and distance, giddiness, bursts of laughter, forgetfulness, Paranoia, etc.
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