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Marijuana vs. Alcohol
People are often quick to judge those that use marijuana, but do not judge those who use alcohol. With medical marijuana on the rise, people are using marijuana almost as much as people using alcohol. People argue the health risk of both marijuana and alcohol, but do people really know what the health risks and benefits are? Excessive use of alcohol is accountable for 88,000 U.S. fatalities each year from 2006 to 2010. The fatalities cost the budget $224 billion according to a report released on January 10, 2014 from the centers for disease control and preventions (Kroll, 2014). In a 2010 survey done by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 17.4 million people living in the United States agreed that they had consumed marijuana within the past month. The National Institute on Drug Abuse argues marijuana is the most frequently used illegal drug (Cox, 2012). Both drugs can affect health in indirect ways. Marijuana and alcohol differ in how they affect the body and mind, in their long- term effects and in the number of fatalities resulting from their consumption.
Marijuana affects both the body and the mind. Marijuana affects the cardiovascular system and relaxes the user’s nervous system. An increase in the blood pressure and heart rate is a factor with the use of marijuana. Marijuana can also impair balance and coordination which leads to the risk of hurting oneself (Brownstein, 2014). The national institute on drug abuse cited a survey that indicated 6.8 percent of drivers, beneath the age of 35 that was involved in traffic accidents verified positive for THC (Kroll, 2014). Marijuana is recognized to have addictive abilities and withdrawal symptoms when terminations of extended use (Kroll, 2014). Marijuana ...
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...5). If a person drinks on occasion it can be a benefit to a person’s health, but excessive drinking increases the risk of health issues such as liver disease, heart disorders, certain cancers and high blood pressure.
Ultimately the effects of marijuana and alcohol vary on each individual differently. The effects of marijuana and alcohol on one individual can be different for those effects that it has on another individual. There are different accountabilities that can hinder the effect of the substance between each individual. The person’s body tolerance to each of these substances can affect the effectiveness of these substances on the person that is consuming them. Both marijuana and alcohol can make a person react different and feel different, these products both have health risk when used. It is up to the individual user to use these substances reasonably.
Marijuana is a drug that is harmful to a person¡¯s health. It has been found to have adverse impacts on one¡¯s mental processes such as memory, attention, judgement, and problem- solving (Butcher, Mineka, Hooley, 2004, p.415). Also, marijuana can interfere with a person¡¯s ability to think rationally and logically. Thus, the lapse in judgement caused by the drug use can lead to risky sexual behaviours and this may result in increasing sexually transmitted disease such as AIDS. Moreover, the long-term use of marijuana may cause chronic breathing problems and cancer ...
First of all, some people feel smoking marijuana can get hyper, which providing them the emotion of happiness, and helping them to see the world from a different perspective. However, marijuana will cause a lot of healthy problems to human’s body. Marijuana has many physical effects on human such as rapid heart rate, red eyes and dry mouth. Because the chemical THC will enter into the body when people are smoking it, THC will enter through the bloodstream to the brain. The chemical affects them to feel ecstasy and unreality; therefore, THC will make them feel more confused if people smoke marijuana for a long time. According to, “ Treat marijuana abuse like a health problem” (McMillan, 2007, July 17), it shows using marijuana can cause more serious health issues on human’s body such as bronchitis, emphysema, and cancer. In addition, using marijuana has also been linked to lung damage and affects the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. For example, if marijuana ...
Marijuana has had a negative appearance towards the public and government, but that all seems to be changing. Medical marijuana has started to have a huge impact on the United States and the world. It is a borderline substance that some people frown upon, but it has boosted the economy and has helped thousands of people across the United States overcome illnesses. But most people relate medical marijuana to recreational marijuana, which is still illegal in some states. Although many individuals find medical marijuana illegal, and unnecessary, it is a natural herb used to help symptoms caused by chronic illnesses. Over three million Americans use medical marijuana. Medical marijuana is the most widely used drug used to treat chronic illnesses. The use of medical marijuana has been a controversial issue here in America. Although, there are healthcare professionals that do believe that the use of medical marijuana can be very beneficial for certain patients. Just as there are benefits associated with the use of medical marijuana there are also negative effects associated with it.
The effects of marijuana are minimal. The high has a feeling of euphoria, peacefulness and well-being. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the active chemical in marijuana. It’s estimated that a person would have to ingest a dose 20,000 to 40,000 times the average dose before death would occur. In the early 1990’s sophisticated research on marijuana began. The scientists discovered THC stimulates special receptors in the brain. Researchers have now isolated a natural substance that appears to produce the same effects as THC in the brain. Recently the medical uses of marijuana are being more and more accepted, and many marijuana smokers wonder how it can be harmful if it helps/treats patients.
Marijuana is taken very lightly and is the most highly used illegal drug. In fact, 1 out of 7 high school students smoke marijuana more than once a day. For this reason, society should know its short and long-term effects on the brain. Marijuana can affect these two areas, emotionally or physically. Also, in some cases physical damage causes the emotional response.
Marijuana while illegal on a federal level has been legalized in 18 states and the District of Columbia for medical use and also for personal use for anyone over 21 in Washington and Colorado. 48% of Americans admit to using marijuana according to a 2013 survey conducted by Scientific America. With the change in public opinion concerning marijuana the need to understand the effect and consequences associated with its use are vitally important. What are the effects on the brain and the rest of the body? Does it matter when you start using marijuana? Also what is the effect marijuana use has on a person’s life, to include school, work, family and friends.
Alcohol and marijuana are two drugs commonly used and abused in the United States. Alcohol is the number one abused drug, while marijuana is number one among illegal drugs. While alcohol remains legal, and marijuana illegal, this does not necessarily mean that alcohol is better for you. There have been many arguments where people suggest that marijuana should be legal because alcohol is more deadly. On the other hand, there are alcoholics who would tell a pothead that smoking weed is bad for you. Both substances are very bad for your health and should not be heavily used by anyone.
“The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) conducts the annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), a major source of information on substance use, abuse, and dependence among Americans twelve years and older” (DrugFacts 1). Illicit drug use in the United States has been increasing. In 2013, an estimated 24.6 million Americans (9.4 percent of the population) had used an illicit drug in the past month. This number is up from the 8.3 percent in 2002. This is increase reflects the recent rise in the use of marijuana since 2007. In 2013, there were 19.8 million users, making it the most commonly used illicit
The main active chemical in marijuana is THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol). Short-term effects of marijuana use include problems with memory and learning, distorted perception, difficulty in thinking and problem solving, loss of coordination, increased heart rate, and anxiety (Zimmer and Morgan 1-2).
According to Szara Braude, marijuana slows down reactions, causing problems with memory and learning, distorted perception, difficulty in thinking, and loss of coordination (Marijuana as a medicine 53). Many people use this drug, not knowing what they are doing to their body and how they are actually harming themselves by smoking it so much.... ... middle of paper ... ... Many times it is out of peer pressure that people try this drug to begin with.
Medical Marijuana Marijuana is a very hot topic and also brings a lot of controversy among the topics in the U.S today. Many believe it has medicinal benefits and should be made legal when necessary. Many believe it has a really high risk of abuse. Amongst those arguments, some of the ingredients in medical marijuana have presented a greater argument for possible legalization through their use of research and evidence of beneficial use. Those against medical marijuana have given many reasons for why it should not be legalized.
People usually smoke marijuana in cigarettes or pipes, but it also can be mixed with food and beverages. Short-term effects of marijuana include both psychological and physical reactions. These reactions usually last for three to five hours after a person has smoked marijuana. The psychological reaction, known as a high consists of changes in the user´s feelings and thoughts. Such changes are caused mainly by THC. The effects of a marijuana high vary from person to person and from one time to another in the same individual. In most cases, the high consists of a dreamy, relaxed state in which users seem more aware of their senses and feel that time is moving slowly. Sometimes, however, marijuana produces a feeling of panic and dread. The different reactions result partly from the concentration of THC in the marijuana. Other factors, such as the setting in which marijuana is used and the userÕs expectations, personality, and mood, also affect a personÕs reaction to the drug. Long-term effects of marijuana are not completely known, but studies have shown that some people have used marijuana regularly for several months or longer have develop serious long-term problems. Among males, marijuana use can reduce the production of sperm and of the male sex hormone testosterone. Among females, it can cause menstrual irregularity and reduced fertility. Extended use of marijuana also has a long-term psychological effect on many people. These individuals loose interest in everything.
Marijuana/ weed affects the brain development, being thought teens use this drug it may reduce thinking, memory, and learning functions and affect how the brain builds connections necessary to function. Study shows that people that started smoking weed heavily as a teen have an ongoing use and lost an average of eight IQ points between 13 and 38 and it doesn 't fully return when they quit smoking when their adults. Weed also affects people’s breathing, the reason being is because it irritates the lungs and people that smoke weed heavily have the same breathing problem as tobacco smokers. The symptoms of having this problem is daily cough and phlegm, more frequent lung illness, and a high risk of lung
Marijuana continues to be one of the most used illegal drugs in the United States. Marijuana has been used for many years and at one time was legal to consume. Throughout the years, marijuana has been used for treatment of different medical conditions and has been used recreationally by people of all ages. While the use of medicinal marijuana has proven to be effective in treating medically ill patients, society continues to question its recreational use and the long term effects it will have on its users. Some feel that legalizing marijuana will only open up avenues for the use of more potent drugs, causing an increase in criminal activity. However, a number of people question why it is considered illegal being it is a naturally growing
4. Some short-term effects of marijuana include distorted perception, increased heart rate, and a loss of motor coordination.