Today I received a disturbing call from one of my clients. Her teenage son was taken to the hospital for a drug and alcohol overdose last night and he is dangerously close to losing his life. I was so upset because she knew he was using marijuana but did not consider it to be a real problem.
I have heard from numerous people that they consider pot smoking to be a safe alternative versus alcohol consumption. Unfortunately kids of this generation think that marijuana is a relatively safe drug and nothing can be farther from the truth. I have a very interesting article I am including from one of my favorite newsletters I receive by email. I hope all of you who have teenagers will read this and pass it on to your children. I feel it is one of the most straight forward articles I have read about the dangers of marijuana in general.
Marijuana: The Proven Drawbacks on Your Body
by www.SixWise.com
As the most commonly used illegal drug in the United States, the health effects of marijuana are easily a public health concern. Over 40 percent of Americans over the age of 12 (or nearly 98 million people) have tried marijuana at least once in their lifetimes, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
Pot, Reefer, Grass, Weed, Dope, Ganja, Mary Jane, or Sinsemilla
Other names for marijuana include Pot, Reefer, Grass, Weed, Dope, Ganja, Mary Jane, or Sinsemilla.
Yet, surveys have found that the majority of kids (79 percent) mistakenly believe that marijuana is safe.
In reality, marijuana has been linked to numerous short- and long-term health impacts, and studies show that smoking "pot" may actually be much worse for your health than smoking cigarettes.
Six Ways Marijuana Seriously Harms Your Health
The active ingredient in marijuana, THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), is responsible for the "high" that marijuana users covet. It's also responsible for a myriad of short-term health consequences, according to the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), including:
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Problems with memory and learning
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Distorted perception
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Difficulty thinking and problem solving
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Loss of coordination
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Increased heart rate
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Anxiety
Over time, marijuana leads to even more health risks.
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Increased risk of heart attack. Your risk of having a heart attack more than quadruples in the first hour after smoking marijuana, according to a study published in Circulation.
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Increased risk of lung cancer. Marijuana smoke contains 50 percent to 70 percent more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than tobacco smoke. Meanwhile, it causes increased levels of an enzyme that converts hydrocarbons into their carcinogenic form, which may accelerate changes that cause cancer. And, because marijuana users typically inhale smoke more deeply than cigarette smokers, they may be exposed to more carcinogenic smoke.
Nearly 50 percent of 12th graders have smoked marijuana, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse's 2005 Monitoring the Future Study.
A study by the British Lung Foundation even found that smoking three marijuana joints a day causes similar damage to smoking 20 cigarettes.
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Impaired immune system. THC impairs your immune system's ability to fight disease, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The substance inhibits the disease-preventing reactions of key immune cells, and studies have found that mice exposed to THC were more likely to develop bacterial infections and tumors.
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Mental illness. A 2007 study in The Lancet found that even infrequent marijuana use increases your risk of becoming psychotic. Smoking marijuana is also linked to depression, anxiety and personality disturbances.
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Respiratory problems. Like tobacco smokers, regular marijuana smokers report increased respiratory problems including cough, phlegm production, chest illness, obstructed airways, and lung infections.
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Physical dependence. Contrary to popular thought, marijuana is classified as an addictive drug, and can even cause cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
Are There Any Benefits?
Whether or not marijuana should be allowed for medical use has spurred great controversy, largely because it does, in fact, offer some benefits (along with the risks noted above).
THC and other chemicals in marijuana impact receptors in your brain and other areas of your body that control things such as body movement, memory, vomiting, and your immune system. According to the Mayo Clinic, marijuana may therefore help to treat:
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Nausea
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Glaucoma
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Pain
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Multiple sclerosis
In fact, marijuana has been used for various medical purposes for thousands of years, and was even listed by the U.S. Pharmacopeia, the organization that sets standards for approved drugs in the United States, until the 1940s. Today, however, marijuana remains an illicit drug and is classified federally as a Schedule 1 drug, which means it is one of "the most dangerous drugs that have no recognized medical use."
The following is a list of commonly used illegal drugs that your teenager may have access to also.
Marijuana
Other Names: Pot, Reefer, Grass, Weed, Dope, Ganja, Mary Jane, or Sinsemilla
What It Looks Like: Similar to dried parsley with stems and/or seeds, rolled into cigarettes or cigars
How it's Administered: The stems and/or seeds are smoked or eaten and it's often rolled into cigarettes or cigars.
Effects on User: Problems with memory and learning, distorted perception, difficulty in thinking and problem solving, loss of coordination, altered sense of time, feelings of anxiety or panic and increased heart rate.
Other Info: The primary mind-altering ingredient in marijuana is THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol). Long-term use can lead to addiction in some users.
Hashish
Other Names: Hash
What It Looks Like: Brown or black cakes or balls
How it's Administered: It's smoked or eaten.
Effects on User: Same as marijuana.
Other Info: Hashish is a more concentrated, resinous form of marijuana.
 Hashish Oil
Other Names: Hash Oil
How it Looks: Concentrated syrupy liquid varying in color from clear to black.
How it's Administered: It's smoked, often mixed with tobacco
Effects on User: Same as marijuana.
Other Info: Hashish is obtained by purifying hashish with a solvent.
Nitrous Oxide
Other Names: Laughing gas or whippet
What It Looks Like: Small 8-gram metal cylinder sold with a balloon or pipe propellant for whipped cream in aerosol spray can
How it's Administered: Its vapors are inhaled.
Effects on User: Temporary loss of motor control, a "dissociative" psychological effect, sensations and perceptions become disconnected, mild hallucinations, insensibility to pain and laughter.
Other Info: Nitrous may be psychologically addictive.
Amyl Nitrite
Other Names: Poppers or Snappers
What It Looks Like: Clear yellowish liquid in ampules
How it's Administered: It's vapors are inhaled.
Effects on User: A "high" feeling, dilates blood vessels, makes the heart beat faster.
Other Info: Amyl Nitrite is sold in a cloth-covered sealed bulb (so it can be crushed without hurting your fingers). When the bulb is broken, it makes a snapping sound and users inhale the vapors.
Butyl Nitrite
Other Names: Rush, Bolt, Bullet, Locker Room, and Climax
What It Looks Like: In small bottles
How it's Administered: Its vapors are inhaled.
Effects on User: A "high" feeling, increased blood pressure, followed by an increased heart rate, flushed face and neck, dizziness and headache.
Chlorohydrocarbons
Other Names: Aerosol sprays or cleaning fluids
What It Looks Like: Like aerosol paint cans
How it's Administered: Its vapors are inhaled.
Effects on User: Double vision, loss of coordination, weakness, severe headaches, nausea or vomiting, numbness, irregular heartbeat, suffocation.
Hydrocarbons
Other Names: Solvents
What It Looks Like: Cans of aerosol propellants, gasoline, glue, paint thinner
How it's Administered: Its vapors are inhaled.
Effects on User: Hallucinations, stomach cramps, rashes around the nose and mouth and inflamed eyes, light headedness, dizziness and drowsiness, loss of control or unconsciousness, kidney damage, liver damage, heart failure, suffocation.
Other Info: All of the inhalants (nitrous oxide, amyl and butyl nitrite, chlorohydrocarbons and hydrocarbons) carry similar risks and can be deadly.
Cocaine
Other Names: Coke, Snow, Nose Candy, Flake, Blow, Big C, Lady, White and Snowbirds
What It Looks Like: White crystalline powder
How it's Administered: It's inhaled or injected
Effects on User: A "high" feeling of supremacy, constricted peripheral blood vessels, dilated pupils, increased body temperature, heart rate and blood pressure, restlessness, irritability, anxiety, paranoia, aggression, respiratory arrest, seizures, death.
Other Info: Cocaine is a powerfully addicted drug, and addicted individuals may become depressed when they stop using the drug.
Crack Cocaine
Other Names: Crack, rock, freebase
What It Looks Like: White to tan pellets or crystalline rocks that look like soap
How it's Administered: It's smoked.
Effects on User: Same as cocaine, but users may be particularly aggressive and paranoid.
Amphetamines
Other Names: Speed, Uppers, Ups, Black beauties, Pep pills, Copilots, Bumblebees, Hearts, Benzedrine, Dexedrine, Footballs, and Biphetamine
What It Looks Like: Capsules, pills, tablets
How it's Administered: It's taken orally, injected or inhaled.
Effects on User: During the "up" time: Extra energy, cheerfulness, confidence, prevents sleep, reduces appetite, speeds up breathing and heart rate, widens the pupils. During the "down" time (about eight hours after use): Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness, anxiety, anger.
Other Info: These drugs have a high risk of psychological dependence and regular users may develop delusions, hallucinations and feelings of paranoia that can progress into permanent paranoid psychosis.
Methamphetamines
Other Names: Crank, Crystal meth, Crystal methadrine, and Speed
What It Looks Like: White powder, pills, rock that resembles a block of paraffin
How it's Administered: It's taken orally, injected or inhaled.
Effects on User: Same as amphetamines.
 Additional Stimulants
Other Names: Ritalin, Cylert, Preludin, Didrex, Pre-State, Voranil, Sandrex, and Plegine
What It Looks Like: Pills or capsules
How it's Administered: It's taken orally or injected.
Effects on User: Loss of appetite, fevers, convulsions, severe headaches, irregular heartbeat and respiration, paranoia, hallucinations, delusions, excessive repetition of movements and meaningless tasks.
Barbiturates
Other Names: Downers, Barbs, Blue Devils, Red Devils, Yellow Jacket, Yellows, Nembutal, Tuinals, Seconal, and Amytal
What It Looks Like: Red, yellow, blue, or red and blue capsules
How it's Administered: It's taken orally.
Effects on User: Calming, sleep induction and anxiety reduction, slurred speech, clumsiness, unconsciousness.
Other Info: Dependence on barbiturates can develop, and sudden withdrawal from high doses can result in irritability, nervousness, delirium, sleeplessness, fainting, sickness, twitching, fits and death. They're especially dangerous when mixed with alcohol.
Methaqualone
Other Names: Quaaludes, Ludes, Sopors
What It Looks Like: Tablets
How it's Administered: It's taken orally.
Effects on Users: Same as barbiturates.
Tranquilizers
Other Names: Valium, Librium, Miltown, Serax, Equanil, Miltown, and Tranxene
What It Looks Like: Tablets or capsules
How it's Administered: It's taken orally.
Effects on Users: Reduces anxiety, drowsiness, may make people lethargic, disruption of the psycho-motor, intellectual, and perceptual functions and convulsions.
Other Info: This drug accumulates in the body tissue after prolonged use, and tolerance can develop quickly so that larger doses are needed to feel the effects. When mixed with alcohol, tranquilizers may cause coma and death.
Phencyclidine
Other Names: PCP, Hog, Angel Dust, Loveboat, Lovely
What It Looks Like: Liquid, white crystalline powder, pills, capsules
How it's Administered: It's taken orally, injected or smoked (sprayed on joints or cigarettes).
Effects on User: Increased heart rate and blood pressure, impaired motor function, memory loss, numbness, nausea/vomiting, possible decrease in blood pressure and heart rate, panic, aggression, violence, loss of appetite and depression.
Lysergic Acid Diethylamide
Other Names: LSD, Acid, Microdot, White lightning, Blue heaven and Sugar Cubes
What It Looks Like: Colored tablets, blotter paper, clear liquid, thin squares of gelatin
How it's Administered: It's taken orally, licked off paper, or in a gelatin or liquid that can be put in the eyes.
Effects on Users: Altered states of perception and feeling, nausea, persisting perception disorder (flashbacks), increased body temperature, heart rate and blood pressure, loss of appetite, sleeplessness, numbness, weakness, tremors and persistent mental disorders.
Other Info: This drug has a high potential for abuse.
Mescaline and Peyote
Other Names: Mesc, Buttons and Cactus
What It Looks Like: Hard brown discs, tablets, capsules
How it's Administered: Discs are chewed, swallowed or smoked. Tablets and capsules are taken orally.
Effects on User: Same as LSD.
Psilocybin
Other Names: Magic Mushrooms, 'shrooms
What It Looks Like: Fresh or dried mushrooms
How it's Administered: It's chewed or swallowed.
Effects on User: Same as LSD.
Heroin
Other Names: Smack, Horse, Mud, Brown sugar, Junk, Black tar, and Big H
What It Looks Like: White to dark-brown powder or tarlike substance
How it's Administered: It's injected, smoked or inhaled.
Effects on User: Pain relief, euphoria, drowsiness, nausea, constipation, confusion, sedation, respiratory depression and arrest, tolerance, addiction, unconsciousness, staggering gait, coma and death.
Other Info: Heroin is highly addictive. Tolerance and physical and psychological dependence develop quickly.
Codeine
Other Names: Empirin compound with codeine, Tylenol with codeine, Codeine in cough medicine
What It Looks Like: Dark liquid varying in thickness, capsules, tablets
How it's Administered: It's taken orally or injected.
Effects on User: Same as heroin.
Morphine
Other Names: Pectoral syrup
What It Looks Like: White crystals, hypodermic tablets, or injectable solutions
How it's Administered: It's taken orally, injected or smoked.
Effects on User: Same as heroin.
Opium
Other Names: Paregoric, Dover's Powder, Parepectolin
What It Looks Like: Dark brown chunks, powder
How it's Administered: It's smoked, eaten or injected.
Effects on User: Same as heroin.
Meperidine
Other Names: Pethidine, Demerol, Mepergan
What It Looks Like: White powder, solution, tablets
How it's Administered: It's taken orally or injected.
Effects on User: Same as heroin.
Other Narcotics
Other Names: Percocet, Percodan, Tussionex, Fentanyl, Darvon, Talwin, and Lomotil
What It Looks Like: Tablets or capsules
How it's Administered: It's taken orally or injected.
Effects on User: Same as heroin.
Fentanyl
Other Names: Synthetic heroin, China white
What It Looks Like: White powder
How it's Administered: It's inhaled or injected.
Effects on User: Same as heroin.
Ecstasy
Other Names: MDMA (methylenedioxy-methamphetamine), Adam, clarity, ecstasy, Eve, lover's speed, peace, STP, X, XTC
What It Looks Like: Tablets
How it's Administered: It's taken orally.
Effects on User: Mild hallucinogenic effects, increased tactile sensitivity, empathic feelings, impaired memory and learning, hyperthermia, cardiac toxicity, renal failure and liver toxicity
If you suspect someone you love is abusing illegal or prescription drugs, SixWise.com suggests you seek professional help, such as contacting a school nurse, social worker or counselor, immediately.
I know that this is not a pleasant topic but drug use is rampant among our teenagers and we need to be informed about what is out there and how it is being used.
I hope this may help someone along the way. Blessings of Enlightenment to all this day.
Rosie
Tags: Healthhealing Metaphysical
