Transcript the truth about marijuana

THE TRUTH ABOUT
MARIJUANA
Presentation for College Freshmen
Regarding Marijuana
Kimberly Loliva, Erin Rosaasen
Lacie McCall, Kristin Skelton
Ch. #26, Illegal Drugs, Lesson #3
DRUG DEFINITIONS
Definitions







Drug
Drug Use
Drug Misuse
Drug Abuse
Marijuana
Hashish
Hashish Oil
Drug
Drug
 Any substance, natural or artificial, other than
food, that by its chemical nature alters
structure or function in the living organism.
Drug Use
Drug Use
 The use of any of these substances
Drug Misuse
The use of a non-prescription drug or
substances for purposes other than those
intended by the manufacturer.
The use of prescribed drugs in greater
amounts than, or for purposes other than
those prescribed by a physician.
Drug Abuse
The use of a substance in a manner,
amounts, or situations such that the drug
use causes problems or increases the
chances of problems occurring.
Marijuana
Green, brown, or gray mixture of dried,
shredded leaves, stems, seeds and
flowers of the cannabis plant
Contains over 400 chemicals
THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) is the
primary chemical
Also known as pot, weed, herb, grass,
Mary Jane, or chronic.
Routes of Administration
Usually smoked
 May be used alone or combined with other
substances
 Smoked through “joints or bongs”
May be placed in food items
 Teas
 Brownies
EFFECTS ON MARIJUANA
General Effects
Short-Term Effects
Long-Term Effects
Symptoms of Overdose
Effects on Learning
Effects on Driving
Effects on Pregnancy
General Effects
When smoked:
 Effects felt within minutes, peaking in 10-30
minutes, and lingering 2-3 hours
When eaten:
 Effects felt within 30-60 minutes, peaking 2-3
hours, and lingering 3-5 hours
Short-Term Effects
Problems with memory and learning
Trouble with thinking and problem solving
Distorted perception (sights, sounds, time,
touch)
Increased heart rate
Anxiety
Increased appetite
Long-Term Effects
Cancer
Impairment of T-cells in lung immune
defense system
Lung and airway problems
 Daily cough and phlegm
 Frequent chest cold
Amotivational Syndrome
 Lack of concern about life's consequences
Symptoms of Overdose
Fatigue
Paranoia
Delusions
Hallucinations
Possible psychosis
Effects on Learning
Students:
 Receive lower grades
 Are less likely to graduate from high school
 Score lower on standardized tests of verbal
and mathematical skills
 Critical skills related to attention, memory, and
learning are significantly impaired
Effects on Driving
Marijuana may affect:





Alertness
The ability to concentrate
Coordination
Reaction time
The ability to judge distance
Effects on Pregnancy
Babies born to mothers who smoke during
pregnancy were shorter, weighed less,
and had smaller head size
THC is passed to baby through breast milk
 Breast milk’s THC is more concentrated than
that of the mother’s blood.
Medical Uses
Treatment of nausea and vomiting
 Certain cancer treatments
 AIDS patients
As an appetite stimulant for HIV/AIDS,
cancer, and eating disorder patients
Treatment of glaucoma symptoms
Potential Challenges:
Statistical Graph
College Students Use of Marijuana Within 5
Marijuana Usage
Percentage of
Year Span
Daily within
Last Month
40
30
Last Month
20
10
Last Year
0
1996
1998
2000
Years
2002
THE END
Do you have any questions?