Transcript The Effects of Drugs over time

Cannabis and
Marijuana
What is marijuana?
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Marijuana (grass, pot, weed) is the common name for the drug
made from the plant Cannabis sativa.
The main mind-altering (psychoactive) ingredient in marijuana is
THC.
The "joint" is made from the dried particles of the plant. The amount
of THC in the marijuana determines how strong its effects will be.
(The type of plant, the weather, the soil, the time of harvest etc,
determine the strength of marijuana).
The strength of today's marijuana is about ten times greater than
used in the 1970s. This stronger marijuana increases physical and
mental effects and health problems for the user.
Cannabis, is made by taking the resin from the leaves and flowers of
the marijuana plant and pressing it into cakes or slabs. Hash is
usually stronger than crude marijuana and may contain five to ten
times as much THC.
A few facts
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It is now a recognised fact that some regular cannabis smokers
develop mental illness. - there's a fourfold increase in
schizophrenia and a fourfold increase in major depression.
There's a massive amount of evidence from as far apart as Sweden
and New Zealand that cannabis actually causes these problems.
Drugscope, a British drugs information service said cannabis may
only precipitate schizophrenia in people who would have
developed it anyway. However, Chief Executive of Action on
Addiction, said: "The evidence demonstrates that cannabis use can
be dangerous”.
Currently, the number of cannabis users in the UK is estimated at
more than three million.
As many as one in 10 cannabis users become addicted. Cannabis
use is associated with cancers of the mouth, tongue, throat,
oesophagus and lung and reductions in fertility.
Some of the immediate effects
of smoking marijuana
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Some immediate physical effects of marijuana include
a faster heartbeat and pulse rate, bloodshot eyes, and
a dry mouth and throat.
Studies of marijuana's mental effects show that the
drug can impair or reduce short-term memory, alter
sense of time, and reduce ability to do things which
require concentration, swift reactions, and
coordination, such as driving a car or operating
machinery.
A common bad reaction to marijuana is the "acute
panic anxiety reaction." People describe this reaction
as an extreme fear of "losing control," which causes
panic. The symptoms usually disappear in a few
hours.
The long-term effects of cannabis are controversial
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Professor John Henry, a consultant in
toxicology from St Mary's Hospital in London,
found that studies pointed to an increase in
schizophrenia among regular cannabis
smokers.
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It appears likely that some cases of
schizophrenia are attributable to the smoking
of cannabis, rather than the alternative
explanation which is; that patients prone to
mental illness are more likely to be drawn to
using the drug.
Withdrawal
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Symptoms of withdrawing from cannabis can
include appetite loss, mood swings, difficulty
concentrating, irritability anger and craving.
However, the properties of cannabis are also
medicinal which is why it is so popular.
For example, if a person smokes cannabis to
relieve anxiety or shyness then cessation will see
the return of these feelings.
If the reasons include avoiding PTSD or other
traumas then as the psychological dependence is
removed these factors will gradually return.
Some of the psychological problems are created or
amplified post as well as pre the onset of use.
Treatment
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There are no known pharmalogical interventions
for the treatment of cannabis addiction and
many health professionals do not believe people
actually become addicted
Benzodiazepines are usually prescribed but
rather to deal with the symptoms pre or post the
onset of use
Treatments are usually therapeutic in nature and
focus on the causes as well as the symptoms