Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Marijuana The Safe Drug?
There are many illegal drugs being abused by people throughout the United States today, methamphetamines, cocaine, crack, heroin, benzodiazepines, opiates, alcohol, etc.; of all of these drugs, marijuana is the most common. Often described as the 'gateway' drug, the myths surrounding marijuana abuse are many. This article is written to debunk those myths and expose the truth behind the dangers of marijuana use.Marijuana has been described as a "safe" drug that is no more harmful than alcohol, that it is a normal part of the coming of age process. Marijuana abuse has become so common place in today's society that it has become socially acceptable. These ambivalent attitudes towards marijuana usage have led many people to be lulled into the belief that it is harmless. The facts surrounding marijuana are quite different than what one would expect.
Marijuana is not the same drug that was introduced to today's adults in the 1960's. Advances in technology as it relates to cultivating, harvesting, and preparing the drug for sale has led to dramatic increases in THC levels. THC levels have risen from 6% in 1975 to as high as 33% in 2003. Modern marijuana is a much more dangerous drug than it was when it was first introduced many years ago. Parents need to keep this in mind when they are educating their children about the harmful effects of its use.
Marijuana dealers have also introduced far more dangerous substances into the drug; recent tests have revealed an ever increasing amount of codeine, formaldehyde, cocaine, and PCP. As worldwide marijuana distribution becomes much more commonplace, users have little to no knowledge as to where their drug of choice is originating from and would have no idea that it could be enhanced with lethal drugs such as the ones mentioned above.
The affects of marijuana can be felt almost immediately after ingestion, either by smoking or eating. Some physiological effects can include increased heart rate, blood shot eyes, enhanced feelings of hunger or thirst, and heavy breathing.
Psychological effects can include intensification of sound, sight, and physical touch, extreme relaxation, along with impaired motor skills. These feelings can last any length of time, depending upon method of ingestion and the amount of THC levels in the marijuana. Usually the effects last from 1 to 4 hours.
Marijuana is psychologically addictive and is very harmful to the health; any statement to the contrary is false. Extended use of marijuana leads to extreme cravings combined with compulsive use of the drug without regard to the consequences. After a relatively short time of habitual use, the marijuana user will require ever more increased amounts of the drug, combined with using it more frequently throughout the day, sometimes ingesting the drug up to 10 times per day. This habitual use often leads to mixing the drug with even more dangerous drugs such as heroin, cocaine, alcohol, etc. in order to increase the effects. This is why marijuana is the 'gateway' drug and nothing to shy away from when it comes to treating the habitual user and educating the casual user.
Labels: drug abuse, drug myths, Marijuana
