Marijuana Health 9 Mrs. Couzens and - PowerPoint Presentation

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Marijuana

Health 9

Mrs. Couzens and

Mrs. Dehlinger

Weed

Pot

ReeferGanjaBudMary Jane

Street Names

The Cannabis sativa plant

What plant does marijuana come from?

THC

Tetrahydrocannabinol

is the mind altering drug found in marijuana

There are at least 460 chemicals found in marijuana.Most of the 460 chemicals are not physically

harmful, however they are transformed into app. 2,000 metabolite chemicals inside the body.

Chemicals Found in Marijuana

According to officer

Farrara

, it belongs to a group of drugs called narcotics. Marijuana is a mild hallucinogen that can also act as a depressant or a stimulant.It can have some pain altering effects, but the research is still unclear to it’s effectiveness in relation to other drugs.

What type of drug is marijuana considered?

Marijuana Effects on the Body

1. bloodshot eyes

2. faster heartbeat

3. dry mouth and throat 4. No scientific evidence indicates that marijuana improves hearing, eyesight, and skin sensitivity

THC changes the way people think and feel.

THC alters the perception of time. This may be one of the reasons why people using marijuana find it difficult to concentrate.

Memory is also affected when a person uses marijuana.

Marijuana in the brain

Scientists have known for a long time that THC interacted with cannabinoid receptors in the brain, but did not know why the brain would have such receptors. They thought that the brain must make some kind of substance that naturally acted on these receptors. In 1992, they found the answer...

anandamide

. Anandamide is the brain's own THC (just like "endorphin" is the brain's own morphine). Still, scientists are not sure what the function of anandamide

is in the normal brain.

Using marijuana at a young age can result in structural and functional deficits of the brain. This could cause you to develop weakened verbal and

communication

skills, lowered learning capabilities and a shortened attention span. (

www.abovethe influence/facts/drugsmarijuanan)

Chronic inhibition of goal setting. Persistence to make things “right” doesn’t matter as much.

(Marijuana metabolites flood the nerve tissue in such a way that normal emotional response to threatened loss, for example, is camouflaged)

Is it a gateway drug???Is it addictive???

How long can marijuana stay in the body?

In urine and blood tests marijuana can be detected up to one month after use.

In hair samples, marijuana can be detected for up to 90 days for most tests.

Physical Effects of Marijuana Use:

Increased heart rate

Increased breathing

Increased blood pressure

Damage to lungs

Changes to hormones

Increased risk of cancer

Lowered testosterone levels

Marijuana can affect coordination. This means a person can become clumsy and react slower than normal.

Marijuana and Driving Do Not Mix!!!

Recent studies indicate that marijuana use can be more harmful to the lungs than tobacco.

True or False?

1. Holding the hot air longer in the lungs causes a slight burning of the lung tissue.

2. Holding the smoke in longer keeps the

chemicals (and tars)

in your system longer.

3. There is no filter, so all the smoke and crud passes into the lungs

TRUE !!!!

Regular marijuana users often develop breathing problems including chronic coughing and wheezing. Marijuana contains the same cancer-causing chemicals as tobacco. The amount of tar inhaled by marijuana smokers and the level of carbon monoxide absorbed by those who smoke marijuana, regardless of THC content, are three to five times greater than among tobacco smokers. Smoking five marijuana cigarettes is equal to smoking a full pack of tobacco cigarettes. According to the American Lung Association, there is 50-70% more cancer causing material in marijuana smoke than in cigarette smoke. In fact, marijuana smoke contains more than 400 chemicals.

In an article in the

Journal of General Internal Medicine

respected scientists at Yale University concluded that smoking marijuana is associated with an increased risk of many of the same respiratory problems that afflict cigarette smokers including shortness of breath, wheezing, chronic bronchitis, coughing and phlegm.

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Researchers also found that marijuana smoking may also expose a user's respiratory system to infectious organisms such as molds and fungi. That's because many marijuana plants are already contaminated with different kinds of fungal spores.

Marijuana proponents will tell you that bong water pipes will filter out these toxins. In fact, marijuana's primary cancer-causing tar,

benzopyrene

, does not dissolve in water. That means a bong cannot protect your lungs from this danger.

http://www.justthinktwice.com/factsfiction/fiction_marijuana_is_harmless.html-

Feeling

that you have to use the drug regularly — this can be daily or even several times a day

Failing in your attempts to stop using the drug Making certain that you maintain a supply of the drug

Spending money on the drug, even though you can't afford it Doing things to obtain the drug that you normally wouldn't do, such as stealing

Feeling that you need the drug to deal with your problems

Driving or doing other risky activities when you're under the influence of the drug

Focusing more and more time and energy on getting and using the drug

Recognizing drug abuse in teenagers

It can sometimes be difficult to distinguish normal teenage moodiness or angst from signs of drug use. Possible indications that your teenager is using drugs include:

Problems at school.

Frequently missing classes or missing school, a sudden disinterest in school or school activities, or a drop in grades may be indicators of drug use.

Physical health issues.

Lack of energy and motivation may indicate your child is using certain drugs.

Neglected appearance.

Teenagers are generally concerned about how they look. A lack of interest in clothing, grooming or looks may be a warning sign of drug use.

Drug addiction symptoms or behaviors include: