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Copyright © 2009 COMPASS COUNSELING CENTER |
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(Information presented here is not intended to replace psychological, medical, legal or any other professional advice or intervention. Every effort is made to insure accuracy but no such guarantee is stated or implied.) |
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Marijuana 1 .Marijuana is the most often used illegal drug in the country
2.There are about 400 chemicals in the marijuana plant
3.There are stronger forms of marijuana today than there were in the 60's
4.Over 70 million Americans over age 12 have tried marijuana at least once
5.More than 5 million Americans smoke marijuana at least once a week
6.The average age of first time use of marijuana is 13.5 years old
7.Among 12th graders, nearly 40% have tried marijuana at least once
8.The use of marijuana and other drugs usually peaks in the late teens and early twenties
9.Youngsters who have already begun to smoke cigarettes and/or use alcohol are at a high risk for marijuana use
10.Use of alcohol and other drugs by family members plays a strong role in whether children start using marijuana
11.Children involved heavily with marijuana can become dependent
12.Studies of high-school students and their patterns of drug use show that very few young people use other illegal drugs without first trying marijuana
13.The effects of marijuana on each person depend on the type of cannabis, the way that the drug is taken, experiences and expectations of the user, setting where the drug is used, and whether drinking or other drug use is going on
14.For some, marijuana raises blood pressure slightly and can double the normal heart rate
15.THC, the active chemical in marijuana is strongly absorbed by fatty tissues in various organs
16.Some users of marijuana may suffer acute anxiety and have paranoid thoughts
17.A user who has taken a very high dose of the drug can have severe psychotic symptoms and need emergency medical treatment
18.Marijuana is sometimes mixed with other drugs, such as PCP and cocaine
19.Marijuana hinders the users short-term memory and he or she may have trouble handling complex tasks
20.Because of the drug's effects on perceptions and reaction times, users could be involved in auto crashes
21.Marijuana users may become involved in risky sex
22.There is a strong link between drug use and unsafe sex and the spread of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS
23.Research shows that marijuana smokers have more sick days and more doctors visits for respiratory problems and other types of illnesses than those who did not smoke the drug
24.Regular use of marijuana may play a role in cancer and problems in the respiratory, immune, and reproductive systems
25.Marijuana smoke contains some of the same cancer-causing compounds of tobacco, sometimes in higher concentrations
26.Tobacco smoke and marijuana may work together to change tissues lining the respiratory tract
27.Marijuana smoking could contribute to early development of head and neck cancer in some people
28.Heavy marijuana use can affect hormones in both male and females, so it can affect sexual characteristics and sexual reproductive function
29.Heavy doses of the drug may delay onset of puberty in young men
30.Marijuana can also have adverse affects on sperm production
31.Among women, regular marijuana use can disrupt the normal healthy monthly menstrual cycle and inhibit the discharge of eggs from the ovaries
32.Its possible that marijuana impairs the ability of the T-cells in the lung's immune defense system to fight off some infections
33.Someone who smokes marijuana regularly may have many of the same respiratory problems that tobacco smokers have
34.Continuing marijuana smoking can lead to abnormal function of the lungs and airways, possibly injuring or destroying lung tissue
35.Some studies have found that babies born to marijuana users were shorter, weighed less, and had smaller head sizes than those born to mothers who did not use the drug
36.Some scientists have found effects of marijuana that resemble the features of fetal alcohol syndrome
37.Research findings show nervous problems in children of mothers who smoked marijuana
38.THC in marijuana in a nursing mother is passed to the baby in her breast milk
39.One study has shown that the use of marijuana by a mother during the first month of breast feeding can impair an infant's motor development
40.THC disrupts the nerve cells in the part of the brain where memories are formed
41.Studies show that marijuana smokers have a difficult time focusing their attention on tests given to them
42.Researchers in Sweden report that regular, long-term intake of THC can increase the risk of developing certain mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia
43.Regular use of marijuana has been known to lead to chronic anxiety, personality disturbances, and depression
44.Some frequent users of the drug show signs of a lack of motivation
45.Over 100,000 people entering drug treatment programs reported marijuana as their primary drug of choice
46.Many users of marijuana show signs of dependence because when they do not use the drug, they develop withdrawal symptoms
47.Under U.S. law since 1970, marijuana is a schedule I controlled substance, meaning at least in it's smoked form, has no commonly accepted medical use
48.The potency of marijuana has increased more than 270% over the last decade
49.Observers in clinical settings have noted increased apathy, loss of ambition, loss of effectiveness, diminished ability to carry out long term plans, difficulty in concentrating, and a decline in school and work performance |
