Marijuana, derived from the cannabis plant, refers to any number of preparations of the plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug. Marijuana can also be intended for medicinal purposes, although this is only allowed in certain locations in which the drug in legal. Marijuana is the most commonly abused illicit drug in the United States. The psychoactive chemical compound in cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol (known as THC). Cannabis has both psychoactive and physiological short-term effects, including alteration in perception and mood, increased heart rate, lowered blood pressure, impairment in short-term memory, and concentration. However, the long-term effects of marijuana usage are less clear. Marijuana is consumed in a variety of ways. The most common way is through inhalation. Users typically inhale (or smoke) marijuana from small pipes, bongs (with water chamber), paper-wrapped joints, or tobacco-leaf-wrapped blunts. Fresh, non-dried cannabis can be consumed orally. Many users that consume cannabis orally, rather than through inhalation, typically use it in baking (e.g., brownies, etc.) or in a liquid, such as tea. Marijuana has a variety of effects on a person’s health. Marijuana increases heart rate by 20-100 percent shortly after smoking and can last for up to 3 hours. It is estimated that individuals who smoke marijuana have almost a 5-fold increase in the risk of heart attack in the first hour after using the drug. Marijuana also poses problems for the user’s lungs, similar to those who smoke tobacco. Research has found that individuals who use marijuana demonstrate problems in daily life. However, studies have concluded that this only holds true for about 10% of recreational users who do not develop other mechanisms for solving their problems and rely on marijuana instead. More people tend to use the drug recreationally for relaxation and social purposes.
Archive for Alcohol
Marijuana
Alcohol
Alcohol, typically prepared as an alcoholic beverage, contains ethanol. Alcoholic beverages are divided into three categories: beers, wines, and spirits. Many people in more than 100 countries consume alcohol. There are a variety of laws regulating production, sale, and consumption of alcohol. One law, in particular, specifies the minimum age in which an individual can purchase and consume alcohol. Alcohol is a psychoactive drug that has a depressant effect on the person who consumes it. Too much consumption (e.g., having a high blood alcohol content) is typically considered legal drunkenness because it slows reaction speed and reduces one’s attention. Alcohol is considered addictive and addiction to alcohol is commonly referred to as alcoholism. Beer is the oldest and most widely consumed alcoholic beverage. Beer is produced by brewing and fermenting starches which is mainly derived from grains, particularly barley, wheat, corn, and rice. Wine, another popular alcoholic beverage, is produced from grapes or other fruits such as cherries, plums, or apples. Wine involves a longer process of fermentation, known as an aging process, which can last from months or years. Spirits, commonly sold as liqueurs, are unsweetened, distilled, alcoholic beverages, which contain higher amounts of alcohol by volume (ABV). An alcoholic beverage with an ABV greater than 20% is considered a spirit. The uses of alcohol vary. In history, people consumed alcohol as a means of avoiding water-borne diseases such as cholera. In colder climates, some people have chosen to “warm up” the body by drinking potent alcoholic beverages (e.g., vodka). Large numbers of people consume alcohol for its effects on the body. There are a variety of laws to prevent inappropriate usage of alcohol. However, those who use the drug long-term or in large amounts may develop addiction to alcohol and suffer from many health and mental consequences.
