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 Alcoholism
Marijuana
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a disorder whereby an individual develops an addiction to alcohol. Addiction to alcohol, or alcoholism, is characterized by compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcohol despite its negative physical and mental effects. There are a variety of risk factors including social environment, stress, mental health, age, ethnicity, and genetic predisposition. Alcohol damages almost every organ in the body, especially the brain. This cannot only affect the individual physically, but also mentally. People with alcoholism are more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression and are also more likely to not receive treatment for such disorders, turning to alcohol as a coping mechanism instead. There are a variety of social problems arising from alcoholism. Alcohol abuse is associated with increased risk of criminal offenses, including child abuse, domestic violence, rape, burglary, and assault. An alcoholic’s behavior and mental issues may also lead to marital conflict, divorce, or even domestic violence. There are many ways to seek help for alcoholism. Several tools are available for those who may suspect alcohol abuse, including self-reports, questionnaires (such as the CAGE questionnaire), and doctor diagnoses. Treatment for alcoholics varies greatly and management for the individual should be considered with professional help. Several approaches include an abstinence-based zero tolerance approach whereas other approaches seek promotion of harm-reduction. Sometimes medications such as Antabuse, Temposil, Naltrexone, and Campral are prescribed to an individual to reduce dependence and promote prevention of future abuse. It is important to note that detoxification (e.g., abrupt stopping of alcohol consumption) does not actually treat alcoholism. It is necessary to follow-up detoxification with appropriate treatment mechanisms to lower the risk of future relapse.
