Marijuana and It's Affects on Teens
Marijuana and It’s Affects on Teens
1/17/2010
COM220 Final Project
Nicole Taylor
Thousands of young teens do it; over 140 million people worldwide use it. What could it be? It is called Marijuana and it is the most widely used illegal drug in the United States today, Over 46 percent of people aged 12 and older have admitted to using marijuana at least once in their lifetime. (1) Marijuana is considered a major gateway drug in teens which means after using marijuana it often leads to doing other kinds of drugs. Marijuana seems to alter the brain when used and heavy marijuana use may damage the developing brain in teens and it’s practically just as bad as cigarettes are for you. Effects from marijuana use include decreased hand eye coordination, damage to your lungs and throat, and increased risk of upper respiratory problems. Some teens and adults may think marijuana use is cool but it can do serious damage to your body when used.
Many parents and people in general have questions what is it and where does it come from? Some of you may already know but marijuana is a type of plant derived from the Middle East which comes in the color of green or brown. The marijuana plant produces leaves, stems, and buds which contain THC. THC stands for tetrahydrocannibinol, and is what causes the “high” feelings and the mind changing effect after this chemical enters the body.(2) The effects such as short-term memory loss can occur; also misjudgment can be a major factor especially when making decisions while driving. People are killed in car accidents every year due to the lack of perception and misjudgment people have when they decide to use marijuana. There are three major ways of using Marijuana it can be consumed in the form of a pill which is prescribed by a doctor, you can make it a special way in your food and eat it or even make it liquid from and drink it but the most common way of using marijuana is by smoking it through a pipe, water pipe, cigar or even in a
1/17/2010
COM220 Final Project
Nicole Taylor
Thousands of young teens do it; over 140 million people worldwide use it. What could it be? It is called Marijuana and it is the most widely used illegal drug in the United States today, Over 46 percent of people aged 12 and older have admitted to using marijuana at least once in their lifetime. (1) Marijuana is considered a major gateway drug in teens which means after using marijuana it often leads to doing other kinds of drugs. Marijuana seems to alter the brain when used and heavy marijuana use may damage the developing brain in teens and it’s practically just as bad as cigarettes are for you. Effects from marijuana use include decreased hand eye coordination, damage to your lungs and throat, and increased risk of upper respiratory problems. Some teens and adults may think marijuana use is cool but it can do serious damage to your body when used.
Many parents and people in general have questions what is it and where does it come from? Some of you may already know but marijuana is a type of plant derived from the Middle East which comes in the color of green or brown. The marijuana plant produces leaves, stems, and buds which contain THC. THC stands for tetrahydrocannibinol, and is what causes the “high” feelings and the mind changing effect after this chemical enters the body.(2) The effects such as short-term memory loss can occur; also misjudgment can be a major factor especially when making decisions while driving. People are killed in car accidents every year due to the lack of perception and misjudgment people have when they decide to use marijuana. There are three major ways of using Marijuana it can be consumed in the form of a pill which is prescribed by a doctor, you can make it a special way in your food and eat it or even make it liquid from and drink it but the most common way of using marijuana is by smoking it through a pipe, water pipe, cigar or even in a
References: 1. (2009). Your brain on marijuana. Available: http://drugrehabtreatment.com/brain-on-marijuana.html. Last accessed 11/30/2009. 2. (2008). Mental Health, Marijuana use and its effects. Available: http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/marijuana-use-and-its-effects. 3. (2005). National Institute on Drug Abuse. NIDA Research Report: Marijuana Abuse (http://www.drugabuse.gov/ResearchReports/Marijuana/ default.html) 4. (2007). National Institute on Drug Abuse. Monitoring the Future. National Results on Adolescent Drug Use. Overview of Key Findings 2008. (http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugpages/MTF.HTML). Bethesda, MD. NIDA, NIH, DHHS. May 2007. Retrieved June 2009. 5. (2009). The National Institute on Drug Abuse Can marijuana be used as medicine? http://www.nida.nih.gov/MarijBroch/parentpg19-20N.html 6 7. (1981)Turner, Carlton E. The Marijuana Controversy. Rockville: American Council for Drug Education. http://drugpolicy.org/marijuana/factsmyths/ 8