Teenage drug abuse is a very serious problem. We know a lot more about the effects of marijuana now than we did in the 1970′s. For example, marijuana is addictive. In 2007, the majority of young people suffering from teenage drug abuse, aged 17 or younger that were admitted to drug rehab, reported that marijuana was the main drug they abused. What are the 10 main effects of marijuana abuse?
1. Within minutes the person feels “high”. Their brain releases a chemical called dopamine which gives the person a feeing of pleasure (the chemical reaction underlying all teenage drug abuse). There is a loss of coordination, altered perception, and memory is affected.
2. Heart rate increases by 20-50 beats per minute.
3. Marijuana abuse leads to frequent colds, bronchitis, and coughs at the same level of a chronic smoker because marijuana is a respiratory irritant.
4. With marijuana abuse, tolerance develops over time meaning it takes more and more marijuana to get the same effect.
5. Eye vessels become dilated and therefore eyes appear bloodshot.
6. Marijuana abuse makes it much more likely for a person to engage in risky sexual behavior- increasing the chance of teenage pregnancy or acquiring a sexually transmitted disease.
7. Athletic performance is decreased because coordination is affected and school performance decreases because memory and attention is affected.
8. Marijuana is addictive (people continue to smoke even with awareness of the negative consequences) and there is withdrawal when it is stopped abruptly (irritability and insomnia).
9. With long term marijuana abuse, a person becomes apathetic (amotivated) and socially withdrawn and reports more life dissatisfaction than non users.
10. With marijuana abuse, there is an increased risk of becoming psychotic, especially if there is any genetic predisposition for this.
Marijuana abuse is quite common. A survey called “Monitoring the Future” reported that 7% of 8th graders and 16% of 10th graders and 21% of 12 graders had smoked within one month of the survey. Teenage drug abuse affects brain function, mental, and physical health.
Teenage drug abuse can start with marijuana and may progress to cocaine and “harder” drugs because a person is exposed to drug dealers who offer these to them. Also, it is not clear what effects of marijuana are irreversible if marijuana is stopped. Marijuana abuse should never be taken lightly. Teenage drug abuse affects not only the teen using the drugs, but impacts the entire family.
If you want additional help with teenage alcoholism and teenage drug abuse, click here to register for my free report on, “How To Avoid The 5 Biggest Mistakes Parents Make With Their Addicted Teen Or Young Adult Child”. It may save your family’s life. It outlines the typical mistakes families make that actually perpetuate teenage substance abuse.
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1. Within minutes the person feels “high”. Their brain releases a chemical called dopamine which gives the person a feeing of pleasure (the chemical reaction underlying all teenage drug abuse). There is a loss of coordination, altered perception, and memory is affected.
2. Heart rate increases by 20-50 beats per minute.
3. Marijuana abuse leads to frequent colds, bronchitis, and coughs at the same level of a chronic smoker because marijuana is a respiratory irritant.
4. With marijuana abuse, tolerance develops over time meaning it takes more and more marijuana to get the same effect.
5. Eye vessels become dilated and therefore eyes appear bloodshot.
6. Marijuana abuse makes it much more likely for a person to engage in risky sexual behavior- increasing the chance of teenage pregnancy or acquiring a sexually transmitted disease.
7. Athletic performance is decreased because coordination is affected and school performance decreases because memory and attention is affected.
8. Marijuana is addictive (people continue to smoke even with awareness of the negative consequences) and there is withdrawal when it is stopped abruptly (irritability and insomnia).
9. With long term marijuana abuse, a person becomes apathetic (amotivated) and socially withdrawn and reports more life dissatisfaction than non users.
10. With marijuana abuse, there is an increased risk of becoming psychotic, especially if there is any genetic predisposition for this.
Marijuana abuse is quite common. A survey called “Monitoring the Future” reported that 7% of 8th graders and 16% of 10th graders and 21% of 12 graders had smoked within one month of the survey. Teenage drug abuse affects brain function, mental, and physical health.
Teenage drug abuse can start with marijuana and may progress to cocaine and “harder” drugs because a person is exposed to drug dealers who offer these to them. Also, it is not clear what effects of marijuana are irreversible if marijuana is stopped. Marijuana abuse should never be taken lightly. Teenage drug abuse affects not only the teen using the drugs, but impacts the entire family.
If you want additional help with teenage alcoholism and teenage drug abuse, click here to register for my free report on, “How To Avoid The 5 Biggest Mistakes Parents Make With Their Addicted Teen Or Young Adult Child”. It may save your family’s life. It outlines the typical mistakes families make that actually perpetuate teenage substance abuse.
Sources: