Marijuana is a green, brown, or gray mixture of

dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of the hemp plant.

Also known as pot, herb, grass, weed, boom

Marijuana/Cannabis Dr Keli

How is it Used?
Usually smoked as a cigarette, in pipe or a bong High lipid solubility Metabolites can be excreted a week later

Marijuana is on the Rise Among Middle School Age Students

Why?
Increase in availability of marijuana and other drugs Teens being misguided about marijuana as being a natural product. Theyre unaware of the mood-altering and physiological effects. Has become some-what accepted by society through media and radio waves

Why?
Less expensive of all drugs, next to alcohol. As stated by Insel and Roth, One reason for our societys concern with the casual or recreational use of illegal drugs is that its not really possible to know when drug use will lead to abuse or dependence.

Warning Signs Parents Should Look For

Increasing agitation and irritability Loss of motivation and interest in previously enjoyed activities Decreased attention span and increased distracted behavior Red or glassy eyes, extreme fatigue, and poor health A loss of motivation and interest in previously enjoyed activities

 A significant weight gain or loss Withdrawal from former friends who do not use drugs Failure to acquire age-appropriate social skills Depression, confusion, and mood swings Changes in likes and dislikes to a more conventional style (such as with music, hair, and clothing

Short Term Effects

the effects of Marijuana are influenced by users
expectations and past experiences

Low Dosage
Euphoria, heighten of subjective sensory experiences, hallucinations, fantasies, paranoia, laid-back attitude

Moderate dosage
Dryness of the mouth, reddening of the eyes, impaired motor skills and memory function, lapse of attention, frequent hunger attacks munchies, and feelings of depersonalization

Long term effects

Bronchitis, emphysema, bronchial asthma, soar throats, coughs, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, increased heart rate, increased risk to lungs, short term memory, glaucoma, suppresses immune system reproductive system (decrease in testosterone, decreased sperm count, abnormality of sperm, impaired fetal growth and development), physical dependency, leads to subsequent use of cocaine and heroine

Statistics
About 1 5 8th graders report they are current marijuana users (used within past month) Is the most widely used illegal drug in U.S. (more than 30 % of Americans, about 67 million, have tried it at least once) According to the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA) states that among youths age 12-17, 10.9% reported past month use of illicit drugs in 99. 7.7 % of youths were current users in 1999

Effects on the Brain

G protein-coupled receptor is found in the nuclei of basal ganglia, substancia nigra, pars reticularis, globus pallidus, hippocampus, brainstem PET studies show increased met following THC suggesting their involvemet in clinical actions of the drug

Availability
According to study, 50% of 13 year olds reported they could find and purchase marijuana. From peers (others that are older) Today it is available in all walks of life (metropolitan, suburban, and rural areas) Can be purchased for as little as $5 Those that distribute marijuana have now become your next door neighbor or mutual friend

Clinical effects
Effects increase with smoking max at 20 min last upto 3hrs Initially euphoria,uncontrollable laughter, altered sense of time, sharpened vision, depersonerlisation Later dream like states and sleep PR, redening of the conjuctiva, postuiral hypotension

Clinical effects
Antiemesis, tremor, tendon reflexes Testosterone levels, airway narrowing Chronic bronchitis, airway obstruction, squamous cell Ca like smokers Angina pectoralis due to , HR orthostatic hypotension , carboxy hem Impaired driving,

Dronabinol
Therapeutic THC Used for N, V in cancer patients on chemo Appetite stimulant in AIDs patients intraoccular pressure Levonantradol analgesic

Societal Effects

Music
Artists
Bob Marley Reggae The Grateful Dead Rock Cheech and Chong Hispanic Smashing Pumpkins and Metallica Heavy Metal Snoop Doggy Dog Rap Erykah Badu - R&B

Solutions

What parents could do to help

Be good role models Stay involved with your children Educating children about drugs.

What parents can do to help

Dont make it easy. Never assume that your children supervised appropriately. Know where they are and who their with. Build a strong and resilient relationship. If you suspect your child has a drug problem, seek help immediately.

As far as Media is Concerned

Carefully planned mass media campaigns can reduce substance abuse by countering false perceptions that drug use is normative Also by influencing personal beliefs that motivate drug use Having media programs work in conjunction with other community and school-based anti-drug programs

Treatment
The Center for Substance Abuse Treatment and The National Institute on Drug Abuse
1. Discovering what can be done to help client write a prescription for clinical progress and move along a continuum toward, if not abstinence, then measurable improvement. 2. Engagement- one coming forth with problem

Treatment
3. Create an environment in which patients are motivated, are invested in their own recovery, recognize incentives and disincentives of behavior, and accept the consequences of behavior 4. Creating an environment in which healing can take place, where there is consistency leadership and research

Summary
Being an adolescent is a risk factor for trying illicit drugs (especially marijuana) which further leads to habitual usage Percentage on a rise due to availability and lack of awareness about marijuana Media and radio have come to play and increasingly important role in raising our children and leading to the mis-education about drugs and alcohol

It is a social activity, and Teens are at a loss for Social activities right now. When you go to a concert Or go dancing, the thing to Do is smoke dope.
Rebecca Carpenter, 15
Lincoln High student (Portland, Oregon)

It is easy to do, easy to grow, easy to get and easy to sell