"Teenage Problems"
Facts:
1- Marijuana affects your brain – THC (the active ingredient in marijuana)
affects the nerve cells in the part of the brain where memories are formed.
2- Marijuana affects your self-control – Marijuana can seriously affect your
sense of time and your coordination, impacting things like driving. In 1998, nearly
77,000 people were admitted to emergency rooms suffering from marijuana-related
problems, an increase of more than 373 percent since 1991.
3- Marijuana affects your lungs – There are more than 400 known chemicals in
marijuana. A single joint contains four times as much cancer-causing tar as a
filtered cigarette.
4- Marijuana affects other aspects of your health – Marijuana can limit your
body’s ability to fight off infection. Long-term marijuana use can even increase the
risk of developing certain mental illnesses.
5- Marijuana is not always what it seems – Marijuana can be laced with other
dangerous drugs without your knowledge. “Blunts”-hollowed-out cigar filled with
marijuana-sometimes have substances such as crack cocaine, PCP, or embalming
fluid added.
6- Marijuana can be addictive – Not everyone who uses marijuana becomes
addicted, but some users do develop signs of dependence. In 1995, nearly
165,000 people entered drug treatment programs to kick their marijuana habit.
7- Marijuana is illegal – It is illegal to buy or sell marijuana in most states,
holding even small amounts of marijuana can lead to fines or arrest.
The Signs are:
1- Seeming dizzy and having trouble walking.
2- Having red blood shot eyes and smelly hair and clothes.
3- Having a hard time remembering things that just happened.
4- Acting silly for no apparent reason
Your Brain On Drugs
The parts of the brain which control emotions, memory, and
judgment are affected by pot. Smoking pot can not only weaken your short-term
memory (making it harder to remember what you learned in biology class today),
but can prevent that information from making it into your long term memory. So,
when you write your exam at the end of the year, you won't remember what you
learned. It can also weaken your problem solving skills.
Marijuana >
