Marijuana

Marijuana

Kerry Herndon, MSW, LAC-EWestern Montana Addiction ServicesProject SUCCESS- Sentinel HS

HEALTH VS. POLITICS

THIS PRESENTATIONIS ABOUT MARIJUANA

AND YOUR HEALTH.Regardless of the politics and

debate about legalization these are the facts about how marijuana impacts your health.

First Thing First – The Brain

Age 25: Fully DevelopedAge 30: Fully MatureYounger any chemicals are introduced, the greater the risk to brain developmentNeurotransmitters

The chemical (message) being sentNeuron

Specialized cell which sends or receives messages to other parts of our nervous system.

Street Terms (Some of Them)

Pot JointGrass DopeBush DrawDry High DubbyGangster GiggleweedJive KiffLoco Weed Mexican

GreenResin RoachSmoke SpliffThai Sticks SkunkBammy BlanketBo-Bo BomberCripple Dinkie Dow

Hash CannabisAfgan Black RockBhang WeedBroccoli Budda GrassGage GanjaHemp HerbJane Mary JanePanama Red PuffReefer SativaTea Texas TeaChronic CheebaBlunt AshesDing Giggle Smoke

Route of Administration

Smoked IngestedVaporized

REALITIES OF WEED 10-20x more potent than in 1970’s 50-70% more carcinogens than

cigarettes Type or carcinogens vary

Marijuana has over 4,000 unidentified chemicals, including more than 50 linked to cancer. (Moir et al., 2008)

Inhaled deeply and held for longer periods in the lungs, increasing tar in lungs.

REALITIES OF WEED (slide 2)

It is a “gateway drug” (dopamine). Adolescents who use marijuana are more likely to

use cocaine and/or heroin as adults. (SAMHSA, 2002)

Although typically not lethal, mixed with other substances (especially alcohol) it can have serious consequences.

Although it is rare, you can overdose. Some symptoms are: acute anxiety or panic increased heart rate low blood pressure psychosis or paranoia.

More news about ganga: About 9% of people become addicted “The odds of marijuana dependence in

adulthood are 6 times higher for those who started using pot before age 15 than for those who began after age 18.” (HBO Box Office, Inc, 2007)

Increases to 25 to 50% among daily users. “While alcohol is the leading cause of

emergency room admissions for adults, for adolescents, it is marijuana.” (HBO Box Office, Inc, 2007)

“Complaints include delusions, hallucinations, automobile accidents and more serious psychological and physical reactions when marijuana is combined with other addictive substances. (HBO Box Office, Inc, 2007)

Marijuana: Short TermBloodshot eyesDry mouth and throatDecreased social inhibitionsMotivation and cognitionLearning difficultiesDifficulty speaking, listening

effectivelyIntense anxiety or panic attacksParanoiaDrops blood pressure

“Whoa, Dude, I gotta sit down”.

Marijuana: The Brain Impacts nerve cells, hippocampus, cerebellum, basal

ganglia, and cerebral cortex. Can cause:

Hallucinations Delusions Impaired memory Disorientation

Parts of Brain that Effect: Pleasure Memory Thought Concentration Sensory and time perception Coordinated movement

Marijuana & The Nervous System Nucleus of Solitary Tract – Sensations like nausea

and vomiting Basal Ganglia – Movement Control Cerebellum – Body Movement & Coordination Hippocampus – Memory, Learning, Stress Control Cerebral Cortex – Thinking, Problem Solving Nucleus Accumbens – Reward Center Hypothalamus – Body Functions Amygdala – Emotional Response, Fears Spinal Cord – Sensations Brain Stem – Sleep, Arousal, Motor Control

Marijuana & The Heart

Heart rate (increase up to 50%)Blood pressure dropsHeart attack 4x more likely within an

hour of smoking marijuana compared to not smoking

Marijuana & The Lungs Burning and stinging of the throat Heavy coughing/Similar to tobacco smokers Frequent chest illnesses & lung infections Cancer of the lung (20x greater w/

marijuana compared to tobacco per study in 2012) Type of lung cancer maybe different that cigarette smokers

due to cannabinoid carcinogens vs. tobacco carcinogens. Cannabis may kill or slow the growth of some cancer cells, but it can also been shown in other studies to increase risk or cause cancer cell growth of a different type.

Correlation to: bullous lung disease (abnormal airspaces in lungs caused by

damage to lung walls) pneumothorax (“collapsed lung”)

(http://adai.uw.edu/marijuana/factsheets/respiratoryeffects.htm)

More Respiratory System Tar similar to that of tobacco, but levels

increase w/ marijuana due to inhaling it and holding it in lungs longer.

“…there is a prolonged and deeper inhalation and it is smoked to a shorter butt length and at a higher combustion temperature. This results in approximately 5 times the carbon monoxide concentration, 3 times the tar, and the retention of one-third more tar in the respiratory tract. Higher levels of ammonia and hydrogen cyanide have also been found in marijuana smoke, compared to tobacco”(Moir, et al., 2008; Wu et al., 1988; Tashkin et al., 1991; Benson & Bentley, 1995).

Lungs and Route of Administration

Smoking devices that use water filters (bongs, e.g.) have been shown to involve equivalent amounts of tar and do not reduce risks of marijuana smoke inhalation (Gieringer, 1996; Bloor et al, 2008).  

Vaporizers, which heat marijuana below combustion point, have been theorized to be a safer method of administration, producing lower levels of tar than cigarettes (Grotenhermen, 2001) and fewer respiratory symptoms reported by users (Earleywine & Smucker Barnwell, 2007). However, these devices have also been shown to release ammonia which, when inhaled, can cause irritation and central nervous system effects, as well as asthma and bronchial spasms (Bloor et al, 2008). More research on the potential use of vaporizers as a harm reduction technique is needed.

http://adai.uw.edu/marijuana/factsheets/respiratoryeffects.htm

Lungs and Route of Administration (Part 2)

Eating marijuana ("edibles") is perhaps a more obvious means to reduce the respiratory effects when using the drug. Oral administration carries its own challenges, however, as it typically takes longer for the effects of the drug to appear (30–60 minutes compared to seconds), making it more difficult to monitor dose and increasing the risk of overdose. Additionally, the effects last longer than some users prefer (Grotenhermen, 2001). That said, overdosing on marijuana is rare and most likely to happen to naïve users. A marijuana overdose can trigger acute anxiety or panic, increased heart rate, low blood pressure, and additional problems.

Other alternative forms of marijuana delivery, including sublingual, rectal, and transdermal delivery have not been appropriately investigated but may also further reduce the possible risks associated with the administration of cannabis (Grotenhermen, 2001).

http://adai.uw.edu/marijuana/factsheets/respiratoryeffects.htm

Marijuana & Your Mental Health Can induce psychosis Anxiety Depression Schizophrenia Bipolar Disorder Panic attacks Learning difficulties/disabilities Emotional developmentWhich comes first? Mental health or triggered symptoms as a result of marijuana.

More on Mental Health w/ Weed Adolescents 6x more likely to develop

psychotic symptoms 10% of adolescents who use before age

15 will develop psychotic symptoms by age 26 compared to 3% who never used.

Genetically predisposed people are likely to see symptoms of mental health disorders earlier if they use marijuana.

Young men who use are more likely to experience suicidal thoughts if they use marijuana.

Mary Jane and Digestion

Burning and stinging of mouth/throatChanges in potassium levelsChanges in amount of protein and Ph

of urineSome renal problems reported as a

result having to digest the marijuana UA’s▪ Occasional Use -10 to 14 days▪ Regular Use -45 days▪ Heavy Use – 90 days

Hash and the Immune SystemLowered immune systemCancer patients in treatment may be

impacted differently by the effect of marijuana on the immune system.

Suppress auto-immune systemReduces white cell production

Grass & Musculoskeletal SystemSlows muscle growth Decreases muscle massLowers testosterone needed for muscle growthUsed as a muscle relaxant Increased muscle spasmsAbsorption of calcium reducedWeakened bones (especially in

adolescent women)

Giggle Smoke & ReproductionRecreational use linked to testicular

cancer Cannabis receptors in the testacies

Female infertility issues THC can be found in vaginal fluids Interference with menstrual and

ovulation cyclesMale infertility issues

Lower sperm count/mobility of sperm impacted

Lower volume of seminal fluid Reduced testosterone

Other “Chronic” effects

Effects different people in a different way

BHA: Food additive ingested while using marijuana can promote health effects in lungs.

Males more likely to develop dependency

Higher risk taking behaviorsDenial of organ transplants

Cannabis Withdrawal

Most pronounced 10-18 days after last use

Peaking at day 2 or 3

Tremors Fever like feeling Nausea Muscle spasms Loose stools Abdominal distress Hiccups

Anxiety Muscle tension Mood swings Appetite changes Insomnia Nightmares/terrors Depressed mood Anger/Aggression Agitation Irritable

Other Things To Consider

ResourcesResources had varying information about marijuana. Unless a resource is directly cited, the information came by reading multiple articles, professional resources, etc. Every article, book or resource on marijuana ever encountered would need to be listed to capture the host of information obtained for this presentation. http://adai.uw.edu/marijuana/factsheets/respiratoryeffects.htm