Focus on Life India

November Wipeout, carcinogenic hydrocarbons, Tobacco Kills, Q&A on Smoking, Club Drugs, Ecstasy

What is it?

Marijuana is a green or gray mixture of dried, shredded flowers and leaves of the hemp plant Cannabis sativa. It can be eaten in certain foods or smoked. It is an illegal drug.

What does it do?

The effects vary from person to person depending on how strong the marijuana is, how it's taken and whether other drugs or alcohol are involved. At first, pot can make people feel relaxed, in a good mood and even silly. Users will likely experience dry mouth, rapid heartbeat, some loss of coordination and poor sense of balance, and slower reaction times, along with intoxication. Blood vessels in the eye will expand causing the red-eye effect. Smoking marijuana may impair short-term memory while people are using the drug. This happens because all forms of marijuana contain THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), the main active chemical in marijuana, which alters the way the brain works. After a few minutes, paranoia or anxiousness may set in, then intense hunger (a.k.a. the munchies). Finally, sleepiness. For some people, marijuana raises blood pressure slightly and can double the normal heart rate. This effect can be greater when other drugs are mixed with marijuana.

Pot & your Brain

Have you heard your friends say that they're "going mental" when they are really stressed or freakin' out about school, dating, or anything else? Maybe sometimes you feel like you're having trouble coping too. Sometimes all the stress and demands of high school may lead some people to try drugs to temporarily dull the pressure. But what they may not realize is that drugs can lead to significant mental and emotional health conditions which make it harder to deal with problems.

The Facts & The Risks

Every year, more and more government, private and university research shows that marijuana use dramatically increases the chance of mental diseases such as anxiety and schizophrenia.

N Weekly marijuana use can double the risk of depression later in life?

N This risk is even higher for girls; female marijuana users are five times more likely to be depressed at 21 than non-users.

N Teens age 12 to 17 who smoke marijuana weekly are three times more likely than non-users to have thoughts about committing suicide.

N Marijuana use is also linked to an increase in past year anxiety and panic attacks.

N Marijuana use during adolescence can increase the chance of schizophrenia.

N The risk of developing schizophrenia is greater with users who begin at an early age.

N The earlier teens start using marijuana, the more likely they are to become dependant later in life.

N Today, more teens enter treatment for marijuana dependency than for all other illicit drugs combined.

Girls, Marijuana & Mental Health

The teen years are never easy, but sometimes it feels like girls have a lot of additional stresses to deal with. Did you know that for many reasons, including hormonal changes, girls are 50 percent more likely than boys to suffer from depression? You should also know that depression and stress are leading factors for drinking and drug use by girls. You can help your girlfriends, friends and sisters stay happy and healthy.

The most important thing to realize when feeling stressed out is that you are not alone. Getting older is tough and everyone has their own way of dealing. Here are some examples of how one can get their rush from healthy activities. You may keep yourself busy with sports, writing poetry, reading, attend faith-based groups/fellowships or hanging out with friends.

How have you seen marijuana affect people? Share here.

I DECIDE TO SAY "NO TO DRUGS"

One can conquer addictions by surrendering the cravings and depedencies on the Drugs, to your creator God who knows what you are going through. Knowledge on the topic can provide us understanding but surrendering to the savior can give us freedom. Freedom from every bondage of satanic provocations and compulsions.

YES, I decide to "break free" from every bondage by inviting my savior Jesus Christ into my life

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