Health Benefits to Marijuana - Coursework Example

?Marijuana Marijuana is often the drug of choice of those experimenting with illicit substances for the first time. It is common in parties at universities (Gledhill-Hoyt, 2000: 1655), is associated with free love and the peace movement of the 60s and 70s, is believed to induce creativity and art, and there are even some countries in the world, such as Holland, that allow its regulated use. In some cases, it is even considered a rite of passage (Brooks, et. al. 2002: 79). Yet, marijuana abuse is a mounting problem and has in fact led to the experimentation of more hard-core drugs (Anthony, et. al. 1995: 9). Indeed, even though majority of marijuana users do not progress to marijuana dependence, the gargantuan number of marijuana users guarantees that those who do progress to dependence is still a substantial number (Haney, 2005: 360). and the government must take marijuana treatment interventions seriously. What exactly is this drug and how has it become so prevalent, especially among the youth? What are the negative effects of this drug, and the positive effects if there are any? What method of treatment best addresses the condition of those who are addicted to this drug? This paper will attempt to answer these questions and shed light on the identified issues. According to a report quoted by Michael Lyman, 57 percent of adults aged 19-28 have reported using Marijuana in their lifetimes. (2011: 116). It comes from the leaves of the cannabis tops and is dried and smoked from a pipe, as one does a cigarette. If the experts are to be believed, marijuana has several negative effects. An important one is the loss of cell energy leading to cell death, especially when it saturates the cell membrane and blocks the passage of vital nutrients. Another research finding shows that marijuana usage affects the part of the brain that deals with motivation in general, it has also been found that marijuana is bad for both the mind and the body. Although there is no such thing as a lethal overdose of marijuana, i.e., no one has ever died of ingesting too much (of course, if a marijuana user drives or operates heavy equipment, then the disorientation can cause him to injure himself), its long term effects can seriously impair a user’s health.. Lyman also points out that the toxins and cancer-causing ingredients in the substance leads users to feel the same health issues as those who smoke cigarettes, such as bronchitis, emphysema and bronchial asthma. But aside from that, there are also halluncinations, behavioural changes, apathy, loss of motivation because of the effects to the nervous systems, thus making it worse than cigarettes. He further says that: Some of the effects of marijuana use also include increased heart rate, dryness of the mouth, reddening of the eyes, impaired motor skills and concentration, and hunger with an increased desire for sweets. Extended use increases risk to the lungs and reproductive system as well as suppression of the immune system. But are there health benefits to marijuana? There are those who argue that marijuana has beneficial effects and can even serve as medical treatment, particularly for glaucoma. According to Kuhn, et. al. (2008: 165), there are reports that those suffering from multiple sclerosis and other disorders having to do with impaired muscle control have responded positively to marijuana treatments. At present, however, the debates are still raging on whether or not marijuana can be made a mainstream drug. The negative effects of addiction still far outweigh the potential medical benefits. In any case, for those illnesses that are said to be curable with marijuana, there are other less-controversial treatment options available. But what are the treatment options available for those who are suffering from marijuana dependence? The most viable treatment option is abstinence and withdrawal, because marijuana is not as addictive as other drugs and those who have grown dependent on it can kick the habit more easily than if they were addicted to drugs such as cocaine or metamphetamines. But it is more important to note some of the factors that should be considered when looking for marijuana treatment options. First, it must be noted that there was a steady increase of marijuana users among minority populations in the United States, specifically among black and Hispanic youth. (Compton, et. al., 2004: 2114). In the study abovecited, it was found that “the rates of marijuana use disorders did not increase among white young adults (ages 18-29 years), but did increase among young adult black men and women and among young adult Hispanic men.” Hence, interventions must take this race and age differentials in mind when crafting interventions to combat drug dependence. Second, it must also be considered that unlike other hard-core drugs, marijuana is easy to procure and is inexpensive. A person will not fall to penury as a result of his or her addiction and it is accessible anywhere. In cities like Amsterdam, there are designated places scattered all over the place that sell joints. You don’t even need to go to the trouble of looking for a contact or going to dodgy places. Thus, a person who is addicted to marijuana must really want to quit the drug. Third, those who are trying to quit must have the firm support of family members. To quote Simpson, Dwayne and George (1993, page 357) “(s)ocial stability (marital status, employment, and fewer prior arrests), previous treatment experience, expectations for reducing future drug use, higher methadone dose level, and higher motivation” can indicate how a person responds to treatment for drug addiction. If a person is in an otherwise happy marriage for example, it increases the likelihood of that person being better able to recover from marijuana addiction. In conclusion, whilst marijuana is considered by some to be a harmless drug, it is only harmless in comparison to its more hard-core counterparts. The health risks are still considerable, and the behaviour-altering consequences have impacts on well-being, social relationships and productivity. A person who is struggling with marijuana addiction should take all necessary means in order to kick the addiction and live a healthier, marijuana-free life. Word count: 1023 References Anthony J.C. and Petronis, K.R. (1995) “Early-onset drug use and risk of later drug problems”. Drug Alcohol Dependency. Vol. 40. 9-20. Brooks, JS, Adams, RE; Balka, EB; and Johnson, E.(2002). “Early adolescent marijuana use: risks for transition to young adulthood”. Psychol Med. Vol. 32. 79-101. Compton, W., Grant, B., Colliver, J., Glantz, M. and Stinson, F. (2004). “Prevalence of Marijuana Use Disorders in the United States.” Journal of the American Medical Association. 291(17): 2114-2121. Gledhill-Hoyt J., Lee, H.; Strote, J; and Wechsler, H. (2000). “Increased use of marijuana and other illicit drugs at US colleges in the 1990s: results of three national surveys.” Addiction. Vol. 95. 1655-1703. Haney, M. (2006). “The Marijuana Withdrawal Syndrome: Diagnosis and Treatment”. Current Psychiatry Reports. Vol. 7(5). 360-366. Kuhn, C., Swartzwelder, S., & Wilson, W. (2008) Buzzed: The straight facts about the most used and abused drugs from alcohol to ecstasy (3rd ed). New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Co. Lyman, M. D. (2011). Drugs in Society: Causes, Concepts and Control. (6th Ed.), Burlington, MA: Anderson Publishing.  Simpson, D. and Joe, G. (1993). “Motivation as a predictor of early drop-out from drug abuse treatment.” Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice. Volume 30(2). 357-368. Read More