The use of illegal substances is a serious problem in the United States today and there are several drugs of choice among drug addicts and in this article we will discuss 3 of the most commonly used drugs and list their effects on the user.
Marijuana
One of the most commonly used controlled substances today is Marijuana. Marijuana is a product of the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa. The main active chemical in marijuana, also present in other forms of cannabis, is THC or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (NIDA, 1984). Of the roughly 400 chemicals found in the cannabis plant, THC affects the brain the most.
Short-term effects of the use of Marijuana
Short-term effects of marijuana include problems with memory and learning, distorted perception, trouble with thinking and problem solving, loss of motor coordination, increased heart rate, and anxiety (NIDA, 1984). A user may also experience dry mouth and throat (NIDA, 1984).
Long-term effects of the use of Marijuana
Marijuana smoke contains some of the same cancer-causing compounds as tobacco, sometimes in even higher concentrations (NIDA, 1984). Research shows that a user who smokes five times per week may be consuming as many cancer-causing chemicals as someone who smokes a full pack of cigarettes everyday (NIDA, 1984).
When a person smokes marijuana, the body responds immediately to the chemical THC in the smoke (NIDA, 1984). THC causes a short-term increase in blood pressure, heart rate, and the flow of blood from the heart as well as causing the narrowing of the arteries (NIDA, 1984). Carbon monoxide reduces the amount of oxygen the blood can carry and when this is combined with the effects produced by THC, it creates an imbalance in the demand for oxygen by th...
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... as part of criminal behavior but not necessarily driven by or the result of drug use (Abadinsky, p. 14). Only continuous research can, with hope produce a valid answer for this question which is perhaps more of a moral issue than a scientific issue.
REFERENCES
Abadinsky, Howard. (2004). Drugs: An Introduction. Fifth Edition. Thomson Wadsworth. United States.
Drug Rehab Organization. (2005). Louisiana: 'Criminal Patrol' program leads to cocaine arrest. Retrieved on July 30, 2005 from http://www.drug-rehabs.org
Drug Wars. (n.d.). Socio-Economical Effects of Cocaine. Retrieved on July 30, 2005 from http://www.drugaware.co.za
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (1984). Drug Facts. Retrieved on July 30, 2005 from http://www.nida.nih.gov
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