Marijuana Abuse and Its Effects on Adolescents
How Does Adolescent Marijuana Abuse Affect Adolescent Development
Introduction
Marijuana is an illicit drug mostly used by teens and especially students. The teens prefer it to other drugs since it is considered non toxic thus less harmful and dangerous. Marijuana can only cause death when overdosed. Marijuana is smoked just like cigarettes and is legal in most countries. In addition, it has been part of humans as they rely on it as a form of medicine especially those with chest problems. Marijuana is a powerful stimulant especially to those patients suffering from AIDS disease. The patients are able to get appetite by using marijuana and also get body protection against dangerous tumors.
Adolescent development can be defined as the period where many development changes are occurring. It is also the time when the intellectual capacity of a young person is expanding and the peers and friends influence increases. Adolescent use of marijuana is actually linked to a range of both social and developmental problems especially memory loss problems. In addition many researchers have proved that the developing teenage and youthful brain maybe particularly vulnerable to excessive use of marijuana. In a new study scientists report that those teens who smoke marijuana daily for about three years have got abnormal changes in their brain structures which are related to working memory and also performed poorly on the memory tasks given.
Effects of marijuana on adolescents
Long term effects of marijuana smoking include collapsing and shrinking of memory related structures in the brain thus reflecting a possible decrease in the neuron volume (Hesse& Thylstrup, 2013).
In some countries the supply, use, sale, possession and cultivation of marijuana could result in criminal prosecution thus suffering serious consequences especially being jailed and also chances of paying high bails in the courts.
Marijuana results in increase in the dependency rate by young people who suffer loss of memory
Marijuana can result in relationship problems especially with family members and other friends who don’t use the marijuana
The cost of marijuana can result in financial problems and difficulties since it is highly addictive and thus money is required to purchase the drug regularly.
Marijuana use can also trigger mental illnesses in young people making them unproductive. It brings long term effects and consequences to the bodies of the young adolescents.
Problems associated with marijuana smoking by adolescents
Many of the young smokers are at a risk of suffering from lung cancer which is a very dangerous illness and which later results to deaths. There is also a risk of the users developing head and neck cancers as compared to those using tobacco. Marijuana smoke contains three times more the amount of tar found in tobacco smoke and which is a carcinogen thus most young smokers are at a great risk of suffering from this dangerous disease (Riggs & Pentz, 2009). In addition, long term marijuana smokers are prone to develop the bullous lung disease at a younger age than tobacco smokers, possibly because the smokers tend to inhale more deeply and also hold very hot smoke in their lung up to four times longer. This disease causes difficulties in breathing and also causes destruction in the lung tissues thus making the body weak and less immune.
Heavy marijuana smoking results in infertility cases especially in young men. Its continuous use lowers men’s testorestrone levels and sperm count and quality. Men who smoke marijuana more often have less seminal fluid, a lower total sperm count and also their sperms behave abnormally and this results to infertility cases. Marijuana also decreases libido. This result in unproductivity thus can result in decrease in the population.
Marijuana results in poor performance in school, increased absence from schools and results in increased cases of drop outs thus less people graduate thus increasing dependency rate by the young generation. Marijuana use results in high levels of criminal behavior for example theft cases especially theft of motor vehicles. This is a problem in most countries.
Marijuana use at an early age according to studies done shows that the users are at a high risk of later developing problems mostly characterized by social disadvantages and peer influences and inflations (Riggs & Pentz, 2009). Marijuana is highly addictive and the users suffer withdrawal symptoms which include: aggression, anxiety, decrease in appetite and depression. Marijuana use results in impaired emotional development, chances of denial, increased depression, anxiety and other mental illnesses. This can result in suicidal thoughts contributing to early deaths.
. Marijuana smoking in young people results in immature sexual activity which is a contributing factor in cases of unwanted and unplanned pregnancies. This results in abortions which later causes deaths in young ladies. Several studies have shown that regular use of marijuana cause birth effects and inadequate fetal growth. In addition, it leads to increase in the number of street families.
Marijuana use has resulted to many deaths through accidents especially road accidents. Marijuana use increases the driver’s ability to drive at high speeds resulting to accidents and later deaths. Marijuana is the most used drug since it is available, has got low prices, and has a widespread social tolerance. Young people account for the disproportionate number of road traffic accidents. According to studies, it is seen that the fatality rate of accidents for teenagers is four times that of adult drivers. Drivers under the age of twenty five account for almost a quarter of all traffic fatalities. Most young drivers under the influence of marijuana drive at very high speeds are very overconfident while driving and also drive during late nights thus causing deaths and physical injuries.
Solutions to the problems associated with adolescent marijuana smokers
Parents should start early.
It is clear that children whose parents have got a positive attitude towards marijuana smoking are five more times likely to use the drug as compared with those parents who aren’t in support of marijuana. In addition, parents should start an ongoing conversation about drugs with their kids teaching the teens on the harmful effects and consequences of being involved in marijuana smoking. Parents should also teach their teens on ways to avoid negative peer influence and pressure and by so doing they will prevent their teens from smoking this illegal and harmful drug. Parents should be very strict on their stand against the smoking of marijuana and serious consequences and punishment should follow the disobeying teens.
Teaching and practicing skills to refuse drug offers
Parents and teachers at various schools should teach the teens on methods of saying no to marijuana smoking and abuse. Teens should be taught on how to deal with peers and friends who are involved in marijuana smoking. Teens should be enrolled in different social institution where guidance and counseling is offered on preventive measures on avoiding the drug. Teens should be taught on the rightful words to refuse drug offers and also taught alternatives to using drugs, for example engaging in games and other useful activities.
Setting clear guidelines
Parents and teachers should communicate the importance of living healthy and also establish clear and specific rules to stop marijuana smoking and other drugs. Teens should instead in activities like doing household chores and also attending classes. Parents should make sure that teens follow their rules, show respect and also follow laws and regulations of the country or state. Parents should punish those disobedient teens to act as examples for the rest to obey.
Keeping lines of communication and tract of the child
Parents should eat dinner together with the teens and also do fun family activities with the children. This will enable a parent realize whether the children are doing fine and whether they are involved in any illegal activity. The parent will also identify various problems and challenges the child might be facing. Parents should also involve themselves in the lives of the children and they should identify and get to know their friends. Parents should network with one another so as to come up with ways on how to keep children away from abusing marijuana and other harmful drugs.
Monitoring parents and adults behavior
Parents act as role models for the teens to emulate. Parents should teach their teens what they are putting in to practice. Parents should avoid marijuana smoking so as to act as good and responsible role models to their teens and by so doing the teens should follow the example of parents and live a life free of smoking marijuana and other harmful drugs.
Conclusion
From the above point of view, it is clearly observed that marijuana has got both long term and short term consequences. The consequences are suffered more by the young people as compared to the old people. Marijuana smoking is harmful to the healthy of the people and the smokers are at a great risk of suffering from various fatal diseases and infections especially in the lungs and neck. Young people should avoid negative peer influence and by so doing their lives wont be at any risk. In addition marijuana smoking should be avoided especially in those places its considered illegal so as to avoid law breaking. Marijuana smoking is harmful and thus everybody should avoid smoking it not only teens.
References
Ali, M. M., Amialchuk, A., & Dwyer, D. S. (2011). The Social Contagion Effect of Marijuana Use among Adolescents. Plos ONE, 6(1), 1-6. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0016183
Hesse, M., & Thylstrup, B. (2013). Time-course of the DSM-5 cannabis withdrawal symptoms in poly-substance abusers. BMC Psychiatry, 13(1), 200-221. doi:10.1186/1471-244X-13- 258
Riggs, N. R., & Pentz, M. (2009). Long-Term Effects of Adolescent Marijuana Use Prevention on Adult Mental Health Services Utilization: The Midwestern Prevention Project. Substance Use & Misuse, 44(5), 616-631.
