Tips for Teens: The Truth About
Marijuana
Slang--Weed, Pot,
Grass, Reefer, Ganja, Mary Jane, Blunt,
Joint, Roach, Nail
Marijuana affects your brain.
THC (the active ingredient in marijuana)
affects the nerve cells in the part of the
brain where memories are formed.
Marijuana affects your
self-control. Marijuana can
seriously affect your sense of time and your
coordination, impacting things like driving.
In 2002, nearly 120,000 people were admitted
to emergency rooms suffering from
marijuana-related problems, an increase of
more than 139 percent since 1995.1
Marijuana affects your lungs.
There are more than 400 known chemicals in
marijuana. A single joint contains four
times as much cancer-causing tar as a
filtered cigarette.2
Marijuana affects other aspects
of your health. Marijuana can limit
your body's ability to fight off infection.3
Long-term marijuana use can even
increase the risk of developing certain
mental illnesses.4
Marijuana is not always what it
seems. Marijuana can be laced with
other dangerous drugs without your
knowledge. "Blunts"--hollowed-out
cigars filled with marijuana--sometimes have
substances such as crack cocaine, PCP, or
embalming fluid added.
Marijuana can be addictive.
Not everyone who uses marijuana becomes
addicted, but some users do develop signs of
dependence. In 1999, more than 220,000
people entered drug treatment programs to
kick their marijuana habit.5
Know the law. It is
illegal to buy or sell marijuana. In most
States, holding even small amounts of
marijuana can lead to fines or arrest.
Get the facts. Smoking any
substance--tobacco, marijuana, or crack
cocaine--increases your risk of developing
pneumonia and other illnesses.6
Stay informed. It has
not yet been proven that using marijuana
leads to using other drugs. But very few
people use other drugs without first using
marijuana. Teens who smoke marijuana are
more likely to try other drugs, in part
because they have more contact with people
who use and sell them.
Know the risks. Using
marijuana or other drugs increases your risk
of injury from car crashes, falls, burns,
drowning, and other accidents.
Keep your edge.
Marijuana affects your judgment, drains your
motivation, and can make you feel anxious.
Look around you. Most
teens aren't smoking marijuana. According to
a 2002 study, about four out of five 12- to
17-year-old youths had never even tried
marijuana.7
How can you tell if a friend is
using marijuana? Sometimes it's
tough to tell. But there are signs you can
look for. If your friend has one or more of
the following warning signs, he or she may
be using marijuana:
- Seeming dizzy and having trouble
walking
- Having red, bloodshot eyes and smelly
hair and clothes
- Having a hard time remembering things
that just happened
- Acting silly for no apparent reason
What can you do to help someone
who is using marijuana or other drugs?
Be a real friend. Encourage your friend to
seek professional help. For information and
referrals, call the National Clearinghouse
for Alcohol and Drug Information at
800-729-6686.
Q. Isn't smoking marijuana less
dangerous than smoking cigarettes?
A. No. It's even worse. One
joint affects the lungs as much as four
cigarettes.8
Q. Can people become addicted to
marijuana?
A. Yes. Research confirms
you can become hooked on marijuana.
Q. Can marijuana be used as a
medicine?
A. While the active
ingredient in marijuana, THC, can be
manufactured in a pill available by
prescription to treat nausea and vomiting
associated with certain cancer treatments,
scientists say that more research needs to
be done on its side effects and other
potential medical uses.9
To learn more about marijuana or obtain
referrals to programs in your community,
contact one of the following toll-free
numbers:
SAMHSA’s National Clearinghouse for
Alcohol and Drug Information
800-729-6686
TDD 800-487-4889
linea gratis en espaņol
877-767-8432
Curious about the TV ads of the National
Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign? Check out
the Web site at www.freevibe.com
or visit the Office of National Drug Control
Policy Web site at www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov.
The bottom line: If you
know someone who smokes marijuana, urge him
or her to stop or get help. If you're
smoking marijuana--stop! The longer you
ignore the real facts, the more chances you
take with your health and well-being.
It's never too late. Talk to your
parents, a doctor, a counselor, a teacher,
or another adult you trust.
Do it today!
Footnotes
1 The
DAWN Report. Major Drugs of Abuse in ED
Visits, 2002 Update. Substance Abuse and
Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA),
May 2004.
2
Effects of Marijuana on the Lungs and Its
Immune Defenses. University of
California-Los Angeles School of Medicine
Study, 1997.
3 Ibid.
4 Marijuana:
Facts Parents Need to Know (Revised).
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA),
2002.
5 Ibid.
6 Mueller,
M.D. NIDA Notes, Vol. 12, No. 1.
NIDA, Jan/Feb 1997.
7 2002
National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
SAMHSA, 2002.
8 Effects
of Marijuana on the Lungs and Its Immune
Defenses. University of California-Los
Angeles School of Medicine Study, 1997.
9 Marijuana:
Facts For Teens (Revised). National
Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), 2003.
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