green phoenix's List: Marijuana Drug Abuse

• marijuana is the second most popular drug with youth

  • could use in the first power point or an introduction into what marijuana is.
• leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds of the cannabis plant, which   are dried and chopped into small amounts
• can also be found as Sinsemilla
• Commonly referred to as grass, pot, weed, Acapulco Gold, ganja, and smoke,   marijuana is usually sold and stored in small plastic bags, aluminum foil,   or small rolled cigarettes.
• hand-rolled cigarettes   called "joints," and has a strong, pungent odor when smoked.
• he leaves can also be smoked in small wooden pipes or water-filled   pipes called "bongs."
• can also be blended into food,   then cooked and eaten, most often in brownies.
• Paraphernalia associated with marijuana includes pipes, bangs, rolling papers,   plastic bags, roach clips, "stash boxes" (decorative boxes designed to conceal   and store marijuana), and eye drops and breath fresheners used to cover up   signs of use of the drug.
• induce restlessness, a dreamy state of relaxation,   red or bloodshot eyes, and increased appetite.
• Stronger doses can cause shifting   sensory images, rapidly fluctuating emotions, a loss of self-identity, fantasies,   and hallucinations or image distortions.

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• 25 million Americans age 12 and older had abused marijuana at least once in the year prior to being surveyed.
• 10.3% of 8th graders, 24.6% of 10th graders, and 31.7% of 12th graders had abused marijuana at least once in the year prior to being surveyed.

• Why do people take drugs?
   In general, people begin taking drugs for a variety of reasons: 

  • To feel good. Most abused drugs produce intense feelings of pleasure. This initial sensation of euphoria is followed by other effects, which differ with the type of drug used. For example, with stimulants such as cocaine, the "high" is followed by feelings of power, self-confidence, and increased energy. In contrast, the euphoria caused by opiates such as heroin is followed by feelings of relaxation and satisfaction. 
  • To feel better. Some people who suffer from social anxiety, stress-related disorders, and depression begin abusing drugs in an attempt to lessen feelings of distress. Stress can play a major role in beginning drug use, continuing drug abuse, or relapse in patients recovering from addiction. 
  • To do better. The increasing pressure that some individuals feel to chemically enhance or improve their athletic or cognitive performance can similarly play a role in initial experimentation and continued drug abuse. 
  • Curiosity and "because others are doing it." In this respect adolescents are particularly vulnerable because of the strong influence of peer pressure; they are more likely, for example, to engage in "thrilling" and "daring" behaviors.
• EXAMPLES OF RISK AND PROTECTIVE FACTORS    Risk Factors  Domain  Protective Factors    Early Aggressive Behavior  Individual  Self-Control    Poor Social Skills  Individual  Positive Relationships    Lack of Parental Supervision  Family  Parental Monitoring and Support    Substance Abuse  Peer  Academic Competence    Drug Availability  School  Anti-Drug Use Policies    Poverty  Community  Strong Neighborhood Attachment
• when drug abuse takes over, a person's ability to exert self control can become seriously impaired.
• The initial decision to take drugs is mostly voluntary
• show physical changes in areas of the brain that are critical to judgment, decisionmaking, learning and memory, and behavior control.
• No single factor determines whether a person will become addicted to drugs. The overall risk for addiction is impacted by the biological makeup of the individual - it can even be influenced by gender or ethnicity, his or her developmental stage, and the surrounding social environment (e.g., conditions at home, at school, and in the neighborhood).

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• this is good for looking for treatment options - green phoenix on 2008-05-12