The Impact of Marijuana on a Teen?S Life

The Impact of Marijuana on a Teen?s Life

Marijuana is considered as one of the most commonly used illicit drug by teens. According to a report released by US government in May 2008, around 35% of the 2 million depressed teens used an illicit drug (including marijuana) in 2007. Another 18% of teens who were not suffering with any depression also have used an illicit drug, adding up to the number of drug abused teens. Marijuana abuse has a tremendous impact on a teen’s life.

Why teens are abused to marijuana
The primary reason for marijuana abuse in teens is peer pressure or strong influence by the abused friends or family members. Many teens use marijuana for coping with psychological emotions like anxiety, anger, depression, boredom, etc. Teens who smoke marijuana to deal with psychological emotions have more chances to get addicted to the drug.

Impact of marijuana on general activities
Marijuana has a tremendous impact on educational and extra-curricular activities of a teen. Its short-term affects include deficiency of memory and learning abilities, distorted perceptions, and declined problem-solving skills, low coordination, increased depression, anxiety, and suicidal tendencies. Long-term marijuana abuse can result in schizophrenia or other forms of psychosis.

Marijuana abuse affects on Health
Marijuana smoking has almost the same potential of causing cancer as tobacco smoking. Smoking of marijuana increases heart rate and blood pressure. The abused are likely to suffer from coughing and wheezing. The higher the abuse the greater are the chances of marijuana-smokers to suffer from lung infections and diseases like pneumonia. THC in marijuana can damage immunity system in a human being.

Usage of marijuana
Marijuana is sold under various street names like pot, herb, weed, grass, boom, ganja, Mary Jane, hashish, hash, etc. Marijuana is usually consumed by igniting it and inhaling the smoke through different apparatus like cigarettes, bowls, chillums, etc. Marijuana is also consumed orally after heating the raw cannabis and producing psychoactive THC from it.

Marijuana inside a human system
Marijuana abuse can be detected for around 7 to 30 days using a standard urine drug testing. Traces of marijuana can be detected even after several days of consumption through a urine test. However, in the case of a heavy chronic user it can be detected even for several weeks after they have stopped consuming it. Marijuana can be detected for up to 90 days in hair and 2 weeks in blood.

Under an effective guidance, parents can stop their children being abused to marijuana. Parents are suggested not to ignore abrupt behavioral changes in their teen children. Parents should conduct drug screening at home frequently to monitor their children and keep them away from marijuana abuse.