Marijuana abuse is the most frequent type of drug abuse in America. Derived from the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa, marijuana is a dry, shredded, green and brown mixture of flowers, stems, seeds, and leaves. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the main active ingredient in marijuana; and the most common method of using marijuana is by smoking it as a joint or in a pipe.
The long-term abuse of marijuana often leads to addiction. This addiction can be seen when the individual undergoes compulsive drug seeking and abuse despite knowing its perilous effects. Individuals who abuse marijuana and try to quit often experience irritability, sleeplessness, loss of appetite, anxiety, and a craving for the drug, making it difficult to stop using it altogether. These withdrawal symptoms of marijuana abuse usually start the day after abstinence, heightening 2 to 3 days later, and subsiding 1 or 2 weeks later. Several studies have shown that chronic marijuana use can cause increased anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and schizophrenia.
Shortly after smoking marijuana, the heart rate increases by 20–100 percent–this can last up to 3 hours. Marijuana users are also susceptible to the increased risk of heart attack after the first hour of smoking the drug. This can be attributed to the increased heart rate plus the effects marijuana has on heart rhythms, causing palpitations. Individuals in the aging population or those who have cardiac problems are at a higher risk of having these heart irregularities.
Due to the carcinogens in marijuana, marijuana abuse can also negatively impact the lungs. Marijuana smoke has 50 to 70 percent more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than tobacco smoke. Deep inhalation is usually done by marijuana users, as well as holding the breath longer to attain the high needed, exposing the lungs to carcinogenic smoke. Consequently, marijuana smokers can have several respiratory problems, some similar to ones many tobacco smokers experience–coughing regularly, producing phlegm, and a heightened risk of lung infections. A study showed that individuals suffering from marijuana abuse (but do not smoke tobacco) suffer from more health issues and miss more workdays than nonsmokers. The sick days many marijuana smokers took from work were attributed to related respiratory illnesses.
In a study conducted by the Monitoring the Future, the chart below shows the statistics for 8th graders who have used marijuana.
Percentage of 8th-Graders Who Have Used Marijuana:
| 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | |
| Lifetime | 19.9% | 23.1% | 22.6% | 22.2% | 22.0% | 20.3% | 20.4% |
| Past Year | 15.8 | 18.3 | 17.7 | 16.9 | 16.5 | 15.6 | 15.4 |
| Past Month | 9.1 | 11.3 | 10.2 | 9.7 | 9.7 | 9.1 | 9.2 |
| Daily | 0.8 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 1.3 |
| 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | |
| Lifetime | 19.2% | 17.5% | 16.3% | 16.5% | 15.7% | 14.2% | 14.6% |
| Past Year | 14.6 | 12.8 | 11.8 | 12.2 | 11.7 | 10.3 | 10.9 |
| Past Month | 8.3 | 7.5 | 6.4 | 6.6 | 6.5 | 5.7 | 5.8 |
| Daily | 1.2 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.9 |
Parents should watch for any signs that their child may be using marijuana. By educating the child about the damaging effects of using marijuana, the child will at least be aware of them, hopefully thinking twice before indulging.
Drug Enforcement Agnecy (DEA) – http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/index.htm
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA) – http://www.samhsa.gov/
National Institue of Health (NIH) – http://www.nih.gov/