Substance Abuse Education

1. Substance Abuse Education The Use of Marijuana Mark Ellow PharmD candidate Spring 2006 April 19, 2006

2. Purpose of this Presentation… • To explain how marijuana effects 3 very important systems of the body. • Explain the results of longer term use of marijuana. • Learn some other important facts about marijuana that may help you think again about smoking marijuana. April 19, 2006

3. What is Marijuana? • Marijuana can be green, brown, or gray in color, or a mix of all three. • The active ingredient is THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol). (1) • It is a mind-altering drug that effects how the brain: • Sends signals • Interprets stimuli • Basically effects how it functions April 19, 2006

4. Popular Street Names for Marijuana • Pot • Weed • Herb • Grass (2) • Trees • Green • Reefer April 19, 2006

5. Popular Paraphernalia(devices and associated items for usage) Bag of Marijuana Marijuana cigarette (joint) April 19, 2006

6. Popular Paraphernalia Cont.(devices and associated items for usage) Pipe (bowl) Bong April 19, 2006

7. Forms of Marijuana • The “shredded leaf” form • Obtained by breaking up buds from the hemp plant. • This from is usually rolled up and smoked in cigarette papers. (joints) April 19, 2006

8. Forms of Marijuana Cont. • The “bud” from • Directly off the plant • Form is usually smoked in a pipe or “bowl-like” object. April 19, 2006

9. Routes of Administration(Smoking) • Smoking is the most popular way of using marijuana. • The leaf form (ground up buds) are rolled up in cigarette papers. • No filters are used. April 19, 2006

10. Routes of Administration (Cont.)(Smoking Cont.) • Pipes and bongs are also used to smoke marijuana. • Buds of the plant are place into the “bowl-like structure” • Bongs have a reputation of giving a more “intense” high. April 19, 2006

11. Routes of Administration Cont.(Ingestion) • Ingesting marijuana is possible, usually through baked goods. • Effects are felt but take longer to develop. • Effects last longer but reactions with stomach can be unpleasant. (3) April 19, 2006

12. Mild Effects • Dry mouth • Relaxation • Increase in appetite • “enhanced” senses: • Touch • Smell • Taste • Perception of humor April 19, 2006

13. Major Effects • Increase in pulse and blood pressure • Dilation of blood vessels in cornea • Causes blood shot eyes • Alters coordination • Effects how you operate machinery (car) April 19, 2006

14. Major Effects Cont.(Respiratory System) • Lung cancer • 4 marijuana cigarettes = damage caused by 112 tobacco cigarettes. (4) • Increase chance of getting: • Bronchitis • Laryngitis • Asthma-like conditions April 19, 2006

15. Major Effects Cont.(Cardiac System) • Increase chance of heart attack! • Increase in heart rate. • Chest pain • Slows oxygen movement throughout body. April 19, 2006

16. Major Effects Cont.(Central Nervous System)(Main target) • Hallucinations • Delusions • Paranoia • Alters: • Mood • Coordination (DO NOT DIVE A CAR) • Memory • Self perception April 19, 2006

17. Withdrawal Symptoms • Lower appetite • Irritability • Insomnia (5) • Chills • Physical tension April 19, 2006

18. Abuse of Marijuana • Slow reaction time and motor skills • Lowers motivation • Smaller attention span • Decrease in memory and learning ability • The BURN OUT feeling April 19, 2006

19. What is the Burn Out feeling? • Feelings felt: (6) • Tiredness • Dull • Slow moving (sluggish) • Inattentive • Unaware of surroundings April 19, 2006

20. Other Important FactsOn Marijuana • Using marijuana lowers production of sperm in males. • Decrease in male and female sex drive and sex hormones. • The drug stays in your system for a time frame of about 1 month. • Give or take a few days (depends on body metabolism and amount of marijuana smoked) (7) • Can be traced through a urine sample April 19, 2006

21. Marijuana Pharmacology • The concentration of THC and route of administration is key. • Smoking leads to an almost immediate high. • In the cerebral cortex is a family of cannabinoid receptors. • Possibly responsible for marijuana effects. April 19, 2006

22. Marijuana Pharmacology (Cont.) • Effects of marijuana can be lowered due to different concentrations of mucus in respiratory passages. • THC is lipophilic therefore accumulates in fat tissue. • Takes long to be eliminated from the body • Explains why marijuana stays in the system for a long period of time.(8) April 19, 2006

23. Using marijuana for the physical effects has been our topic of discussion so far. But again there are individuals who feel psychological effects. April 19, 2006

24. Why Do People Use Marijuana? • People use marijuana for medical purposes: • Reduction of pain from diseases. • Marijuana is used recreationally: • It is used as a stress reliever. • Acts as an “escape” from a person’s problems. • Peer pressure contributes to usage. April 19, 2006

25. Psycho/Social Effects • Marijuana use overall effects psychological development. • College students loose motivation for their goals. • Establishing goals becomes hard. • Multitasking does not seem as easy. • Low desire to be socially active. April 19, 2006

26. Therapy Ideas and Tips For Recovering • Identify the problem first! • Group therapy and talk sessions • Discuss feelings and problems • One on one talk sessions • If you feel pressured in front of a group • Set a simple goal and strive for it. • Always stay positive! April 19, 2006

27. Summary • Using marijuana is a very popular drug among adolescents and college students. It effects the most important organ necessary for college students, the brain in the central nervous system. Marijuana does not result in life threatening situations but it still effects the body physiologically and psychologically. Even though individuals can get caught up in the drug, people are always there to listen and help. Just stay positive! April 19, 2006

28. References • (1) “Marijuana: Facts for Teens.” [about 1 screen] National Institute on Drug Abuse. [home page on the internet] 1 Feb. 2005. [date site was last updated] National Institutes of Health. [in association with] 16 Apr. 2006 [date accessed] <http://www.nida.nih.gov/MarijBroch/teenpg1-2.html>. • (2) "Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know." [about 1 screen] National Institute on Drug Abuse. [home page on the internet] 25 Apr. 2005. [date site was last updated] National Institutes of Health. [in association with] 16 Apr. 2006 [date accessed] <http://www.drugabuse.gov/MarijBroch/parentpg5-6N.html>. • (3) "Drug Abuse: Marijuana." [about 4 screens] Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia. [online encyclopedia] c2005. A.D.A.M. Inc. [publisher] 17 Apr. 2006 [date accessed] <http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001945.htm>. April 19, 2006

29. References Cont. • (4) "The Effects of Marijuana on the Lungs." [about 1 screen] About. [internet website] c2006. The New York Times Company. [in association with] 17 Apr. 2006 [date accessed] <http://lungdiseases.about.com/b/a/163846.htm>. • (5) "Marijuana Withdrawal." [about 1 screen] Narconon. [internet website] c2006. Association for Better Living and Education International. [owned by] 17 Apr. 2006 [date accessed] <http://www.addictionwithdrawal.com/marijuana.htm>. • (6) "Marijuana." [about 2 screens] Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse. [homepage on the internet]. National Institute on Drug Abuse. [actual source of information] c1984 17 Apr. 2006 [date accessed] <http://www.well.com/user/woa/fspot.htm>. • (7) “Alcoholism/Substance abuse.” [about 1 screen] About [homepage on the internet] c2006 The New York Times Company. [in association with] 17 Apr. 2006 [date accessed] <http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/pot/f/mjp_faq10.htm>. April 19, 2006

30. References Cont. • (8) Goldfrank’s Toxicologic Emergencies. 7th ed. c2002. The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. “Chapter 71 Marijuana” Apr. 10th 2006 [Date accessed]. Available from STAT!Ref [database on the internet] April 19, 2006