Drug Abuse Education Course

1. Drug Abuse Education Course Master Sgt. Doug Oswald Assistant Drug Demand Reduction Administrator

2. The facts about marijuana • Cannabis Sativa is the plant known as marijuana, hemp, weed, pot, etc. • The most widely used illicit drug in the U.S, about 6% of Americans, 14.6 million, are users. • Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the main psychoactive ingredient. • Made illegal in 1937, it was popularized as a recreational drug in the 60s. • Marijuana is psychologically addictive.

3. Who Uses marijuana? • Males: 7.5% • Females: 6.2% • Age 12-17: 6.8% • Age 18-25: 16.6% • Age 26 & up: 4.1% • Employed full-time: 6.2% • Employed part-time: 8.5% • Unemployed: 14.5% • High School Drop-out: 6.6% • High School Graduate: 6.0% • Some College: 7.1% • College Graduate: 4.1%

4. How Many Uses marijuana? • 13.3% are daily users. • 34.8% are using five times a week. • 74.2% of illicit drug users are using marijuana. • 54.5% use only marijuana. • 19.6% use marijuana and another illicit drug.

5. The facts about marijuana • Today’s ‘pot’ is stronger than 60s era marijuana. • 60s & 70s era marijuana averaged about 1% THC compared to 6% today. • Some THC levels today range from 13% to 33%.

6. The facts about marijuana • The marijuana plant contains 421 chemicals including THC and the same poisons and tars found in tobacco smoke. • The drug marijuana is a dead plant and it contains bacteria and fungus molds. • It can also contain contaminants like herbicide and be laced with other drugs like LSD & PCP.

7. The facts about marijuana • Marijuana smoke contains 50-70% more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than tobacco smoke. • Smoking one joint equals 3 to 5 times the carbon monoxide and tar as one cigarette. • Smoking five joints per week equals the carcinogens in smoking one pack of cigarettes per day.

8. The facts about marijuana • The effects are felt within minutes of smoking, peak within 20 minutes, and last for two or three hours. • THC is stored in fatty tissue like the brain, liver and reproductive organs. • 2-3 days after use, 50% of the original dose is still present in those tissues.

9. The facts about marijuana • It effects the parts of the brain involved in attention, learning, memory, motivation and emotions. • Users have more suicidal thoughts and are more likely to report symptoms of depression than those who never used. • Marijuana intoxication impairs driving and contributes to poor performance in school.

10. Medical Marijuana • No medically prescribed drug is smoked because of the adverse health effects associated with smoking. • Marinol, a synthetic form of THC, is legally used to treat the nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy. • Safer and more effective medications already exist to treat pain, nausea and anorexia.

11. Mixed Messages

12. Marijuana Effects • Long Term: • Damages the pituitary gland • Damages the respiratory system • Weakens the immune system • Destroys brain cells • Destroys serotonin • Birth defects • Psychological and emotional problems: retarded social skills, lack of motivation, reduced energy and poor work performance • Short Term: • Lack of coordination • Loss of balance • Disorientation • Increased heart rate • Reddening of eyes • Dilated pupils • Droopy Eyelids • Slurred speech • Hypotension • Drowsiness • Hallucinations • Hunger “munchies” • Dry mouth