Tips for Teens: The Truth About Marijuana

Slang--Weed, Pot, Grass, Reefer, Ganja, Mary Jane, Blunt, Joint, Roach, Nail

Marijuana affects your brain. THC (the active ingredient in marijuana) affects the nerve cells in the part of the brain where memories are formed.

Marijuana affects your self-control. Marijuana can seriously affect your sense of time and your coordination, impacting things like driving. In 2002, nearly 120,000 people were admitted to emergency rooms suffering from marijuana-related problems, an increase of more than 139 percent since 1995.¹

Marijuana affects your lungs. There are more than 400 known chemicals in marijuana. A single joint contains four times as much cancer-causing tar as a filtered cigarette.²

Marijuana affects other aspects of your health. Marijuana can limit your body's ability to fight off infection.³  Long-term marijuana use can even increase the risk of developing certain mental illnesses.⁴

Marijuana is not always what it seems. Marijuana can be laced with other dangerous drugs without your knowledge. "Blunts"--hollowed-out cigars filled with marijuana--sometimes have substances such as crack cocaine, PCP, or embalming fluid added.

Marijuana can be addictive. Not everyone who uses marijuana becomes addicted, but some users do develop signs of dependence. In 1999, more than 220,000 people entered drug treatment programs to kick their marijuana habit.⁵

Know the law. It is illegal to buy or sell marijuana. In most States, holding even small amounts of marijuana can lead to fines or arrest.

Get the facts. Smoking any substance--tobacco, marijuana, or crack cocaine--increases your risk of developing pneumonia and other illnesses.⁶

Stay informed. It has not yet been proven that using marijuana leads to using other drugs. But very few people use other drugs without first using marijuana. Teens who smoke marijuana are more likely to try other drugs, in part because they have more contact with people who use and sell them.

Know the risks. Using marijuana or other drugs increases your risk of injury from car crashes, falls, burns, drowning, and other accidents.

Keep your edge. Marijuana affects your judgment, drains your motivation, and can make you feel anxious.

Look around you. Most teens aren't smoking marijuana. According to a 2002 study, about four out of five 12- to 17-year-old youths had never even tried marijuana.⁷

How can you tell if a friend is using marijuana? Sometimes it's tough to tell. But there are signs you can look for. If your friend has one or more of the following warning signs, he or she may be using marijuana:

• Seeming dizzy and having trouble walking
• Having red, bloodshot eyes and smelly hair and clothes
• Having a hard time remembering things that just happened
• Acting silly for no apparent reason

What can you do to help someone who is using marijuana or other drugs? Be a real friend. Encourage your friend to seek professional help. For information and referrals, call the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information at 800-729-6686.

Q. Isn't smoking marijuana less dangerous than smoking cigarettes?
A. No. It's even worse. One joint affects the lungs as much as four cigarettes.⁸

Q. Can people become addicted to marijuana?
A. Yes. Research confirms you can become hooked on marijuana.

Q. Can marijuana be used as a medicine?
A. While the active ingredient in marijuana, THC, can be manufactured in a pill available by prescription to treat nausea and vomiting associated with certain cancer treatments, scientists say that more research needs to be done on its side effects and other potential medical uses.⁹

To learn more about marijuana or obtain referrals to programs in your community, contact one of the following toll-free numbers:

SAMHSA’s National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information
800-729-6686
TDD 800-487-4889
linea gratis en español
877-767-8432

Curious about the TV ads of the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign? Check out the Web site at www.freevibe.com or visit the Office of National Drug Control Policy Web site at www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov.

The bottom line: If you know someone who smokes marijuana, urge him or her to stop or get help. If you're smoking marijuana--stop! The longer you ignore the real facts, the more chances you take with your health and well-being.

It's never too late. Talk to your parents, a doctor, a counselor, a teacher, or another adult you trust.

Do it today!

Footnotes

¹ The DAWN Report. Major Drugs of Abuse in ED Visits, 2002 Update. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), May 2004.

² Effects of Marijuana on the Lungs and Its Immune Defenses. University of California-Los Angeles School of Medicine Study, 1997.

³ Ibid.

⁴ Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know (Revised). National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), 2002.

⁵ Ibid.

⁶ Mueller, M.D. NIDA Notes, Vol. 12, No. 1. NIDA, Jan/Feb 1997.

⁷ 2002 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. SAMHSA, 2002.

⁸ Effects of Marijuana on the Lungs and Its Immune Defenses. University of California-Los Angeles School of Medicine Study, 1997.

⁹ Marijuana: Facts For Teens (Revised). National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), 2003.

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