Tobacco/Marijuana Tobacco Nicotine, one of the more than 4,000 chemicals found in the smoke from tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, and pipes, is the primary component in tobacco that acts on the brain. Smokeless tobacco products such as snuff and chewing tobacco also contain many toxins as well as high levels of nicotine. Nicotine is so toxic that it can be used as an insecticide. Nicotine is recognized as one of the most frequently used addictive drugs. Tobacco comes mainly from the different species of the tabacum plant. Nicotine was first identified in the early 1800 s. It has been studied extensively and shown to have a number of complex and sometimes unpredictable effects on the brain and the body. Nicotine is absorbed through the skin and mucosal lining of the mouth and nose or by inhalation in the lungs. Depending on how tobacco is taken, nicotine can reach peak levels in the bloodstream and brain rapidly. Cigarette smoking, for example, results in rapid distribution of nicotine throughout the body, reaching the brain within 10 seconds of inhalation. Cigar and pipe smokers, on the other hand, typically do not inhale the smoke, so nicotine is absorbed more slowly through the mucosal membranes of their mouths. Nicotine from smokeless tobacco also is absorbed through the mucosal membranes. Tobacco acts both as a stimulant and depressant. A beginning smoker might experience euphoria, lightheadedness, giddiness, dizziness, elevated heartbeat and respiration rates, and tingling sensation in the hands and feet. A chronic smoker will suffer from a diminished sense of smell and taste. Short-term effects of smoking The first time you smoke a cigarette, you feel the effects immediately. Pulse and blood pressure will go up, skin temperature will go down. More stomach acid and less urine are produced. Initially, the brain and nervous system are 1
stimulated and the smoker may interpret this as relaxation. Appetite and physical endurance decrease. Long-term effects of smoking Smoking over a long period of time significantly increases the risk of developing serious health problems. Cigarette smoking is a major risk factor in heart disease, stroke and lung cancer. Tobacco kills more than 430,000 U.S. citizens each year. More than alcohol cocaine, heroin, homicide, suicide, car accidents, fire, and aids combined. Emphysema, a condition in which the lungs are abnormally enlarged, is a life-threatening disease that is often associated with smoking. Chronic bronchitis and cancer of the larynx, mouth, bladder, kidney and pancreas occur in many people who have smoked heavily for years. Even before developing these serious diseases, a smoker can experience lung problems in the form of smoker s cough a chronic shortness of breath. Babies of smoking mothers often have low birth weight, are shorter in length, and have small head circumference. Some studies link smoking with miscarriage and stillbirths. Some research also suggests that smoking when pregnant can lead to the child having learning and behavior problems. Secondhand smoke that is not directly inhaled by the smoker can harm people who are exposed to it. In fact, a nonsmoker subjected to secondhand smoke can experience some of the short-term and long-term effects that smokers do. Repeated exposure to nicotine results in the development of tolerance, the condition in which higher dose of a drug are required to produce the same initial stimulation. Each day, more than 4,800 children try their first cigarette. (Tobacco Control Journal, 9-11-00) Nearly every adult who smokes (almost 90 percent) took his or her first puff at or before the age of 18. (Campaign for Tobacco-Free kids, 2002) The age of first use of tobacco is now between the ages of 11-15 years old. (NIDA, Drug Abuse Among American High School Seniors, College Students and Young Adults) 2
What is Marijuana? Marijuana is a greenish-gray mixture of the dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of Cannabis sativa, the hemp plant. Most users smoke marijuana in hand-rolled cigarettes called joints, among other names some use pipes or water pipes called bongs. Marijuana cigars called blunts have also become popular. To make blunts, users slice open cigars and replace the tobacco with marijuana, often combined with another drug, such as crack cocaine. Marijuana is also used to brew tea and is sometimes mixed into foods. The major active chemical in marijuana is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which causes the mind-altering effects of marijuana intoxication. The amount of THC determines the potency and, therefore, the effects of marijuana. Furthermore, the marijuana that is available today can be 5 times more potent than the marijuana of the 1970 s. How does marijuana affect the brain? When someone smokes marijuana, the THC rapidly passes from the lungs into the bloodstream, which carries the chemical to organs throughout the body, including the brain. Marijuana s effects begin immediately after the drug enters the brain and last from 1 to 3 hours. Smoking marijuana deposits several times more THC into the blood than does eating or drinking the drug. Within a few minutes after inhaling marijuana smoke, an individual s heart begins beating more rapidly, the bronchial passages relax and become enlarged, and blood vessels in the eyes look red. The heart rate, normally 70-80 beats per minute, may increase by 20 to 50 beats per minute or, in some cases, even double. As THC enters the brain, it causes a user to feel euphoric or high by acting in the brain s reward system, areas of the brain that respond to stimuli such as food and drink as well as most drugs of abuse. A marijuana user may experience pleasant sensations, colors and sounds may seem more intense, and time appears to pass very slowly. The user s mouth feels dry, and he or she may suddenly become very hungry and thirsty. His or her hands may tremble and grow cold. Occasionally, marijuana use produces anxiety, fear, distrust, or panic. 3
Health Consequences of Marijuana Abuse Acute (present during intoxication) - Impairs short-term memory - Impairs attention, judgment, and other cognitive functions - Impairs coordination and balance - Increases heart rate Persistent (lasting longer than intoxication, but may be permanent) - Impairs memory and learning skills Long-term (cumulative, potentially permanent effects of chronic abuse) - Can lead to addiction - Increases risk of chronic cough, bronchitis, and emphysema - Increases risk of cancer of the head, neck, and lungs How does marijuana use affect school, work, and social life? Students who smoke marijuana get lower grades and are less likely to graduate from high school, compared with their nonsmoking peers. In one study, researchers compared marijuana smoking and nonsmoking 12 th graders scores on standardized tests of verbal and mathematical skills. Although all of the students had scored equally as well in 4 th grade, the smokers scores were significantly lower in 12 th grade than the nonsmokers scores were. Is marijuana addictive? Long-term marijuana use can lead to addiction for some people; that is, they use the drug compulsively even though it often interferes with family, school, work, and recreational activities. Along with craving, withdrawal symptoms can make it hard for long-term marijuana smokers to stop using the drug. People trying to quit report irritability, difficulty sleeping, and anxiety. They also display increased aggression on psychological tests, peaking approximately 1 week after they last used the drug. 4
The National Institute on Drug Abuse found that 12 to 17 year olds who smoke cigarettes are 100 times more likely to smoke marijuana. The risk of using cocaine is 104 times greater for those who have tried marijuana than those who have never tried it. Among long-term studies show that use of other illicit drugs among youth almost never occurs unless they first used marijuana. Fill in the Blank Questions There are 4,000 chemicals in the smoke from tobacco. Nicotine is recognized as one of the most frequently used addictive drugs. Nicotine is absorbed through the skin and mucosal lining of the mouth and nose or by inhalation in the lungs. Tobacco acts as a stimulant and a depressant. A chronic smoker will suffer from a diminished sense of smell and taste. Initially, the brain and nervous system are stimulated and the smoker may interpret this as relaxation. Tobacco kills more than 430,000 U.S. citizens each year. Secondhand smoke that is not directly inhaled by the smoker can harm people who are exposed to it. Repeated exposure to nicotine results in the development of tolerance, the condition in which higher doses of a drug are required to produce the same initial stimulation. Most users smoke marijuana in hand-rolled cigarettes called joints. The major active chemical in marijuana is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, which causes the mind-altering effects of marijuana intoxication. 5
Marijuana s effects begin immediately after the drug enters the brain and lasts from 1 to 3 hours. Students who smoke marijuana get lower grades and are less likely to graduate from high school, compared with their non-smoking peers. True/False Questions (Circle correct answer) Smokeless tobacco products such as snuff and chewing tobacco also contain many toxins as well as high levels of nicotine. TRUE FALSE Nicotine takes a long time to reach the bloodstream and brain. FALSE TRUE Cigar and pipe smoking is not dangerous because the smoke is typically not inhaled. TRUE FALSE A beginning smoker will experience things like euphoria, lightheadedness, giddiness, dizziness, elevated heartbeat and respiration rates, and tingling sensation in the hands and feet. TRUE FALSE Babies of smoking mothers often have low birth weight, are shorter in length, and have small head circumference. TRUE FALSE Marijuana is a greenish-gray mixture of the dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of cannabis sativa, the hemp plant. TRUE FALSE The major mind-altering ingredient in marijuana is PCP. TRUE FALSE When someone smoked marijuana the THC takes several hours to pass from the lungs into the bloodstream. TRUE FALSE Long-term marijuana use can lead to addiction for some people; that is, they use the drug compulsively even though it often interferes with family, school, work, and recreational activities. TRUE FALSE 6
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