information literature

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The Effects of Marijuana on the Cognitive and Respiratory Health of Teenagers

Marijuana, often known as cannabis, is a controlled substance widely abused by teenagers

and many individuals worldwide. According to the increasing body of evidence, the drug's

harmful effects far exceed its good advantages. However, the medical benefits depend on the

chemical compounding process rather than the drug itself. In comparison to the plant, medical

arguments suggest that the chemical compounds in marijuana are the problem. The chemical

substance in question affects the mental and physical health of those who abuse the drug

(Compton, 2016). Some people may believe that smoking marijuana is a great thing, and they

may try it without considering the hazard that comes with it. When teenagers smoke marijuana

for the first time, they may want to do it repeatedly, and they may get addicted to it for the rest of

their lives. There are many different types of marijuana, but they all come from the same two

plants: Indica and Sativa (Compton, 2016). Although marijuana legalization has been a

contentious topic that has sparked countless focused discussions and a standard measure of

contradictory research, there are numerous points of view to examine. Marijuana is one of the

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most often abused substances by teens, and its usage has a detrimental impact on adolescent

cognitive development and poor respiratory health.

Many people believe that marijuana use is generally harmless and that it is a common

occurrence among teenagers. However, it can have various adverse effects, and the longer you

take it, the more harm it causes. Marijuana contains THC, the psychoactive element in marijuana

that makes you feel euphoric (Compton, 2016). Anxiety, moodiness, despair, paranoia, shortterm

memory loss, an increase in heart rate, dilated pupils, an increase in appetite, and a decreased

reaction time are all side effects of marijuana. Even though not all marijuana users become

addicted, studies suggest that almost 10% of users do. When people exposed to marijuana and

have pre-existing genetic abnormalities consume it, they show clear signs of psychiatric issues

(Oomen et al., 2018). Nussbaum et al. (2011) evaluated survey data from over 270,000 young

adults between 18 and 35 years. The study discovered that marijuana usage is associated with

suicides, suicide attempts, and suicide plots. Suicidal conduct is more common in women than in

men due to marijuana consumption. They concluded that marijuana users in the

United States double every year, with youngsters accounting for more than 70% of the increase.

Therefore, the use of substances such as marijuana regularly can have a substantial harmful

influence on the brains of young adults, such as poor attention and memory, cognitive decline,

and decreased IQ levels. Nussbaum et al. (2011) go-ahead to state that out of the survey data of

more than 270,000 young adults aged between 18-35 years, abusing marijuana is associated with

rising cases of successful suicides, suicide attempts, and suicide plans.

Marijuana in teens is also dangerous and causes respiratory health problems among teens.

Research suggests that young people can be particularly susceptible to the intoxicating effects of

certain drugs and that early exposure could prime their brains to crave them (O’Connor, 2021).

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Smoking marijuana leads to chronic bronchitis. It harms the cell linings of the major airways,

which could illustrate why smoking marijuana produces symptoms such as persistent cough,

wheeze, acute bronchitis and phlegm production. Marijuana smoking weakens the lungs' first

line of defence against infection by destroying cells that remove dust and bacteria and causes

more mucus to build up.

Furthermore, marijuana smoking suppresses the immune system. These effects may raise

the risk of lower respiratory tract infections in marijuana smokers, while there is no evidence that

such conditions are more common in marijuana smokers. It is a common myth that smoking

marijuana is not as harmful as tobacco. However, just like tobacco smoke, the smoke from

marijuana irritates the lungs and has high levels of chemicals like tobacco and tar (Tetrault et al.,

2007). Studies by Owen et al. (2014) say that marijuana smokers are at risk in two ways: greater

possibilities of persistent cough and exposure to bronchial biopsies due to increased pulmonary

inflammation. In addition, cannabis contains more than 50% carcinogenic compounds, which are

to blame for the negative effects of marijuana usage on people (Tashkin, 2018). Therefore,

longterm exposure and abuse are related to the occurrence of lung cancer.

The bottom line is that smoking marijuana harms the lungs, causing chronic bronchitis

and making an immune-compromised person more prone to lung infections. Therefore, parents,

teachers, or responsible adults should not overlook smoking marijuana by teens as a 'normal

stage' that they will overgrow. The substance is highly addictive and can have long-term

detrimental effects on their health.

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References

Compton, M. T. (Ed.). (2016). Marijuana and mental health. American Psychiatric Pub.

Nussbaum, A., Thurstone, C., & Binswanger, I. (2011). Medical marijuana use and suicide

attempt in a patient with major depressive disorder. American journal of psychiatry,

168(8), 778-781.

O’Connor, A. (2021). Teenage Brains May Be Especially Vulnerable to Marijuana and Other

Drugs. Nytimes.com. Retrieved October 17, 2021, from

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/29/well/family/teenage-brain-marijuana.html.

Oomen, P. P., van Hell, H. H., & Bossong, M. G. (2018). The acute effects of cannabis on human

executive function. Behavioural pharmacology, 29(7), 605-616.

Owen, K. P., Sutter, M. E., & Albertson, T. E. (2014). Marijuana: respiratory tract effects.

Clinical reviews in allergy & immunology, 46(1), 65-81.

Tashkin, D. P. (2018). Marijuana and lung disease. Chest, 154(3), 653-663.

Tetrault, J. M., Crothers, K., Moore, B. A., Mehra, R., Concato, J., & Fiellin, D. A. (2007).

Effects of marijuana smoking on pulmonary function and respiratory complications: a

systematic review. Archives of internal medicine, 167(3), 221-228.