Thinking About Using Marijuana?

Know the Facts

Cannabis plant (marijuana)

Plant

Dried

Cigarette/joint

Blunt

Pipes

Contains over 400 chemicals

“High” chemical: delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinal (THC)

Marijuana tobacco is made from plant leaves and flowers

THC content per plant: *1960s & 1970s >>> 0.3% to 3%*Today >>> 5% to 30%

Stored in the body’s fat cells for weeks and months

Marijuana smoke is similar to tobacco smoke and contains the same toxic and cancer causing chemicals **

Each joint deposits into the smoker’s lungs 4 to 5 timesmore tar than a regular cigarette3 to 4 joints = 11 tobacco cigarettes

Frequent use often impairs the smoker’s maturity psychologically, socially, professionally and spiritually

Of people who begin smoking after 18 years of age, 10% will become dependent. The number is higher for those starting younger than 18 years.

**Carbon Monoxide: deadly, colorless poison gas

**Acetaldehyde: colorless, flammable liquidUsed for cleaning and disinfecting

**Phenol creosol: toxic, corrosive liquid from coal tar

**Naphthalene: a chemical derived from coal and oil used in moth balls; Causes red blood cell destruction, liver damage and brain and nerve damage.

Why?

Here are reasons teens give for using marijuana. Sound

familiar? “I wanted to see how I’d feel.” “I wanted to be part of the group.”

“I didn’t want to be a nerd.”

“I just wanted to have some fun.”

“I like to take risks.”

“I’m no baby. I can make up my own mind.”

“I like to experiment with new things.” “I wanted to feel grown up.”

This is what the experts say…Do you agree?????? Curiosity ?????

Acceptance into a Peer Group

Escaping painful problems, relationshipsor a sense of personal failure or rejection

The need to separate from family and find one’s own personal values

Marijuana, almost magically, seems to catapult a teen out of childhood and into greater maturity

Whatever the reason, remember:USE = RISK

So now we know what marijuana is and why you

might use it, let’s talk about how it can affect your life.

??

??

??

???

?

?

?

?

?

???

??

?

Let’s start with…

Talking to each other… How?

Say “Hello” to a family of nerve cellsthat supervise brainwork by…

It all begins with electricity

No, no, no – Definitely Not like this!

Communication between two nerves cells (neurons) happens when a small electrical impulse races away from the cell body. When the impulse reaches the

terminal bundle; it causes a special chemical (a neurotransmitter) to be released.

This chemical transmitter finds a receptor site on the next nerve and delivers its message within 5/1000 to 7/1000 of a second before most of it is sucked back into the original neuron to be recycled and used again.

This is How Nerve Cell Communication Really Happens

Your Brain is ECO friendly!

Check out how a bit of the neurotransmitter (chemical) briefly sticks to the surface of the next nerve cell’s receptor site. (like docking with the space station)

Each receptor is designed to receive a matching neurotransmitter… like the right key for a lock. Every neuro-transmitter (key) either stimulates an action (opens the lock) in your brain or blocks an action (locks the lock).

Confused???

It’s very simple…. Just Think About Your

Nose. That’s Right, Your

Nose

Some of the molecules of orange fragrance land on the “orange” nerve receptors in your nose and tell your brain that you are

smelling an orange. This is the action. All other smells are blocked from your orange receptors.

If you close your eyes when an orange is freshly cut,

Wouldn’t it be nice ifEverything smelled as nice as…

ORANGES?

You might say our nerve cells communicate with each other through “smelling” each other’s “fragrances.”

A Healthy Brain depends on maintaining a delicatebalance among many complex chemical neurotransmitters

New research has discovered Anandamide; an endocannibinoid not found in marijuana. This good guy is a natural neurotransmitter that partners with your brain to regulate mood, memory, appetite, pain, understanding and emotions. Anandamide comes when he is needed and stays just long enough to get the job done. He helps keep that healthy balance in your brain.

“Hey, Just call me Mr. A”Because one system of nerve cells produces naturally occurring

cannabinoid neurotransmitters that closely resemble the THC (more about THC later) in marijuana, our brains are pre-wired to respond to the chemicals

found in pot.

Endocannabinoids = cannabis-like molecules naturally produced

within the brain.

So What Does This Have to do with My Brain on Marijuana?

BEWARE – You are about to meet…

The Intruder: THC

When you smoke marijuana you invite The Intruder, THC into your brain. Being 4 times stronger than the good guy, Mr. A, The Intruder shoves Mr. A off the receptor sites and hits those sites like a meteor; bombarding them with THC.

At the beginning of this attack, to protect themselves, the receptors go into hiding within the nerve cells.

But, if this THC meteor storm continues, the sites begin to come apart until what was a beautiful landscape of receptor sites changes, into, well…

see for yourself…

Picture a Balanced Brain as a Beautiful Landscape with Many Receptor Sites

Incoming Marijuana smoke

THCExplosion

RECEPTOR SITESafter a continuous

THC storm

Imagine THC meteor storms in all these parts of

your brain.What are these parts that are

so greatly affected by THC?

Your Brain is a complex organ with many different structures; each with a specific job.

Every labeled structure you see is affected by the THC in marijuana

So much to remember! Let’s look at a few affected sites, bit by bit…

THE HIPPOCAMPUSThe Center for Learning New Information

The Hippocampus helps us with short-term memory, like being able to finish a sentence, remember what we studied for a quiz, a new football play or the name of that hot new

student. The Hippocampus also boosts some short-term memories into long term memories. THC disrupts the ability of the Hippocampus to help you learn new

information, remember what you have studied and even have a conversation with your friends.

“She must have forgotten that “Hippocampus” is Latin for Seahorse. I wonder if her brain is THC affected?”

“Now, how

did that new

cheer go?” Hippocampus

The ‘Should I be Scared?’ Center

And if you saw him in your rear view mirror? If Your Amygdala is soaked in THC, you might invite him to dinner,

unaware that you were going to be the dinner.

The Amygdala

Amygdala

The amygdala warns you of potential dangers

The Cerebellum and Basal GangliaThe Reaction/Coordination Center

or the“How fast can I react & run from a snarling dog with my ankles tied together?”

brain parts

Cerebellum

Basal Ganglia

Okay, you’re thinking, “How often will I face a vicious dog?” BUT, there are other times when

keeping alert and coordinated are very important, like…

TOUCHDOWN!!! …For the Other Team

OR

What if You Smoked Dope

and MISSED THE TACKLE?

Do we need to say more about drugs’ effects on reaction time and coordination?

Man fights to end drugged driving after losing great grandson

Decided to drive or ride with a marijuana impaired driver

The Nucleus AccumbensThe ‘Feel Good’ Center

Nucleus Accumbens

“Hi! My name is Dopamine. I’m a really important

neurotransmitter. I’m in charge of about 9 brain functions.

One of my functions is to make you feel good when you’re

doing something pleasurable or fun like eating, being with friends or listening to your

favorite music; stuff like that.”

“I also help you remember those good feelings so you want to repeat those pleasurable activities again and again.

How do I do this? I hang out in the Nucleus Accumbens and together we get that natural

‘feel good’ job done.”

Nucleus Accumbens

Welcome

Feel Good Center

THC causes an unnatural increase in dopamine (10 to 1000 times). The body can’t maintain this increase on its own. This artificial flood of the feel good neurotransmitter is why marijuana, like

other drugs, can become addictive. The body desires more dopamine than it can naturally produce so marijuana may be used more frequently to get that feel good response again. Users can become

dependent on pot to feel good and experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop using. Yes! A Preview of Coming Attractions to YOUR Brain – WITHDRAWALS!!!

The

Intruder is

IN

I’llJust keep those

Little dopes comin’

The Wonderful World of

Withdrawals

Now Playing

Agitation

Sleep

Irritability Fatigue

Restlessness

Price of Admission: Continuous Marijuana Use

NauseaDisturbance

Starring

YES! A Preview of Coming Attractions to YOUR Brain;

WITHDRAWLS!!!

So MUCH

to

remember

about how

marijuana

affects the

brain…

Anything

else I

should

know?Ever heard of

Your IQ?

OH YES!!!

Intelligence is the ability to learn or understand things or to deal with new or difficult situations.

IQ is a number that represents your

intelligence and is based on your score using a special test.

1 to 24 - Profound mental disability25 to 39 - Severe mental disability40 to 54 - Moderate mental disability55 to 69 - Mild mental disability70 to 84 - Borderline mental disability85 to 114 - Average intelligence115 to 129 - Above average; bright130 to 144 - Moderately gifted145 to 159 - Highly gifted160 to 179 - Exceptionally gifted180 and up - Profoundly gifted

A study tracked 1000 individuals beginning at age 13 and followed their marijuana use until age 38. IQ tests were given at age 13 and again at age 38. Participants

who used marijuana heavily in their teens and through adulthood had an average drop in their IQ of 8 points. This means that a person of average intelligence

(100 pts. on the IQ test) could fall into the lowest third of the IQ range. Those who started using marijuana regularly or heavily after 18 also showed drops in IQ, but…

those who never used marijuana showed NO DROPS in IQ. **

**http://www.drugabuse.gov/about-nida/directors-page/messages-director/2012/09/marijuana

“How smart do I need to be in order to besuccessful in life? Do I want to give my

smarts away to a WEED?”

Now let’s recap what we’ve learned about marijuana: • Marijuana (Cannabis) contains over 400 chemicals

• THC is the chemical that gives the “high”

• Marijuana smoke contains many of the same toxic and cancer causing chemicals found in tobacco smoke

• Kids and experts report reasons for marijuana use are peer pressure, curiosity, and escape from personal problems

• Marijuana interferes with the brain’s ability to function normally

• Continuous and heavy use can change brain structures permanently

• Continued use of marijuana in adolescence delays the psychological and social maturing process

• The earlier marijuana use begins, the higher the risk of dependence– some use the word addicted

• Research shows an average IQ drop of 8 points in users who began before 18 and used heavily through adulthood.

Anything Else?

Haven’t We Forgotten Something?

Hmmmm?....

OH YEAH…Now I Remember

Marijuana is

ILLEGAL!

unless…

You Qualify for a Medical Marijuana Card.Can You Answer “Yes” to the Following Questions?

#1 – Are You Over 18?

#2 – If You Are Under 18 – Do You Have a Qualified Caregiver?

#3 – If You Have a Qualified Caregiver, do You Have Any of the Following Debilitating Medical Conditions?

CancerGlaucomaHuman Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)Hepatitis CAmyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)Crohn's diseaseAgitation of Alzheimer's diseaseA chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition or the treatment for a chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition that causes:

Cachexia or wasting syndrome;Severe and chronic pain;Severe nausea;Seizures, including those characteristic of epilepsy;Severe or persistent muscle spasms, including those characteristic of multiple sclerosis

NO?

NO?

NO?

NO?

Then Possessing Marijuana is: ILLEGAL!

GOTCHA!

If you’re still feeling:

About Using Marijuana

Remember: Marijuana

I’m not the nice guy

You thought I wasAnd I like it that way.

Use = Risk

Contains toxic

chemicalsCan be addictive

with withdrawal symptomsChanges the way

your brain worksIs illegal for recreational useCan lower your IQ

Can stunt your

emotional and

intellectual

development

So Now You Know Some Important Facts about How

Using Marijuana Can Affect Your Life…

What are YOU Going to do?

We Know You’ll Make the Right Decision

andChoose NOT to Use

The Choice is Yours

Source Material

• http://www2.derby.ac.uk/ostrich/intro_to_bio_psych/addiction/page_11.htm

• http://www.csam-asam.org/marijuanas-addictive-potential-healthcare-professionalshttp://www.drugabuse.gov/about-nida/directors-page/messages-director/2012/09/marijuanas-lasting-effects-brain

• http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/iq

• http://psychology.about.com/od/psychologicaltesting/f/genius-iq-score.htm

• http://www.news-medical.net/health/Dopamine-Functions.aspx://www.jneurosci.org/content/28/10/2313.full • http://www.azdhs.gov/medicalmarijuana/patients/under18.htm

• Cermak, Timmen L., M.D. Marijuana, What’s a Parent to Believe? Center City: Hazelden, 2003. Print.

This Power Point produced by

Encompass Health Services

For educational purposes only.

All presentations are strictly given without financial

remuneration.

463 S. Lake Powell Blvd

Page AZ 86040(928) 645-5113