Drugs / Alcohol / Smoking
My friends say marijuana is safe?
Although marijuana may appear safe it is definitely not. Marijuana contains a chemical called THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol). The way the drug affects you depends on the amount of THC present. The first things that may happen after using marijuana include paranoid thoughts, loss of coordination, trouble problem-solving, altered perception, and an increased heart rate. This all happens as soon as the marijuana is used and can be felt up to 24 hours after using. People are more at risk for hurting themselves, trying other drugs, having unsafe sex, and causing car accidents. With frequent marijuana use memory, judgement, and coordination may permanently be affected causing a drop in grades and making it much harder to play sports. Looking at the long-term effects, marijuana is linked to cancer, pneumonia, coughing, wheezing, and a weakened immune system. Before trying something with your friends, make sure you know all of the side effects.
If adults drink why can't I?
Technically alcohol is dangerous for people of any age. However, the law says people over the age of 21 can drink. It is hoped that by this age people are responsible enough to drink sensibly. Adults should be able to stop themselves from getting drunk, should not drink all of the time, and should be able to make good decisions after drinking. These are things that are harder for teens to think about due to lack of education and experience with alcohol. Alcohol can be addicting, meaning the earlier you start, the more dangerous it could become. Any kind of alcohol, including wine coolers and fruity mixed drinks, is a poison to your body and can do serious damage. It can damage your liver, cause cancer, and completely mess up your ability to think and make decisions. Especially for teens, alcohol is linked to car accidents, unsafe sex, rape, violence, and cigarette smoking. Obviously, these things are not good for anyone. Drinking is a big decision so talk to your parents to see if they have any suggestions of how to resist peer pressure.
What's wrong with smoking now as long as I stop before I get addicted?
Smoking is a bad habit. Not only does it cause tons of medical problems but it also leads to bad breath, stinky clothes, and yellow teeth and fingers. Although you may think you can smoke now and stop later, it is not that easy. The fact is 1/3 of teens that smoke will die of a smoking related disease. Nicotine, the chemical found in cigarettes, is very addicting. People trying to quit don't realize exactly how addicted they are until they try to stop. Smoking can cause shortness of breath and lung and mouth cancer not to mention heart disease. It can also worsen present health problems like asthma, diabetes, and high blood pressure. It is so hard to stop smoking after you start that there are now aids such as Nicorette and nicotine patches to help. There is no time frame or number of cigarettes that determines how long it takes to become addicted. The best answer is not to start smoking in the first place.
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