Marijuana is extracted from dried leaves, flowers, stems and seeds of a Cannabis plants. It is a psychoactive drug with about 500 chemicals, such as mind-altering compounds that may affect human health and Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Marijuana is a widely used prohibited drug in the world. Although the risk associated with the drug is relatively low, it has a high prevalence of dependence than other drugs. The early use of marijuana determines several psychosocial and health issues related to marijuana. Many youths are vulnerable to negative consequences, high reliance, earlier transition to heavy use, and more extended drug use. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop preventive measures. By focusing on the social determinants of health associated with marijuana use, risk predictors such as positive attitude towards marijuana use, mental health, usage during pregnancy, family structure, individual characteristics, and peer networks that contribute to early use can be identified. Hence, interventions that target those determinants can be applied to prevent marijuana use.
Long-term use of marijuana, especially from an early age, can lead to serious addiction. Many people who started using the drug at a tender age are still using it at old age. According to Volkow et al. (2014), 2.7 million individuals from age 12 to older generations show the drug’s high dependency. The number of dependencies is high for individuals who started using the drug at a young age. Early regular use has shown an increased risk of marijuana addiction which can put the users at risk of utilizing other illicit drugs (Hall & Degenhardt, 2007). According to Obot et al. (2001), individuals who began using in teenage years are nearly 2 to 4 times expected to have symptoms of marijuana addiction within the early years of usage than persons who started using in adulthood. Despite the consequences such as memory problems, low productivity levels, relationships and family problems, the guilty of drug abuse, and financial difficulties, some individuals still smoke the drug. Marijuana has shown a higher dependency ratio than any other drug that calls for urgent interventions.
Positive attitudes toward the use of marijuana are a factor that has increased the number of users among the youths. Many scientists and doctors advocate for the drug’s legalization for medical purposes. The medical properties of cannabis have gained public acceptance in recent years due to their potential medicinal value (Volkow et al., 2014). However, the research process is slow because of the classification of marijuana as a dangerous drug and governmental regulations. While marijuana is used for recreational purposes and to alleviate several medical problems, there are specific health concerns such as addiction, mental issues, social harm, and effect on pregnant women. Marijuana long-term smoking has been associated with lung cancer risk, although there is no clear proof. Research shows cannabis usage for over 30 or more years is linked to the prevalence of lung cancer and other types of cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract (Volkow et al., 2014). Greenland et al. (2006) state that although the risk of cancer is highly associated with tobacco use than marijuana, the possibility of marijuana as a factor that causes lung cancer cannot be ruled out.
On the other hand, cigarettes contain both tobacco and marijuana products, which is a contributing factor. Other medical issues associated with marijuana use are increased airway struggle, lung hyperinflation, and infection of the large airways. Consistent marijuana users are more likely to complaints of symptoms such as chronic bronchitis than non-users (Tashkin, 2013). Smoking marijuana can compromise respiratory systems, as shown by high rates of pneumonia and other respiratory infections. Transient ischemic attacks during marijuana intoxication, stroke, and vascular conditions that intensify the risks of myocardial infarction are additional risks associated with marijuana use. Tashkin, (2013) claims that there is no concrete evidence to support the claims that associate marijuana uses with cerebrovascular and cardiovascular. However, research shows direct effects of cannabinoids on several target receptors, such as those in arterial blood vessels, and the indirect impacts on vasoactive compounds can best explain the adverse effects of marijuana on coronary microcirculation and vascular resistance.
Marijuana use on a regular basis has been connected with the risk of anxiety and depression among youths. Clinical studies have shown a solid link between the severe symptoms of mental issues and psychoactive impacts of cannabis. According to Caspi et al. (2005), marijuana intake has also been connected with psychoses, comprising individuals with schizophrenia, mainly with those who have preexisting genetic vulnerability, and worsens the state of illness for people with schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is a complex neuropsychiatric condition associated with delusions, deficits in memory, social withdrawal, and hallucinations. Evidence shows that greater drug potency, heavy marijuana use, and use at a tender age will probably increase an ailment curve. Although most mental illnesses have been associated with mental illness, it is difficult to establish casualties because other factors other than marijuana could be linked to mental problems (Volkow et al., 2014). Hence, it will be difficult to firmly connect the rising cases of mental illness to marijuana use. However, patients with severe mental problems are consuming marijuana at a higher rate than other public members and are more likely to be diagnosed with mental illnesses.
The high prevalence of marijuana usage among the youths, dependence, and adverse health effects can be attributed to the use of the drug by pregnant mothers. Although many people are aware of the impact of alcohol and smoking cigarettes on the unborn baby, many people are unaware of the adverse effects of marijuana on a pregnant mother and her baby. In countries where marijuana is legalized, pregnant women are using the drug to treat morning sickness, fix sleep disorders, and lessen the pains and aches. Unfortunately, the risks outweigh the benefits, which call for safer and more effective options for pregnancy concerns other than this drug. According to Hohman (n.d), use of marijuana during pregnancy is associated with low birth weight, high prevalence of admission to neonatal intensive care unit, premature birth, and stillbirth. Various chemicals contained in cannabis can cross over to the baby. Since the foetal brain is developing and growing, these chemicals may adversely affect the baby’s brain development. When born, the baby may develop learning, behavioural and focusing problems during childhood. Hohman (n.d) argues that children exposed to marijuana in the utero perform poorly in school and are more likely to inhibit delinquency behaviours by the age of 14 than other children.
Similarly, teens whose mothers abuse the drug are at a higher risk of developing mental disorders such as substance abuse and depression. The components of cannabis can also pass into the breastmilk because they are stored in fat and will be released slowly. Even when the mother stops using the drug, the baby will be exposed during the breast feeding process. Although the risk of marijuana during breastfeeding process is not proven, continued exposure may affect the child’s brain development.
Many medical practitioners have been using THC extracted from cannabis to treat medical conditions such as vomiting and nausea. This type of treatment can explain the high dependency on the drug among the young generation whose doctors could prescript the drug for such reasons. On the contrary, Pietrangelo (2021) argues that long-term heavy use can cause vomiting and nausea, which is ironical of what the drug is supposed to address. Other individuals believe that smoking marijuana can help increase appetite and reduce weight simultaneously. The scientist has linked any form of THC with increased appetite. It may seem counterintuitive that a drug that could assist individuals in reducing weight can increase hunger. People who take cannabis have reported increased hunger feelings. A section of youths has been using the drug to lose weight while others want to improve their appetite. According to (Coelho, 2020), ingesting and smoking cannabis can increase an individual’s hunger by stimulating cannabinoid (CB1) receptors in the brain, hence releasing eating enhancement hormones. Another study shows that young adult marijuana users are unlikely to be obese or overweight than those who do not use. According to this report, cannabis users have registered reduced body mass index (BMI) and less obesity. Increased caloric intake contained in cannabis could explain why weight loss. Unfortunately, marijuana is not a suitable method for obesity treatment due to numerous adverse effects. For this reason, others obesity treatment methods should be established to reduce the high dependency on THC.
Several social network studies have linked adolescent substance abuse to peer pressure. Peers substance abuse is another significant determinants of teen marijuana use (Tucker et al., 2014). Although the socialization effects of marijuana use are unclear due to confidential issues, it occurs in certain social groups. Trusted relationships could be a significant reason for marijuana access. Additionally, a young adult could most likely try to use the drug within these relationships because they feel safer and are not afraid to be caught. According to Tucker et al. (2014), colleagues’ encouragement on marijuana usage was more prevalent within shared and common relationships than in non-reciprocated friendships. The influence becomes more potent when the influencers are very popular among the youths. Hence, friendship could play a significant role in marijuana use depending on the youth’s school and background. In some schools, influence is more significant within reciprocated friendships characterized by close trust, while in others, adopting drug use could be a strategy to attain certain social status (Tucker et al., 2014). Hence, these findings can be used to evaluate the features of friendships that contribute to drug use and how they can be used to address the problem of substance abuse.
The impact of family structure in teenage years has been associated with marijuana usage. Many studies show that parents using the drug are likely to influence their children. Individual parents who continue using the drug throughout their lifetime may affect their children’s usage, and other influences could be harmful. Coelho, (2020) argues that the children of parents with adolescent-limited use have an even increased risk, and these children have shown a positive attitude toward marijuana use. Thus, a parent who use the drug at the adolescent stage, regardless of whether they stop using it, can highly influence their children. According to Hoffmann (1995), parental divorce attenuated family attachment and increased family involvement, and less family involvement could increase marijuana use. Drug legalization in several countries could increase the number of adults using marijuana. It is a health concern because parents can easily influence their children. This article proposes a review of the family’s history and parents’ ongoing use to reduce the children’s risk of drug use.
Marijuana use comes with real health issues that affect the user’s life. Users smoke marijuana in the forms of hand-rolled cigarettes, water pipes, and vaporizers to pull THC from the marijuana. Others are mixing them with foods such as cookies, tea, candy, and brownies. This drug is the most frequently used illicit drug in many parts of the world. The number of users is still growing. Many young people are using today and do not consider its use as a health risk. There are heated debates over the potential danger of marijuana use and medical abilities. Apart from potential medicinal value, others are used as gate-away drugs, for motivation and recreation. Others believe that marijuana can be used to treat nausea and vomiting, which could be contrary when using in large quantities for a long time. Calls for legalization in many countries are ongoing, demanding proper scrutiny of the potential harm and addiction. Based on the findings from various studies, there are more risks associated with cannabis use than benefits. Numerous predictors have shown the high prevalence of substance dependence among young adolescents. Interventions should use social determinants of health related to cannabis use, such as positive attitude, mental health, usage during pregnancy, family structure, individual characteristics, and peer networks, to address this medical problem. Future studies should look deeply into more social, biological, and intra-personal factors that may contribute to high marijuana dependence.
References
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