Drug Abuse Contagion in America #2 : Effects on Individuals and Society
You may recall the main points from Drug Abuse Contagion in America #I, If you do not the following is a brief review before I present information about how the legalized use of marijuana for pleasure can effect society.
- Drug use and its effects can spread through a population via biological, psychological, and social/psychological mechanisms. Also, problems caused by drug use can negatively effect (contage) other non-users.
- Recent changes in society are increasing the use of marijuana and other drugs.
- Seven states have legalized the use of recreational marijuana.
The damaging effects of marijuana use on using individuals are as follows:
- Altered senses
- Altered sense of time
- Changes in mood
- Impaired body movement
- Difficulty thinking and solving problems
- Impaired memory
- Altered brain development in teens; effects may be long-term or permanent
- Those who smoke marijuana from teenage to adult loose and average of 8 I.Q. points.
- Lung irritation, breathing problems similar to tobacco smokers
- Daily cough, Phlegm, and increased lung infections
- Increased heart rate and heart attacks, especially in elderly
- Use of marijuana during pregnancy produces changes in child’s brain
- Use of marijuana during pregnancy can lead to a child’s problems with attention, memory, and problem solving
- Mothers who use may secrete THC in their milk
Long-term use of marijuana is linked to:
- Hallucinations and paranoia
- Worsened conditions in schizophrenics or those predisposed to schizophrenia
- Lower life-satisfaction
- Poorer mental health
- Poorer physical health
- More relationship problems
- Thirty percent of users become problem users, ten percent become dependent.
- Quitting the use of marijuana can lead to craving, irritability/grouchiness, sleeplessness, decreased appetite, anxiety and boredom.
I have searched the internet and found many articles that present a “no-harm” to society view on the legalization of marijuana in America. I have found articles that document that there are important harms to society, now incurring to America in the wake of marijuana legalization.
What should we believe?
Lets try a little thought experiment.
If you thought that smoke was coming from your basement, which possibility (fire or no fire) would you act upon? I would suggest you adopt the FIRE assumption and immediately call the fire department. There is no time to mess-around and investigate by your self because minutes can spell the difference between a fire being effectively put-out, or you loosing your precious home and everything in it.
When so much is at stake, it is the better part of wisdom, to err on the safe-side. Why should we not exert greater caution when we are gambling with the health and welfare of hundreds of millions of our citizens by legalizing drugs for recreational use.
Now comes evidence of damaging bad behavioral contagion within American states that have legalized marijuana. And, as anyone should be able to predict, the bad behavioral contagion is spreading to surrounding states in which the use of marijuana is still illegal.
Wake-Up America!
It is important that all citizens evaluate the growing evidence that the legalization of recreational marijuana, and other drugs that may be considered, is a self-destructive act for our America.
You must read these these two articles!
http://dailysignal.com/2014/08/20/7-harmful-side-effects-pot-legalization-caused-colorado/
http://www.newsweek.com/unexpected-side-effects-legalizing-weed-339931
V. Thomas Mawhinney, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus of Psychology
Certified Health Services Provider in Psychology
Cultural Survival Skills 