Marijuana vs. Alcohol and the Harmful Consequences BY EMPATHIC RECOVERY on October 24th, 2014
With all the research into marijuana and alcohol use, there are various arguments as to which causes more harm. Is alcohol’s effect after long-term use equivalent to that of marijuana? Is government research into the effects marijuana flawed because it is conducted on less potent marijuana than is available on the street? What is the effect of long-term use on cognition and the nervous system? All these questions have bearing on the present-day use of marijuana versus alcohol and other habitforming substances. Among teenagers graduating from high school, about 46% of them will try marijuana. Marijuana can have an effect on short-term memory and perception, which is critical at a time of development when the brain is still maturing. The World Health Organization (WHO) ranks the United States number one in 17 surveyed European and North American countries as to marijuana use. The Monitoring the Future Survey has closely tracked drug use in teens since 1975. (Volkow, N. 2012)
Brain Development In a brain that is continuing to develop, marijuana use can have an effect on physical and emotional behavior. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (National Institutes of Health) is of the opinion that
marijuana use can impair memory and distort perception. However, there are differing opinions as to the extent of this effect and as to its ability to continue to affect the body. In fact, in an article published in Scientific American, it is suggested that much of the testing performed by the government is ineffective, as it utilizes only one species of marijuana for testing that is grown in its own facility and that that particular strain is not comparable to pot sold on the streets of the U.S. today. (Scientific American) Further, this article indicates that there is a synthetic form of marijuana available for use (Marinol) that makes the use of traditionally grown marijuana obsolete. However, an article in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1995 states that the effects of the synthetic marijuana do not seem to compare as favorably as those obtained with naturally grown marijuana, per patient reports. It seems as though the smoking of natural marijuana seems to afford more positive therapeutic effects to patients than that of Marinol. A British program has authorized the growth of more varied strains of the drug for further study. (Scientific American) In a study conducted at the University of Queensland in Australia from 1993 through 2013, researchers did find correlations between cognitive impairment and marijuana use in adolescents. These same adolescents were more likely to drop out of school and develop psychosis in adulthood, as well as to move on to the use of other illicit drugs. Accordingly, the question remains, is this impairment a cause or effect? Does marijuana use encourage failure, a lack of motivation, and a willingness to experiment with or abuse drugs? (Blaszczak-Boxe)
Alcohol Abuse One major difference between alcohol and marijuana use is that alcohol does cause major visible impairment in judgment, reaction, and cognition at the time of use. These impairments are sometimes apparent and the amount of alcohol in the body can be measured. This is not always the case with marijuana. The effects are not always visible (unless the use is excessive). Alcohol also has a long-term effect on the human body, sometimes showing up as Though marijuana use is not as risky as cocaine, amphetamine, or heroin use in terms of addictiveness, it is nevertheless classified at the same level in the U.S. and several other countries. Marijuana use does increase the risk of accidents, psychosis, and dependence, the same as prolonged alcohol use and can even increase the risk of heart attack. But its respiratory effects are still unclear, primarily because many marijuana smokers are often cigarette smokers and it is difficult to separate the effects of the two type of smoking. (Blaszczak-Boxe)
Marijuana Potency The principal ingredient in marijuana that produces the sought-after euphoric feeling is tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. The potency of marijuana today has more than quadrupled to that of 25 years ago, from a 2% potency in 1980 to 8.5% in 2006 (Blaszczak-Boxe) Increased potency, of course, can only result in increased effect. If the use of the drug is adjusted to compensate for this, the potency would not be greater, however, there is no evidence that this is the case. Consequently, it stands to reason that users are receiving a larger dose of THC these days than in prior years.
Increased Acceptance With the President of the United States, Barack Obama, having stated that he does not find marijuana use any more dangerous than alcohol use, this would tend to give the drug a little bit more legitimacy than in the days when Bill Clinton claimed not to have inhaled when smoking the drug. But are these claims valid. Is marijuana really just a less destructive vice than the abuse of alcohol? (Brownstein) After all, there is not half as much publicity with regard to driving under the influence of marijuana when compared to drunk driving. What is the comparison? And what are the dangers?
Excessive drinking can show adverse effects quickly. An inability to metabolize alcohol quickly will lead to buildup in the brain and the shutting down of the respiratory and circulatory systems. There is the possibility of alcohol poisoning. But with marijuana the effects are less obvious. Alcohol can also interact with other drugs, increasing the adverse effects. Other than an impairment to coordination or balance, or making poor judgment choices, marijuana does not generally have the same effect on the body that alcohol can cause. Perhaps this less obvious visible list of consequences has something to do with why marijuana has become more acceptable. The effects are less likely to show up, in terms of health consequences such as liver disease or liver cancer. And it is not always as likely to be detected the same way obvious drunkenness can be detected. However, there are a lot more facts known about alcohol abuse, whereas, in comparison, the study of the effects of marijuana could be considered to be in its infancy.