This week’s focus is marijuana and the impact of recreational use particularly by individuals that are under the age of 25.
It is important to note that a person’s brain is not fully developed until she or he is 25-year-of-age. Smoking marijuana is harmful to people of all ages, but especially to those whose brains continue to develop. What does a person have to give away when they smoke pot? According to webmd.com, brain scans reveal changes in blood flow to the parts of the brain that facilitate memory and attention. They also highlight changes in the thalamus, which is the part of the brain that processes information and maintains consciousness. However, it is very important to recognize that the impact marijuana has on the brain remains long after the marijuana intoxication has worn off. Studies have shown that heavy pot smokers score lower on memory, attention, and learning test when compared to those who do not smoke marijuana. This decrease in testing performance directly correlated with the amount of marijuana the person used.
Finally, marijuana users are more likely to be diagnosed with other serious mental illnesses like depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia than the average population. Losing memory, attention, and learning ability, while gaining a higher chance of depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia seems like a lot to pay to get high.
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https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana/there-link-between-marijuana-use-psychiatric-disorders
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