Marijuana and Alcohol

Marijuana and alcohol continue to be a problem for teenagers. Even though marijuana and alcohol use for teenagers is illegal, more and more teens begin the use of these every year. Pressure from others can push more teens into usage, and once they begin usage, it is hard to quit.

A high level of alcohol intake can lead to alcoholism, cardiovascular disease, malabsorbtion, alcoholic liver disease, chronic pancreatitis, and cancer over time. A person who drinks excessive amounts of alcohol might also be damaging their central nervous system and peripheral nervous system. Teen drinkers also see a very damaging effect on their brain, which is still developing.

Marijuana consumption in the short term can lead to impaired coordination, difficulty thinking, distorted perceptions, difficulty problem solving, and issues with learning and memory. In the long term, marijuana intake can lead to changes in the user's brain that are similar to other major drugs. An increase in the activation of the stress-response system is seen, and the activity of nerve cells containing dopamine is changed. Dopamine neurons deal with the regulation of reward and motivation. Dopamine neurons are affected by all types of drug abuse, whether it is indirectly or directly affected.

The many long term and short term consequences of marijuana and alcohol usage does not always improve prevention. Many drug and alcohol abusers begin when they are a teenager and never quit. Teenagers do not have the brain capability to see long term consequences of their actions. Therefore, the many side effects make no difference to the 17 year old who decided to try marijuana for the first time.

I believe that marijuana should not be legal. It is a very dangerous drug that can be a gateway drug for even worse substances. While alcohol abuse can also be bad, I believe that alcohol should be legal. The government already tried prohibition from 1920 to 1933. The illegalization of alcohol did not fix the problem. It only created more criminals and more abusers of the substance.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-term_effects_of_alcohol
http://alcoholism.about.com/od/pot/a/effects.-Lya.htm
http://www.drugabuse.gov/Infofacts/marijuana.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prohibition