9781422270554

THE YOUNG ADULT DRUG LIBRARY: AN EDUCATION FOR TODAY

BY ERIC BENAC

MASON CREST M I A M I

PO Box 221876, Hollywood, FL 33022 (866) MCP-BOOK (toll-free) • www.masoncrest.com

Copyright © 2024 by Mason Crest, an imprint of National Highlights, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Printed in the United States of America First printing 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Series ISBN: 978-1-4222-4762-4 Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-4222-4768-6 ebook ISBN: 978-1-4222-7055-4 Cataloging-in-Publication Data on file with the Library of Congress Developed and Produced by National Highlights, Inc. Project Manager: Andrew Morkes Cover and Interior Design: Tara Raymo • CreativelyTara Layout: Priceless Digital Media, LLC Publisher’s Note: Websites listed in this book were active at the time of publication. The publisher is not responsible for websites that have changed their address or discontinued operation since the date of publication. The publisher reviews and updates the websites each time the book is reprinted.

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Introduction............................................................... 6 Society’s Complex Relationship with Marijuana ........... 10 Chapter 1: What Is Marijuana?...................................15 The Benefits and Challenges of Using Medical Marijuana . .......................................... 35 Chapter 2: The Negative and Positive Physical Effects of Marijuana.....................................39 Marijuana-Induced Schizophrenia .............................. 53 Chapter 3: The Negative and Positive Mental Effects of Marijuana.......................................57 Keshawna’s Story ..................................................... 73 Chapter 4: Treating Addiction to Marijuana.................77 Series Glossary of Key Terms.....................................89 Further Reading.......................................................92 Internet Resources...................................................93 Index....................................................................... 94 Author’s Biography and Credits.................................96 Words to Understand: These words with their easy-to understand definitions will increase the reader’s understanding of the text while building vocabulary skills. Sidebars: This boxed material within the main text allows readers to build knowledge, gain insights, explore possibilities, and broaden their perspectives by weaving together additional information to provide realistic and holistic perspectives. Educational Videos: Readers can view videos by scanning our QR codes, providing them with additional educational content to supplement the text. Examples include news coverage, moments in history, speeches, iconic sports moments, and much more! Series Glossary of Key Terms: This back-of-the-book glossary contains terminology used throughout this series. Words found here increase the reader’s ability to read and comprehend higher-level books and articles in this field.

Drug abuse remains a major problem in the United States and in other countries. In 2019, 13 percent of people age 12 and over reported that they had used an illegal drug in the past month, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Abuse of prescription drugs, such as painkillers, is also a serious issue. Abusing drugs can have serious effects on one’s physical and mental health. It can also be deadly. One example is the rising number of drug overdoses, which have been fueled by the growing use and spread of the deadly opioid fentanyl. Nearly 100,000 Americans died from fentanyl overdoses from June 2020 to June 2021, according to the CDC. As a young person, you may have a lot of questions about drugs, addiction, and therapy as a result of the constant flow of information from your friends, parents, teachers, coaches, social media, and the news media. It can be confusing, because some of this information is accurate, and some is incorrect. Your questions might include: How are drugs grown or manufactured? What are the negative physical and mental effects of drug use and abuse? What are the legal penalties for possessing illegal drugs? How do you know whether someone is addicted to drugs? What are some treatment options for people who are addicted to drugs? The Young Adult Drug Library series provides answers to these and other questions about illegal and misused prescription drugs, addiction, and therapy. Each title spotlights a major drug or type of drug (such as painkillers); discusses the negative

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The cannabis plant.

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physical and mental effects of the addiction on the addict, as well as its effects on family and other loved ones; and provides an overview of treatment strategies for the addiction. Stories of those who are battling drug addiction are also featured in order to humanize these issues and to help readers better understand that anyone can become addicted to drugs, but also that recovery is possible.

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CBD oil is liquid that is extracted from the hemp plant and placed in capsule form or combined with foods or drinks.

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SOCIETY’S COMPLEX RELATIONSHIP WITH MARIJUANA

Margaret grew up in a single-parent home as the only child of a hard-working mother. Her mom, Jenny, worked two jobs to provide for Margaret. Her primary job was as a nurse, and she worked four 10-hour days every week to get a three-day weekend. However, she also worked at a medical marijuana dispensary on the weekends and typically smoked pot every day to “calm her nerves,” as she told Margaret. “Margie,” she had said to Margaret at a young age, “there’s nothing wrong with marijuana. Did you know that it’s not even physically addictive? For that reason, it’s way better than drinking alcohol. It also has many health benefits. If you ever want to try pot, just let me know. Not until you’re at least 17, though, because I want you to be old enough to choose for yourself.” Of course, one had to be older than 17 to use marijuana recreationally, but that didn’t seem to bother Margaret’s mom. At that time, Margaret was just 10. The idea of smoking marijuana appalled her. Margaret’s mom acted “sleepy” or even “dumb” when she smoked pot, and she felt scared that her mom might do something crazy. However, people change, and their ideas mature along with their bodies and minds. As Margaret neared 17, her opinion about marijuana started to change a little. Many of her friends had already tried marijuana and had attempted to talk her into doing it. These were kids she knew and trusted. Many of them were honor roll students who never drank or partied.

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The Young Adult Drug Library: Marijuana

Young people such as Margaret often receive conflicting signals regarding marijuana, and some may feel peer pressure to use this drug.

Society’s Complex Relationship with Marijuana

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Like her, they were “good kids” who did what their parents said. Margaret was conflicted because she had read many studies about the mental health dangers of marijuana and had taken drug education classes in school. Furthermore, she went to church with her mom every Sunday and, in Sunday school classes,

Medical marijuana.

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The Young Adult Drug Library: Marijuana

the teachers had talked about the dangers of marijuana addiction. But her mother worked multiple jobs and seemed fine. The use of medical and recreational marijuana was legal in her state, and her mother had a legal prescription. It was for anxiety, which her mother had fought from a very early age. Her doctors agreed that it was best for Jenny, because no other antianxiety medications seemed to work for her. When Margaret turned 17, her mother asked her about pot on her birthday. It was right during her birthday party in front of her best friends and boyfriend, Gary. Her friends had already tried marijuana years earlier, and some of them smoked regularly. Gary even talked of becoming a marijuana farmer and was an advocate for the legalization of recreational marijuana use. Margaret wasn’t sure how to answer. This story illustrates the very real conflicting messages that many people experience every day regarding marijuana. For many years, it was demonized as a dangerous drug that was on the level of cocaine and heroin. Scare-mongering films like Reefer Madness exaggerated the dangers of the drugs and terrified a generation. However, the reality about marijuana is much more complex than other substances. That’s because studies have found that this drug has positive benefits. For that reason, more than 20 states have both fully legalized marijuana medically and recreationally. Many other states have legalized marijuana to some degree, but still made it illegal to use marijuana recreationally. With that said, the federal government still bans the use and sale of marijuana and treats it like a dangerous substance. Meanwhile, marijuana advocates, like Margaret’s mother and boyfriend, are saying that the pros outweigh the cons or saying that marijuana is completely safe. The truth, as you may expect, is more complex than either side allows.

Society’s Complex Relationship with Marijuana

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WORDS TO UNDERSTAND

bong: a specialized device in which a smokable substance is placed in a container and ignited; a plastic pipe and water are used to create a consistent smoke that’s easier for some to inhale depressant: a substance that slows one’s mental and physical actions; its effects can cause extreme drowsiness or, if misused, a coma or even death germination: the process of growing and developing a plant, such as developing marijuana from a seed to a large plant that is safe to process and sell marijuana dispensary: a place where people can buy recreational or medical cannabis; dispensaries are tightly regulated by the government probation: a type of judicial monitoring in which a person who is convicted of a crime is not sent to jail but, instead, is required to go a certain period of time without committing a crime or otherwise breaking the rules of probation pro-legalization groups: organizations that believe in legalizing marijuana, often advocate for making it legal on the state and federal levels, and help fund studies that gauge marijuana’s safety

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HEROIN

WHAT IS MARIJUANA? Understanding Cannabis, Marijuana, and Hemp

“Cannabis” is the common name for Cannabis sativa , a green, leafy plant that is also known as “hemp.” “Marijuana” refers to the dried flowers, leaves, stems, and seeds of the cannabis plant. Cannabis is an annual herb with leafy, erect stems, elongated leaves in clusters of three to seven, and pistillate flowers that spike from its branches. The term “cannabis” refers to both the marijuana plant and hemp, but the two plants are different. The flowers of the marijuana plant (which are also known as “buds”) contain a natural chemical compound called

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“tetrahydrocannabinol” (THC), which produces a feeling of euphoria and a psychoactive reaction (or “high”) when eaten or smoked. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines hemp as “any part of the cannabis sativa plant with no more than 0.3 percent of THC. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a chemical compound found in the cannabis plant that is non-psychoactive. It is known for its medical and pain relief properties. Marijuana can also refer to other products of the psychoactive cannabis plant, including extracts, oils, and concentrates. In this textbook, both plants are referred to as “marijuana.”

A group of young people smoke marijuana. It’s important to remember that recreational marijuana use is illegal in some states, and there is a minimum age (18 to 21) to use it in states where it is legal.

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The Young Adult Drug Library: Marijuana