erenwall@counsellor.com
Houston, TX
United States
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Brazos Council : National Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors: Texas Addiction Professionals: National Institute Alcoholism: Sexual Abuse: There is Life Beyond Chemical Dependency: Good information about Alcohol and Drug use My Homepage: Links to all of my websites |
Marijuana
This drug is also known by it's formal name Cannabis Sativa, the main ingredient is a highly addictive drug called THC (Tetrahydracannabinol delta 9) or more commonly THC......
Let us take a look at how this drug has changed from twenty five years ago or so, back then the THC content was a mere .02% THC..not a problem..it would make a person a little silly, give them the munchies, and not much of anything else...it was found almost everywhere.
Well it is still found almost everywhere but.........the changes that have taken place with this drug are incredible. Let's look at the THC content, this ranges today from 15% to maybe better than 28% THC. Quite an impressive increase in toxicity, it has become very addictive and very dangerous, yet some factors still want to believe it's harmless. Harmless ?....I dare say that is a myth, this ranks up there with nicotine and cocaine for addictive qualities. It is a central nervous system depressant, it affects the short term memory very quickly, the lungs and most major organs as well.
One important factor is: This is the only drug that does not pass through a persons system via the urine. Therefore it stays in the system indefinetly, this THC heads directly for a person's fat cells and clings to them for a long period of time....this will vary per individual. In other words it has to wear off to be eliminated. The AMA states a heavy marijuana user is a person that smokes three joints per week....Never met that person yet!!
This THC clings to the fat in the lining of the skull between the skull and the brain, in the brain matter, the lungs and any where else there is fatty substance, it loves it...mary jane as it is sometimes referred to can stay in a persons system for seven to thirty days, and in some cases up to and beyond three years...kinda scary?
Second hand smoke can be just as bad....how!..you say? Well if you were in a room where someone was smoking this drug, and you had to do a random UDS (urine drug screen) the next morning... Guess what? Right....you would turn up positive for using marijuana.! This drug makes a person very lethargic, affects a person's sense of time, perception and thought process. For a young person it also affects their hormonal balance....reverses it so to speak...changing the male and female hormones...i.e.testosterone and estrogen. It affects the productivity, menses, hair growth and vocal abilities. Pretty cool drug, don't you think?.....There is help, Treatment works!
If I can be of any further help feel free to contact me............. There is help available........Treatment works!!! Remember...addiction cannot be cured, but it can be arrested, and the longer we wait the more it progress's and the worse it will get.
All family members become sick also and take on different roles in the system...roles like, The Enabler..the Hero..the Scapegoat..the Lost Child and the Mascot.This is the start of the family becoming dysfunctional. Things like co-dependency start to appear, low self esteem,shame, blame and guilt...also a tremendous amount of fear can develop....need I say more, can you identify with these feelings and behavior? If you can then you might want to pursue this further and quickly....it doesn't have to be this way.
Remember...Addiction is a Disease that can be treated..get help now!
Working a Program
Once a person stops drinking or using, it is necessary that they get involved in and attend 12 step meetings. Is this enough? Well if they just want to stay clean and sober ..... probably it would be, but if they want to discover serenity and spirituality....No!!
It will take a complete lifestyle change for happiness, how is that achieved? Simply by making daily changes, adding prayer and meditation, taking some time each day for oneself, taking a daily morning and evening inventory of what is to be accomplished and what has been accomplished. When a person starts to make these changes, the old behavior starts to disappear and new behavior takes hold........ a rather unique and enjoyable experience takes place, a proper diet is also necessary, daily reading of the 12 step literature is important also.
Go Texans!
this page updated 03/25/2004