EPISODE 31 - BRAIN AND SUBSTANCE (MARIJUANA, TOBACCO)

SMOKING   As smoking cigarettes, cigars or pipes takes a toll on the body, the risk for health problems grows, while financial stability shrinks. Long-term tobacco use has been linked with a wide range of diseases and mental and physical disorders, not the least of which is nicotine addiction itself.

Decreased Respiratory Function:  Smoking cigarettes damages the airways and lungs over time. Daily irritation to the bronchi and lung tissue results in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, which may affect young and old smokers. Chest and lung infections which starts as constant coughing, then shortness of breath and you can guess the rest.

Poor physical Fitness  .
The carbon monoxide in smoke displaces the normal amount of oxygen in red blood cells as well, further decreasing oxygen levels. The result is poor physical condition and a higher possibility of death from cardiac malfunction.

Increased Cancer Risk: Because tobacco use deposits carcinogens in the blood, cancer can arise wherever the blood flows. Cigarette is linked with cancers of the mouth, lip, throat, larynx, blood, lung, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, kidney, bladder, cervix and uterus.

MARIJUANA USE

Memory problems, learning difficulties, trouble with problem solving and loss of muscle activity are among the negative effects of short-term use of marijuana. Other serious results include increased heart rate and anxiety. Marijuana smokers face the same problems as tobacco smokers, including coughing and breathing trouble and cancer risk.

Brain Changes:  THC, the main active ingredient in marijuana, is carried from the bloodstream to the brain and other organs of the body and so while giving pleasurable effects it affects areas of the brain that control thoughts, concentration, sensory perception and coordination are also affected. When these areas are disturbed it can impair coordination and mental abilities..

CODEINE: initial pleasure, then drowsiness, cause constipation, and (depending on the amount taken) depress breathing. Dizziness, light-headedness/feeling faint, and nausea or vomiting, or apathy death.