How Cannabinoids aka Marijuana and Hashish affect the body?

How Cannabinoids aka Marijuana and Hashish affect the body?

Cannabinoids also known as Marijuana or Hashish can be administered by swallowing or smoking and they cause acute effects like relaxation, euphoria, slowed reaction time or anxiety, panic attacks (National Institute of Health, NIH, 2011). Marijuana is one of the most widely used illegal drugs today and can have varying effects from relaxation to hallucinations on its users (Breedlove & Watson, 2013). Continued use of Marijuana can lead to addiction, decline in cognitive abilities and like tobacco smoking, marijuana smoking can also cause respiratory diseases. Murray et al (2007) conclude in their study that adolescents who use marijuana are at a higher risk of developing psychosis but it’s not clear if adolescents with psychological issues are at a higher risk of being addicted to the drug.

Physiological Mechanisms of addiction to Cannabinoids

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the main active compound found in Cannabinoids and the one which the brain receptors react to. The brain has Cannabinoid receptors that intercede the effects of THC. These receptors are found in cerebral cortex, hippocampus and substantia nigra and areas like the brain stem show a few receptors. Sub groups of Cannabinoid receptors are CB1 and CB2. CB1 are found in the nervous system and CB2 are found in the immune system. CB1 are present in the central nervous system of the mammals in a unique manner and more than any other G protein related receptors and the highest level of presence is in motor control and hippocampus (Breivogel, 1998). The effects of Cannabinoids on the central nervous system correlate to the distribution of cannabinoid receptors in the brain and their activation of the specific ‘G-protein mediated signal’ as explained by Breivogel (1998).

Two ways knowledge of physiological mechanism can impact

The users of cannabinoids are mostly under the age of 25 and include teenagers as well who are not aware of the physiological long term effects of the drug (NIH). According to the NIH there was decline in the use of Marijuana or Cannabinoids in the late nineties and mid 2000’s, but since 2012 there has been significant increase in the use of these drugs among high school kids and adolescents. An awareness of the physiological effects of the drug on a young person’s brain and its damage in the long run could be an effective preventive measure to stop these numbers from rising. Many teenagers admit to being unaware of how exactly the drugs give them relaxation, euphoria and even the parents are clueless about the effects, the fact that their kids are smoking Marijuana or how it can lead to addiction (Walters, 2002). Knowing the physiology of the impact of the drug can be a beneficial to parents and youth.

Breedlove and Watson (2013) point out the importance of understanding the physiology of the effects of drugs for rehabilitation purposes. Family members or support groups are often times unaware of the physical stress on the body and reactions of the brain to withdrawal from the drug. Understanding the physiology can give a better perspective to the family and support groups of persons struggling with addiction, rehabilitation. It can increases the level of sympathy and patience among the support network.

References

Breivogel, C. S., & Childers, S. R. (1998). The functional neuroanatomy of brain cannabinoid receptors. Neurobiology of Disease, 5(6), 417-431.

Castle, D. J., & Murray, R. M. (Eds.). (2004). Marijuana and Madness: Psychiatry and Neurobiology. Cambridge University Press.

Commonly abused drugs, 2011. National Institute on Drug Abuse. Retrieved from http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/commonly-abused-drugs/commonly-abused-drugs-chart

Walters, J. (2002). The myth of ‘harmless’ marijuana. Washington Post. Washington, DC, 1, A25.