This Is Your Brain on Drugs

This article immediately caught my eye because our class had been discussing drugs and their effects on the brain. Specifically, this article investigates the relationship between weed and the brain. Dr. Gilman from Massachusetts General Hospital-Harvard concluded that weed seemed to have a significant effect on participants who only smoked once or twice a week. The brain had visible structural differences. The shape, density and volume of the nucleus accumbens and the amygdala were affected. There was a direct correlation between the amount of week smoked and the amount of change in brain structure.

People who smoked at a young age had a greater chance of having mental heath problems later in life. The amount of THC in the weed in years past was significantly less than the weed currently being sold. The amount of THC went from 3.75% to 13%. The potency is higher, which may lead to possible addiction and other adverse effects.

The researchers asked a student who smoked almost daily to take tests that were aimed at delayed gratification, cognitive abilities, memory and risk. These are things that THC would normally affect. When asked, the student stated that she only somewhat craved a joint. Weed also has long term effects that can lower I.Q points and can impact working memories that important for learning. More studies will be conducted to gain more information.

I thought this article was interesting because weed can be associated with college students. As young adults, it's important to know the effects. I don't think that students are aware of the damage that smoking causes and it's scary to know that the amount of THC has increased by about 10%. It's a significant amount . It's also interesting because it seems that people have different responses in cognitive, instant gratification, and risk factors even though there are similar effects on the brain.

Source :

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/02/education/edlife/this-is-your-brain-on-drugs-marijuana-adults-teens.html?src=me&module=Ribbon&version=origin&region=Header&action=click&contentCollection=Most%20Emailed&pgtype=article