Alcohol More Harmful to Brain than Marijuana, Study Finds
Alcohol More Harmful to Brain than Mariajuana, Study Finds
https://blog.sfgate.com/smellthetruth/2018/02/12/alcohol-more-harmful-to-brain-than-marijuana-study-finds/
Oscar Pascual’s article on SFGATE discusses the controversial drug, marijuana, in comparison to alcohol in how it affects the brain. Interestingly, heavy alcohol use was linked to lower volumes of brain tissue as well as long-term changes to gray and white matter in the brain. Damage to to white or gray matter in the brain has major impacts on brain function and can cause impairment. On the contrary, however, marijuana use did not show the same detrimental effects and could even lower the risk of developing liver disease, which is common among alcoholics. Nevertheless, the author includes that marijuana use does have negative consequences, though more research must be conducted to better understand the effects of marijuana use. Alcohol use has much more extensive research stating the negative effects on the brain and body.
Recently, the topic of marijuana has become extremely prevalent as its use in society has increased and people want to understand its effects. This has introduced conversation about legalization of the drug, including medicinal purposes and recreational uses. While we have not discussed addiction yet in class and the effects of different drugs on the brain, my neuroscience class senior year in high school covered the consequences of drug use on the brain and how varying substances differ. In physiological psychology, we briefly discussed the how stimulants can affect pupil size when learning about vision. The discussion of different drugs, more than just alcohol and marijuana, demonstrates how substance use/abuse has major developmental effects overtime through brain damage, especially in adolescent brains.
https://blog.sfgate.com/smellthetruth/2018/02/12/alcohol-more-harmful-to-brain-than-marijuana-study-finds/
Oscar Pascual’s article on SFGATE discusses the controversial drug, marijuana, in comparison to alcohol in how it affects the brain. Interestingly, heavy alcohol use was linked to lower volumes of brain tissue as well as long-term changes to gray and white matter in the brain. Damage to to white or gray matter in the brain has major impacts on brain function and can cause impairment. On the contrary, however, marijuana use did not show the same detrimental effects and could even lower the risk of developing liver disease, which is common among alcoholics. Nevertheless, the author includes that marijuana use does have negative consequences, though more research must be conducted to better understand the effects of marijuana use. Alcohol use has much more extensive research stating the negative effects on the brain and body.
Recently, the topic of marijuana has become extremely prevalent as its use in society has increased and people want to understand its effects. This has introduced conversation about legalization of the drug, including medicinal purposes and recreational uses. While we have not discussed addiction yet in class and the effects of different drugs on the brain, my neuroscience class senior year in high school covered the consequences of drug use on the brain and how varying substances differ. In physiological psychology, we briefly discussed the how stimulants can affect pupil size when learning about vision. The discussion of different drugs, more than just alcohol and marijuana, demonstrates how substance use/abuse has major developmental effects overtime through brain damage, especially in adolescent brains.
With marijuana being sporadically legalized throughout the United States, it is becoming more accepted and seen in a positive light, rather than negative. But, as you mentioned, adolescent brains are extremely malleable, and there are many negative implications that can arise from early use. The legalization of marijuana takes away from the clear negative effects that it has on the developing brain. So while it may be medicinal for some, it can leave lasting damage for a growing brain.
ReplyDeleteAlcohol is very detrimental to the body. It is basically like drinking poison. Marijuana has recently been popular and is even legalized in DC as well as some states. Alcohol has been studied for much longer so more negative effects have been identified. Marijuana has not been studied as much, so there will be less known effects. Marijuana is used medicinally as well, it is used for our older adults and also people suffering from stress and anxiety. Both could be harmful but alcohol has been studied way more.
ReplyDeleteIn one of my debates as part of a Family Studies class I took a few semesters ago, we discussed the availability of research regarding marijuana. Marijuana is labeled as a schedule 1 drug, alongside heroin, meth, and peyote (https://www.dea.gov/druginfo/ds.shtml). Because of this my professor informed the class that research clearance, even when the drug is legalized, is incredibly difficult to obtain. This research is highly interesting in relation to the concept of addiction, which we just learned about. One of the components of addiction is compulsive and continued use, in spite of health consequences. If marijuana is established by research as a less dangerous substance in regards to health factors, it will be interesting to see the subsequent analysis of marijuana as an addictive drug versus a medicinal drug.
ReplyDeleteLegalization of Marijuna is a controversial topic, as time passes and the more Marijunia is being accepted the closer they are to legialize it in other states. One of the biggest arguments they use to support Marijuna being legal is that alcohol that is legal causes more damage then Marijuana. The idea that alchol is involved in car accidents and alcohol posioning and those are correlate to death is a strong argument. They also mention how the brain damage is more severe with alcohol then Marijuana.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting to learn that long-term alcoholism causes damage to gray matter. In my Psychology 101 class we learned that gray matter affects muscle control, memory, and decision-making. Which are things that people struggle with while they are under the influence. Marijuana is a very controversial topic and as you said, it is becoming more popular across the United States. It would be interesting to find which is more likely to cause addiction.
ReplyDeleteThe debate over marijuana legalization has always been interesting to me. I think there are some political reasons that people argue it should be legal, however I think a lot of the medical discussion is under-developed. It did not surprise me to learn that alcohol is more harmful to our brains than marijuana. I have often heard about the effects of alcohol on gray and white matter. Alcohol can impact the frontal lobes in general and cause deficits in impulse control, learning, self-regulation, and even abstinence. From some studies I have read, it seems that marijuana may have the most damaging effects on developing brains of young people. It seems there is less evidence showing it has long-term effects on IQ, cognitive functioning, or neural connections in adults, even those who are heavy users. This article brings up an interesting point, and I think it may give some support to the idea that if alcohol is legal and far more damaging than marijuana, perhaps legalizing and regulating marijuana could make it safer and allow use for multiple health benefits it has been shown to provide.
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