Two Questions

If it's not too much to ask, I need a couple questions answered real quick.

1) Is intentional biting of one's self (Enough to leave a bite mark, and a red ring for a few hours afterwards, but no blood) considered SI behavior?

2)Is Cannabis/Marijuana truly as harmless as everyone around my town claims it is?

[*silenced*]

Depends why you are doing both really, but, well, most probly yes to the first one, any form of hurting yourself perposfully, not just cutting, but burning, biting, bruising yourself...etc, it's self harm.
And secondly, well, what are the people in your town saying? If everyone is saying, yeah sure, smoke weed whenever, where ever and even if you have underlying or members of close family with serious psycological problems, then, well, that's not right. I think that some people can smoke cannabis occasionally and be absolutley fine, they can have a laugh getting high one night and then not do it for a while and get on with life. But not everyone can, and it's kind of hard to tell which kind of person you are untill you get into it. But if you're smoking it every day, getting in trouble, missing deadlines, skipping school...etc, then you've gone too far and it wont make you happy like that, only paranoid and depressed. It can also trigger other drug use, like a stepping stone drug, for example, I started smoking green (cannabis) years ago when I was younger, and it has escalated for years and I am now fighting a heroin addiction, you can never tell! To be honest, most people don't go that far, a lot of people smoke weed every now and again and are fine, but don't go over board with it, that's what I think anyway.

[Done-With-It!]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

If it's not too much to ask, I need a couple questions answered real quick.

1) Is intentional biting of one's self (Enough to leave a bite mark, and a red ring for a few hours afterwards, but no blood) considered SI behavior?

2)Is Cannabis/Marijuana truly as harmless as everyone around my town claims it is?

Hey there,


If you biting yourself to relieve stress or anger then yes it probably is a form of self harm, sometimes we pick up ways to cope that are not healthy for us that will turn into more down the road. Is there a reason that you are biting yourself?



As to Cannabis/Marijuana being harmless. That is not true at all. There are definitely dangers to smoking it. Good for you for asking and trying to find out, because many people are just going to tel you what suits them best.

Here are a few
FACTS ON WEED
not just my opinion.let us know if you have any more questions.

[Done-With-It!]

Harmful Effects of Marijuana

---

• The harmful effects of marijuana on the Brain and Central Nervous System
  • Impaired thinking, mood, memory, and coordination
    • Marijuana (THC) is an extremely powerful and pleasurable intoxicant. It affects, alters, and damages brain cells controlling thinking, emotion, pleasure, coordination, mood and memory. The pituitary gland is also damaged which regulates hunger, thirst, blood pressure, sexual behavior, and release of sex hormones.
    • Clogged synapses, brain damage and addiction
    • Marijuana accumulates in the microscopic spaces between nerve cells in the brain called "synapses." This clogging interferes by slowing and impairing transfer critical information.
    • Long term use causes the brain to stop production of brain chemicals necessary to "feel good" - a negative feedback condition. And, the user becomes chemically addicted to marijuana.
  • The harmful effects of marijuana on the Heart
    • Speeds up heartbeat as much as 50%, increases blood pressure, and poses great risk to those with hypertension and heart disease.
  • The harmful effects of marijuana on the Endocrine System
    • Marijuana damages the network of glands, organs, and hormones involved in growth and development, energy levels, and reproduction.
    • Organs and glands affected:
      • pituitary gland
      • thyroid gland
      • stomach
      • duodenum
      • pancreas
      • adrenal glands
      • testis
  • The harmful effects of marijuana on the Reproductive System males and females
    • Marijuana use can decrease and degenerate sperm, sperm count, movement, and cause lowered sex drive. Females can have egg damage, suppression of ovulation, disrupt menstrual cycles, and alteration of hormone levels.
    • Regular use during pregnancy can lower birth weight and cause abnormalities similar to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (small head, irritability, poor growth and development.
    • Can destroy the number of chromosomes, resulting in cell abnormalities and impaired function.
  • Other affects on the central nervous system
    • distortions of perceptions, thinking and reality
    • Difficulty in forming concepts and thoughts
    • Poor concentration
    • Mental confusion
    • Loss of motivation
    • Wide mood swings
    • Aggression and hostility
    • Depression, anxiety and paranoia
  • The harmful effects of marijuana on the Eyes
    • Sleep looking, blood-shot eyes with dilated pupils.
  • The harmful effects of marijuana on the Throat
    • Irritates membranes of the esophagus; increases chance of developing cancer of larynx and esophagus.
  • The harmful effects of marijuana on the Lungs
    • Significant damage and destruction of the air sacs of the lungs, reducing the lungs ability to bring oxygen and remove carbon dioxide - Emphysema.
    • Causes bronchial tubes to be inflamed, thickened and to produce more mucus; resulting in narrowing of the air passages - Chronic Bronchitis.
    • Marijuana smoke has twice as much "tar" as cigarette smoke and significantly increases chance of lung cancer, inflammation and infection.

[Done-With-It!]

What is marijuana?
Marijuana (grass, pot, weed) is the common name for a crude drug made from the plant Cannabis sativa. The main mind-altering (psychoactive) ingredient in marijuana is THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), but more than 400 other chemicals also are in the plant. A marijuana "joint" (cigarette) is made from the dried particles of the plant. The amount of THC in the marijuana determines how strong its effects will be. The type of plant, the weather, the soil, the time of harvest, and other factors determine the strength of marijuana. The strength of today's marijuana is as much as ten times greater than the marijuana used in the early 1970s. This more potent marijuana increases physical and mental effects and the possibility of health problems for the user. Hashish, or hash, is made by taking the resin from the leaves and flowers of the marijuana plant and pressing it into cakes or slabs. Hash is usually stronger than crude marijuana and may contain five to ten times as much THC. Pure THC is almost never available, except for research. Substances sold as THC on the street often turn out to be something else, such as PCP. What are some of the immediate effects of smoking marijuana?
Some immediate physical effects of marijuana include a faster heartbeat and pulse rate, bloodshot eyes, and a dry mouth and throat. No scientific evidence indicates that marijuana improves hearing, eyesight, and skin sensitivity. Studies of marijuana's mental effects show that the drug can impair or reduce short-term memory, alter sense of time, and reduce ability to do things which require concentration, swift reactions, and coordination, such as driving a car or operating machinery.
Are there any other adverse reactions to marijuana?
A common bad reaction to marijuana is the "acute panic anxiety reaction." People describe this reaction as an extreme fear of "losing control," which causes panic. The symptoms usually disappear in a few hours.
What about psychological dependence on marijuana?
Long-term regular users of marijuana may become psychologically dependent. They may have a hard time limiting their use, they may need more of the drug to get the same effect, and they may develop problems with their jobs and personal relationships. The drug can become the most important aspect of their lives.
What are the dangers for young people?
One major concern about marijuana is its possible effects on young people as they grow up. Research shows that the earlier people start using drugs, the more likely they are to go on to experiment with other drugs. In addition, when young people start using marijuana regularly, they often lose interest and are not motivated to do their schoolwork. The effects of marijuana can interfere with learning by impairing thinking, reading comprehension, and verbal and mathematical skills. Research shows that students do not remember what they have learned when they are "high".
How does marijuana affect driving ability?
Driving experiments show that marijuana affects a wide range of skills needed for safe driving -- thinking and reflexes are slowed, making it hard for drivers to respond to sudden, unexpected events. Also, a driver's ability to "track" (stay in lane) through curves, to brake quickly, and to maintain speed and the proper distance between cars is affected. Research shows that these skills are impaired for at least 4-6 hours after smoking a single marijuana cigarette, long after the "high" is gone. If a person drinks alcohol, along with using marijuana, the risk of an accident greatly increases. Marijuana presents a definite danger on the road.
Does marijuana affect the human reproductive system?
Some research studies suggest that the use of marijuana during pregnancy may result in premature babies and in low birth weights. Studies of men and women may have a temporary loss of fertility. These findings suggest that marijuana may be especially harmful during adolescence, a period of rapid physical and sexual development.
How does marijuana affect the heart?
Marijuana use increases the heart rate as much as 50 percent, depending on the amount of THC. It can cause chest pain in people who have a poor blood supply to the heart - and it produces these effects more rapidly than tobacco smoke does.
How does marijuana affect the lungs?
Scientists believe that marijuana can be especially harmful to the lungs because users often inhale the unfiltered smoke deeply and hold it in their lungs as long as possible. Therefore, the smoke is in contact with lung tissues for long periods of time, which irritates the lungs and damages the way they work. Marijuana smoke contains some of the same ingredients in tobacco smoke that can cause emphysema and cancer. In addition, many marijuana users also smoke cigarettes; the combined effects of smoking these two substances creates an increased health risk.
Can marijuana cause cancer?
Marijuana smoke has been found to contain more cancer-causing agents than is found in tobacco smoke. Examination of human lung tissue that had been exposed to marijuana smoke over a long period of time in a laboratory showed cellular changes called metaplasia that are considered precancerous. In laboratory test, the tars from marijuana smoke have produced tumors when applied to animal skin. These studies suggest that it is likely that marijuana may cause cancer if used for a number of years.
How are people usually introduced to marijuana?
Many young people are introduced to marijuana by their peers - usually acquaintances, friends, sisters, and brothers. People often try drugs such as marijuana because they feel pressured by peers to be part of the group. Children must be taught how to say no to peer pressure to try drugs. Parents can get involved by becoming informed about marijuana and by talking to their children about drug use.
What is marijuana "burnout"?
"Burnout" is a term first used by marijuana smokers themselves to describe the effect of prolonged use. Young people who smoke marijuana heavily over long periods of time can become dull, slow moving, and inattentive. These "burned-out" users are sometimes so unaware of their surroundings that they do not respond when friends speak to them, and they do not realize they have a problem.
How long do chemicals from marijuana stay in the body after the drug is smoked?
When marijuana is smoked, THC, its active ingredient, is absorbed by most tissues and organs in the body; however, it is primarily found in fat tissues. The body, in its attempt to rid itself of the foreign chemical, chemically transforms the THC into metabolites. Urine tests can detect THC metabolites for up to a week after people have smoked marijuana. Tests involving radioactively labeled THC have traced these metabolites in animals for up to a month.
Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse

[Done-With-It!]

Thanks a ton for the info. It makes me feel a little despondent for the friends who I no longer talk to because of their frequent usage and changing of friend groups, but I'm glad I know myself.

And yeah, every once in a while I bite myself to relieve stress and anger.

[BM <3]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

If it's not too much to ask, I need a couple questions answered real quick.

1) Is intentional biting of one's self (Enough to leave a bite mark, and a red ring for a few hours afterwards, but no blood) considered SI behavior?

2)Is Cannabis/Marijuana truly as harmless as everyone around my town claims it is?

1. I would say yes. But I guess it also depens on the nature of you doing this. If you are doing it with the thought that you want to harm yourself or even punish, then I would say it's a form of self harm.

2. No. Marijuana may seem harmless at the time but it's been proven to cause later mental health issues and or Schizophrenia. I have seen some damaging/scary results in people who have done pot for a long period of time. I know that it cannot cause an overdose or immediate death but that doesn't make it any less harmless.

[Done-With-It!]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Thanks a ton for the info. It makes me feel a little despondent for the friends who I no longer talk to because of their frequent usage and changing of friend groups, but I'm glad I know myself.

And yeah, every once in a while I bite myself to relieve stress and anger.

Have you ever watched the move Alpha Dog? It is a true story and it may give you a whole different insight to the world of week. It is a great movie, but very sad..

I hope to see you on the boards more. ---------------- Now playing: Cher - Strong Enough via FoxyTunes

[*silenced*]

Originally Posted by Brittany-Marie

2. No. Marijuana may seem harmless at the time but it's been proven to cause later mental health issues and or Schizophrenia. I have seen some damaging/scary results in people who have done pot for a long period of time. I know that it cannot cause an overdose or immediate death but that doesn't make it any less harmless.

I agree that weed is not entirley harmless, but no, it dosn't CAUSE schizophrenia, it will enhance underlying mental problems such as depression and schizophrenia, but it does not cause such a serious condition as schizophernia, it can brought OUT by frequent use of cannabis, schizophrenia does not just appear cos you smoke a bit of weed, mental health issues stem from a much deeper root, if you are prone to paranoia or depression or your family has a history of schizophrenia, then don't smoke weed! People get this mixed up cos a lot of people get paranoid during/after smoking weed and sometimes is triggers a sort of down/depressed period like, the next day or whatever and although paranoia and depression are a part of schizopherinia, it is much more complicated than that.

I dunno, do we only give the awful worse case scenario's on this site? Or are we allowed to talk about drugs, our experiances, I mean, I don't want to encourage drug use, but come on, we've all had a joint or two, at least, I know I've been pretty baked in my time and you know what, most of the people who I used to get stoned with are absolutley fine. They have jobs, are at Uni, get stoned occasionally and live a happy, sucsessful and fulfilled life. That's the other side of it isn't it?
We had a really good speaker come to our school once, years ago! he just talked about his experiance with drugs and he said, if you really look at the statistics, there were about 100 of us in that room, that nearly all of us would drink, and have a toke or so on a spliff, half would perhaps try a little something more and much less than that would go onto regular use of harder drugs, and 1 of us would get addicted and have a real problem with it. I know my life revolves around drugs, so I sort of assume everyone else does it and has a problem with it, but, when I think about it, the majority really don't.

The only problem with providing information like that, like, on this thread is, well, how do you know that is entirley true? Reading it I definatly know I have been told otherwise by some very trustworthy sources and that I have had experiances otherwise when getting stoned. Unless we talk from experiance, how can we know anyone else' version of it is true? Those scientists may have never got high in their whole lives, which to me makes me think they don't know **** about smoking weed.

[Done-With-It!]

Silence you are not an expert on weed or cannabis. There are many studies out there that show different. The simple fact is we are a recovery board, if you want a site to talk about your drug experiences and the harm it did not cause to you, there are plenty out there for that. We are not here to glamorize weed or any other kind of drugs, there are to many trying to get off of it.

SoberTeens is here to advocate recovery from every type of drug abuse, including marijuana. Not to point out how pot is not as harmful in some people's opinions as other drugs may be.

This thread was not meant to start up a war about if weed is good or bad for you. It is obviously not, there are many proven facts. If you choose to smoke it, that is your choice. But we will not be advocated that it is okay to smoke it here.

[Chy]

That's the other side of it isn't it?

...the other side being a much worse risk to take as you well know, as I know as several thousand in rehabs with no jobs, family, home or a quality of life know.

[*silenced*]

I know I'm no expert, and I'm not saying there are NO bad effects but arn't we here to tell the truth, what is wrong with presenting a two sided argument and letting people make their own choices? If you only tell someone the bad points about something, you are not giving them the whole truth, I say, let people be informed about both sides of the argument and let them make an informed desicion, that means both good and bad points, not just bad.

You think I'm against recovering? I would never ever ever tell someone who was addicted to cannabis that it is ok and they should just continue, but I got the impression we were asked to mearly state the facts about the good and bad of cannabis use, not direction for an addict.
There is a difference between having a drink with friends and being an alcoholic is there not? So why is there not a difference between smoking a joint once in a while and being a cannabis addict? I just wanted to point that part about it also.
I'm not trying to advocate drugs, I just think people should know the whole truth, why people do it and what it does, you know as well as I do that people don't just do drugs for no reason, they do it because it is enjoyable, at least to begin with. If people understand those reasons and also the reasons not to do the drug, they can make an informed desicion.

[Chy]

Then what's the good points of marijuana use?

[Chy]

Enjoyable? You're kidding right? Yeah at the time of use people with no informed understanding of the use of any kind of drug may think it's "fun", cool, "enjoyable" while looking over their shoulder to see if the cops are lurking, if parents will find out, if you get in a compromising situation while under the influence, I learned a long time ago habitual use of weed no longer became as enjoyable as my diluded mind seemed to think.

..and how many people didn't try it because of peer pressure? How many that have tried it were really scared to try it and gave in because everyone else was doing it? I did, that feeling really sucked to. Giving in. I'm betting that's 90% of the reason most do and that's gotta change.

[Done-With-It!]

Originally Posted by Brittany-Marie

1. I would say yes. But I guess it also depens on the nature of you doing this. If you are doing it with the thought that you want to harm yourself or even punish, then I would say it's a form of self harm.

2. No. Marijuana may seem harmless at the time but it's been proven to cause later mental health issues and or Schizophrenia. I have seen some damaging/scary results in people who have done pot for a long period of time. I know that it cannot cause an overdose or immediate death but that doesn't make it any less harmless.

Interesting article I just found to back up some of what you said.

STUDY LINKS POT SMOKING, PSYCHOSIS


Heavy pot smoking has been linked to psychosis in one of the largest-ever investigations of the long-term health effects of cannabis use.
Daily marijuana users are 1.6 to 1.8 times more likely to develop psychosis compared to non-users, a group of New Zealand scientists reported after following the health and development of 1,200 men and women born in 1977 for 25 years.
The findings published in the March edition of the journal Addiction, make it increasingly difficult for pot advocates to dismiss a growing body of evidence linking regular cannabis use with increased risks of psychosis, is an outcome mental health experts have long suspected.
This makes it more definitive�, says Harold Kalant, a professor of pharmacology at the University of Toronto. “Most people accept that the link has been established beyond anyone’s ability to dismiss it.�
The New Zealand study also debunks the myth that individuals prone to psychosis, who may have suffered physical or sexual abuse as children, would probably attempt to medicate themselves with marijuana.
Instead, the researchers conclude the psychosis in pot smokers is most likely caused by their daily cannabis use – and not by other factors.
“The association between cannabis use and psychotic symptoms is unlikely to be due to confounding factors,� wrote researchers David M. Fersusson and L. John Horwood, “The direction of causality is from cannabis use to psychotic symptoms.�
According to Dr. Kalant, mental health experts have long probed the question of whether psychosis among pot smokers was caused by marijuana, or if pot smoking was a form of self-medication among psychotics.
Cases of psychosis which can be attributed to pot smoking tend to show more “active� symptoms of mental illness, such as delusion and paranoia, compared to more “passive� symptoms which may have existed before the marijuana use, such as withdrawal from social interaction, Dr. Kalant says.
Researchers do not know what it is about marijuana that could cause psychosis but hypothesize the constant stimulation of the neurotransmitter dopamine through drug use may have something to do with it.
“The weight of the evidence clearly suggests that the use of cannabis may alter underlying brain chemistry and precipitate the onset of psychosis…in vulnerable individuals,� according to the New Zealand scientists.
Study participants reported their marijuana use at age 16, 18, 21 and 25 years. They were also asked to respond to questions about their mental health, such as whether they heard voices others do not hear, felt someone else controlled their thoughts or was aware of their private thoughts, felt something was seriously wrong with their body, never felt close to another person, felt others cannot be trusted and felt they were being watched by others.
According to Dr. Kalant, psychosis is basically defined as not being able to distinguish between reality and fantasy.
“It tends to go with other symptoms like a lot of internal mental activity of an imaginary nature, paranoid thinking, reverting inward and, sometimes, aggressive behaviour.�
Dr. Kalant says other research is increasingly showing a link between pot smoking and respiratory and bronchial problems. One recent study, for example, found two thirds of regular pot smokers reported chronic inflammatory problems in their chest.
He says researchers also suspect pot smoking is linked to cancer, just like tobacco.
“Chemically, tobacco smoking and cannabis smoking are very similar,� he said “When people smoke cannabis, with deep breathing and holding it in the lungs for a long time, they deposit a higher portion of tar in the lungs than cigarette smoking.�
There is a logical reason to anticipate cannabis smoking may be causing serious problems the way tobacco smoke does.�
And Dr. Kalant says that just because research has not yet demonstrated a link between pot use and cancer does not mean it does not exist, considering it took decades of research to establish the negative health effects of tobacco smoking.
__________________

[*silenced*]

I'm not talking about habitual use though, I can see the problems with that, I can see that with any drug that is not going to lead to happiness and fulfilment.
The good points of smoking weed? Well, getting high for one! I know I started doing drugs because it was fun, I liked getting stoned with my friends and laughing and chilling out at the weekends. Most of them could get high on a saturday night, chill out sunday, go to college monday to friday. And not every week, when it's not an essential, when you don't need to get high, when you don't depend on it, then you can enjoy the effects such as laughing, and feeling good for a few hours and then do your work and be a normal person. All I'm saying is, not everyone becomes an addict, not everyone develops psycological problems. Lots of british people smoke weed and for certain they are not all addicts, they're just normal people who use weed like people drink alcohol - yes, for some people it becomes habitual and dangerous, but not for all.
Its like drug education at school, people come in who have never taken drugs and have no idea what it feels like to get high, come in and say - drugs are bad! Take drugs and you will get addicted and end up on the streets and die, that's it. And that is not correct, smoking weed can make you feel more open and if you do it in a safe environment with lovely people CAN be a good experiance. It can be horrible, it can lead onto other things but just saying that is not the whole truth, is not the whole possibilities.

I don't want to argue. I've said my piece, that is how I feel, I think if people want to experiament with drugs, they will, and I think they should know that they may be sick the first time they smoke weed they might feel sick and paranoid, but then again, they might end up listening to White Rabbit and tripping out and feeling wonderful.

[*silenced*]

I mean, I have also seen the serious negative outcomes of drug use, but I think it is misleading and wrong to say that all drugs are always bad all the time.

[Joe]

well, social stigma then. I see my post was taken down, I can see how it would have been deemed innapropriate. It's dumb, ppl will think you're dumb, why do it?

[Done-With-It!]

Originally Posted by Joe

well, social stigma then. I see my post was taken down, I can see how it would have been deemed innapropriate. It's dumb, ppl will think you're dumb, why do it?

Joe I don't see any post of yourst that was taken down. Usually if that is a case we would let you know.
Do you know what post this was?