1. Marijuana and Anabolic Steroids
By: Rachel LaBoone and Matthew Mobley

2. Marijuana: What it is? Scientific name = Cannabis sativa
Plant called “cannabis”
Consists of seeds, flowers, stems and bud.
Color can be green, brown, or gray or any mixture of the three.
Main chemical is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol or THC.
About 400 other chemicals found in marijuana.

3. Marijuana: THC Content
Between and 1970’s and 2007, the THC content of marijuana has been going up.
On the streets, the higher the THC content the better the marijuana.
On average, marijuana has 10% THC.

4. Marijuana: Street Names
Pot
Grass
Herb
Weed
Mary Jane
Reefer
Kif
Chronic
Ganja
Boom
Gangster
Skunk

5. Marijuana: How it’s used
Most common method = smoking.
Joints or nails
Blunts (cigar wrappers)
Bong (water pipe)
Brewed with tea
Mixed with food
Brownies, cookies, or any sweets.

6. Marijuana: Teens Most teens use the excuse, “Everyone’s doing it.”
A survey from 2009 shows that 7% of 8th graders, 16% of 10th graders, and 21% of 12th graders had used marijuana the previous month.

7. Marijuana: Short Term Effects
Good feeling after use
THC triggers brain cells to release dopamine
Creates the good feeling
Off balance
Loss of concentration
Failure to remember things
Possible death
Car crash, etc.
Risky sexual behavior
Increases heart rate

8. Marijuana: Long Term Effects
Could be harder to complete everyday tasks
Take 100% of your focus to do tasks
Hallucinations or false ideas
Respiratory damage
Getting colds and coughs easier
Risk of cancer
Addiction

9. Marijuana: When long term use is stopped
Irritability
Sleep problems
Insomnia
Weight loss
These effects can last from days to weeks
Relapse can occur.

10. Marijuana: Lead to other drugs
Teens who use marijuana have a higher chance of using other drugs, such as cocaine or meth, than teens who do not use marijuana.
Since it is illegal, you have to buy it “under the table” which could lead to peer pressure of other drugs.

11. Marijuana: Medical uses
THC is used to treat:
Nausea in cancer patients
Anything that happens undergoing chemotherapy
Stimulate appetite in patients
Involuntary weight loss due to AIDS.

12. Marijuana: Article

13. Anabolic Steroids: What is it?
Synthetic steroid hormone that resembles testosterone in promoting the growth of muscle
Anabolic = muscle building
Can be legally prescribed

14. Anabolic Steroids: Abuse
Used to enhance performance or physical appearance
Athletes and non-athletes use it
Taken orally or injected in cycles
“Cycles”: a pattern of use in which steroids are taken for periods of weeks or months
Users normally combine diff. types to increase effectiveness
Practice called “Stacking”

15. Anabolic Steroids: Effects on body
Anabolic Steroids connect to androgen and estrogen receptors on the surface of the cell
Long term use:
Effects brain pathways and chemicals in the brain such as:
Dopamine
Serotonin
Opioid Systems
Effects can effect the mood of the person taking the steroids

16. Anabolic Steroids: Adverse Effects
Liver damage
Pigment in skin
Tissues
Bodily fluids
High blood pressure
LDL increase
HDL decrease
Severe acne
Trembling
Renal Failure
For men: Shrinking of testicles, reduced sperm count, baldness, breast development, risk of prostate cancer
For woman: Facial hair, baldness, change in menstrual cycle, depended voice,

17. Anabolic Steroids: In students
8th grade = 1.4%
10th grade = 1.4%
12th grade = 2.2%

18. Sources http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anabolic_steroid (Picture)