Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing disease that alters the normal, healthy functioning of the brain without causing other harmful consequences. Marijuana, or cannabis, is the most commonly abused illegal drug in the United States, with most people using it for the first time during adolescence.
Because marijuana disrupts the brain's ability to form new memories, it can affect young adults' brain systems that are still maturing. Regular marijuana use by teenagers is associated with an altered reward system, making them more likely to become addicted to other drugs, such as heroin, when given the opportunity. Other symptoms of cannabis abuse include rapid heartbeat, disorientation and lack of physical coordination, often followed by depression or drowsiness.
The effect of cannabis on the brain
A 2015 study led by Dr. Amelia Arria, associate professor of behavioral and community health at the University of Maryland School of Public Health, suggests that adolescent cannabis smoking is associated with serious brain abnormalities that may also affect their grades in school. Marijuana smoking by children leads to lower intelligence and poorer concentration, which leads to lower grades and dropping out of high school.
Students who smoke marijuana have lower attention spans and memory, and therefore may not perform at their best in schools and colleges, a study found. The effect of the drug can last for days or weeks, so students tend to skip more lectures and exercises, with studies taking a back seat. Notably, those who did not attend lectures regularly had lower grades and even graduated later than those who did.
The researchers followed 1,100 students from the University of Maryland for eight years, starting with their first year at the university. In the first year, 37 percent of students were reportedly found to have smoked marijuana at least once in the past 30 days—an average of six days a month. Unsurprisingly, students seemed to skip classes more often with significant increases in marijuana abuse, which in turn led to lower grades and a longer time to graduate. Conversely, their grades tended to increase as cannabis use decreased.
"When students go to the academic assistance office, they are rarely asked about alcohol or drug use," said Dr. Arria. "Students often think of marijuana as harmless. But if you ask them questions like, 'How often do you smoke marijuana, drink, party?', that alone can help them be more self-reflective and make better decisions," she added.
In a study published in the journal Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, researchers suggested that the link between drug use and missing lectures needs to be well understood by students, parents, universities and policy makers.
The road to recovery
A teen who uses cannabis for a long time is likely to experience a variety of problems, including lower school grades, because the drug can alter the normal functioning of the brain. Aggression is also an almost certain by-product of long-term drug abuse. Hallucinations are a common phenomenon in people under the influence of drugs, and in extreme cases, even suicidal thoughts can appear.
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