Teen Marijuana Use Shows No Effect On Brain Tissue, Unlike Alcohol, Study Finds - Polidicks

[quote=Huff]A teen who consumes alcohol is likely to have reduced brain tissue health, but a teen who uses marijuana is not, according to a new study. Researchers scanned the brains of 92 adolescents, ages 16 to 20, before and after an 18-month period. During that year and a half, half of the teens -- who already had extensive alcohol and marijuana-use histories -- continued to use marijuana and alcohol in varying amounts. The other half abstained or kept consumption minimal, as they had throughout adolescence. The before-and-after brain scans of the teens consuming five or more drinks at least twice a week showed reduced white matter brain tissue, study co-author Susan Tapert, neuroscientist at UC San Diego, told HuffPost. This may mean declines in memory, attention, and decision-making into later adolescence and adulthood, she said. The teens who used the most marijuana did not show a change in brain tissue health, according to the study. The researchers did not test performance; they only looked at brain scans. The study was conducted by researchers at UC San Diego and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and is scheduled to be published in the April issue of the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research. The damage occurs because white matter brain tissue develops throughout adolescence and into a person's 20s, Joanna Jacobus, postdoctoral fellow at the University of California, San Diego, and co-author of the study, told HuffPost. Part of that still-developing brain tissue is where decision-making ability comes from, which can exacerbate substance use. "It becomes a cycle. If teens decrease their tissue health and cognitive ability to inhibit themselves, they might become more likely to engage in risky behavior like excessive substance use," Jacobus said. While studies showing the deleterious effect of alcohol on adolescents and adults have been more consistent, studies of the effect of marijuana have not, Tapert said. "One reason is that marijuana can really vary, is made in different ways, and with higher or lower levels of TCH and other marijuana components. For example, one component, cannabiol, may actually have neuroprotective effects," she said.[/quote] It doesn't have an effect on brain tissue, but to me that doesn't mean it doesn't have any effect on mental health.. I know it's not really advertised as a hallucinogen, but the psychological/physical effects are certainly noticeable when on it - so I still think it should be age restricted (except in some medicinal cases). Source: [url]http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/21/teens-marijuana-brain-tissue-alcohol_n_2331779.html[/url]

There are conflicting studies about the issue. Personally, I think taking drugs of any kind during an adolescent period is problematic.

With all these contradictory studies now it's quite hard to decide on what's true now based on all these scientific studies. It can vary greatly on person-to-person on drug use so almost any study on this has to be taken with a pinch of salt.

That's somewhat understandable, since if someone has an addictive personality they may be prone to substance abuse, but ensuring proper education and "enforcement" of responsibility on the topic of drugs is the way forward, as opposed to the beliefs of the sun-cultist plebs that think the wacky baccy makes Babby Jesus cry.

Scientists studying the obviously known.

[quote]Researchers scanned the brains of 92 adolescents, ages 16 to 20, before and after an 18-month period. During that year and a half, half of the teens -- who already had extensive alcohol and marijuana-use histories -- continued to use marijuana and alcohol in varying amounts. The other half abstained or kept consumption minimal, as they had throughout adolescence.[/quote] This part confuses/misleads me a little too much.

Or just abstain from both marijuana and alcohol, or any drugs for that matter. Best solution.

[QUOTE=Crhem van der B;38922063]Or just abstain from both marijuana and alcohol, or any drugs for that matter. Best solution.[/QUOTE] Wheres the fun in that

Drugs are great fun, too much fun, so much fun it can ruin you life! Would recommend.

[quote]The other half abstained or kept consumption minimal, as they had throughout adolescence.[/quote] what kind of control group is that? the very fact that they kept consuming makes them a part of the consumption group, regardless of how much they've done. This study has some holes in it.

[QUOTE=gokiyono;38921729]This part confuses/misleads me a little too much.[/QUOTE] They did this because it shows that continued use is problematic, and that it isn't a consequence for people just starting or something. By choosing people who are used to it decay is more surprising and demonstrates more impact

I'd prefer it if Marijuana was an 18+ or 21+ substance but legalised for recreational/ medicinal use. As for use under that age - it should be permitted for medicinal use. Also, updated the OP with my actual opinion.

I can probably confirm the memory part because my memory lately has been shit. (If I close my gym locker at school, if I so much as walk five feet away I forget if I locked it correctly.) Though I drink alcohol in moderation. Like, once or twice a month at most. Though I guess I'll wait until I'm 21 to continue drinking because I don't want my brain to be fucked up. :v:

once or twice a month would do nothing

[QUOTE=Stormcharger;38922198]Wheres the fun in that[/QUOTE] Some of us don't need to escape from reality.

[QUOTE=Crhem van der B;38922063]Or just abstain from both marijuana and alcohol, or any drugs for that matter. Best solution.[/QUOTE] Everyone rating this agree has never seen a day of sunshine in their life. [editline]21st December 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Vasili;38922366]Some of us don't need to escape from reality.[/QUOTE] The majority of people do not drink or smoke weed with the sole purpose of escaping reality, some just like to have fun and party. Like I genuinely feel that most of the hate towards alcohol on Facepunch is not out of "choice to abstain" despite their attempts to act morally superior, but its because most don't even have access to it (no one invites them to parties) and spend their Friday nights browsing FP instead

[QUOTE=Shiftyze;38921650]Scientists studying the obviously known.[/QUOTE] what? why would they study things we already know?

[QUOTE=Starpluck;38922518]Like I genuinely feel that most of the hate towards alcohol on Facepunch is not out of "choice to abstain" despite their attempts to act morally superior, but its because most don't even have access to it (no one invites them to parties) and spend their Friday nights browsing FP instead[/QUOTE] Could also be because some of us knows the consequences of it. [sp]You'll learn when you almost loose a family member thanks to another person drinking.[/sp]

[QUOTE=Starpluck;38922518]Everyone rating this agree has never seen a day of sunshine in their life. [editline]21st December 2012[/editline] The majority of people do not drink or smoke weed with the sole purpose of escaping reality, some just like to have fun and party. Like I genuinely feel that most of the hate towards alcohol on Facepunch is not out of "choice to abstain" despite their attempts to act morally superior, but its because most don't even have access to it (no one invites them to parties) and spend their Friday nights browsing FP instead[/QUOTE] Smoking makes you cool. Only cool people get invited to parties.

[QUOTE=Crhem van der B;38922063]Or just abstain from both marijuana and alcohol, or any drugs for that matter. Best solution.[/QUOTE] Or, alternatively, just take the stuff in moderation and not use too much. Too much of anything is a bad thing, but it can still be good if you don't have it as often or as much as usual.

[QUOTE=gokiyono;38922747]Could also be because some of us knows the consequences of it. [sp]You'll learn when you almost loose a family member thanks to another person drinking.[/sp][/QUOTE] I'm sorry to hear about your family member, but there's hardly any consequences as long as you are responsible and do it in moderation. The discussion was not whether or not binge drinking or daily alcohol use is a good idea.

Moderation is clearly the key word when it comes to soft drug/alcohol usage. If more teenagers were exposed to alcohol usage in a safe family environment at an age younger than 16-18 then there wouldn't be such a hangup and disparity in the concepts of moderation. This may surprise a lot of sheltered teenagers but it is in fact, completely possible to drink casually.

[QUOTE=gokiyono;38922747]Could also be because some of us knows the consequences of it. [sp]You'll learn when you almost loose a family member thanks to another person drinking.[/sp][/QUOTE] one of my biggest fears is losing someone i love to a drunk driver. that doesn't stop me from drinking every now and then though

[QUOTE=Starpluck;38922934]I'm sorry to hear about your family member, but there's hardly any consequences as long as you are responsible and do it in moderation. The discussion was not whether or not binge drinking or daily alcohol use is a good idea.[/QUOTE] Having visited an abuse center and heard how people said "[I]I thought I could control it[/I]" "[I]I were responsible until[/I]" or the ever great "it didn't seem like a problem at first, I only did it at parties etc." But I weren't talking about daily usage. I was responding to your "[I]Like I genuinely feel that most of the hate towards alcohol on Facepunch is not out of "choice to abstain" despite their attempts to act morally superior, but its because most don't even have access to it (no one invites them to parties) and spend their Friday nights browsing FP instead[/I]" (Maybe I worded my first comment a little wrong. It was more meant to be an addition.) [editline]21st December 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=TheHydra;38923032]one of my biggest fears is losing someone i love to a drunk driver. that doesn't stop me from drinking every now and then though[/QUOTE] It shouldn't either. (It would be like stopping to drink soda because it's too unhealthy.)

[QUOTE=Starpluck;38922518]Everyone rating this agree has never seen a day of sunshine in their life. [editline]21st December 2012[/editline] The majority of people do not drink or smoke weed with the sole purpose of escaping reality, some just like to have fun and party. Like I genuinely feel that most of the hate towards alcohol on Facepunch is not out of "choice to abstain" despite their attempts to act morally superior, but its because most don't even have access to it (no one invites them to parties) and spend their Friday nights browsing FP instead[/QUOTE] Feels nice to be that minority that can get it without trying. Still don't drink that nasty ass shit at parties though. I'll stick with piff for now.

[QUOTE=Glorbo;38921259]There are conflicting studies about the issue. Personally, I think taking drugs of any kind during an adolescent period is problematic.[/QUOTE] Unfortunately, what one thinks isn't always reality. We can't just arbitrarily define what drugs are "bad drugs" and which are the good ones. I won't say that we should permit our youth to abuse substances which might as a result of their effects put them in danger (cannabis included), but to say that any drug use in adolescence is inherently problematic is wrong.

[QUOTE=gokiyono;38923051]Having visited an abuse center and heard how people said "[I]I thought I could control it[/I]" "[I]I were responsible until[/I]" or the ever great "it didn't seem like a problem at first, I only did it at parties etc."[/QUOTE] Its not some instantly-addictive drug, getting hooked on alcohol as a result of social/party use is actually pretty rare. There are millions of Americans who perfectly capable of containing their alcohol habits. You should look into other variables (such as the age they started drinking) before you make any sweeping judgements on alcohol.

[QUOTE=Vasili;38922366]Some of us don't need to escape from reality.[/QUOTE] Weed isn't a hallucinogen lol.

[QUOTE=Starpluck;38923112]Its not some super-addictive drug, getting hooked on alcohol as a result of social/party use is actually pretty rare. There are millions of Americans who perfectly capable of containing their alcohol habits. You should look into other variables (such as the age they started drinking) before you make any sweeping judgements on alcohol.[/QUOTE] I only have experience from Denmark (whose drinking culture isn't really one to be too proud of.) There were people in the age groups of 20 to around 45 in there. And most of those people tend to have been trying to fit in. There are millions of Americans who are perfectly capable of handling weapons.

[QUOTE=Vasili;38922366]Some of us don't need to escape from reality.[/QUOTE] I feel lots of people are stuck in the A to B steps that society pushes us through and considers this 'reality'.. You go to school, then you go to college, then you go get a job and it's all to pursue this great 'success'.. and then you get there, 40 years old, and you feel exactly the same as you did the whole time. Not everything is about the ending. You don't listen to a piece of music to arrive at the final conclusive note you've been waiting for the whole time. If that was the case all good music would consist of one great note and making songs finish as quickly as possible would be the objective of musicians. Life is like a great musical.. It's about the experience you get whilst going through it - not about reaching a destination or conclusion. I'm not advocating weed or alcohol but they are certainly a fun experience and can give you a different perspective on things.