Marijuana Health Effects:

Emphysema-like conditions

One joint of marijuana contains cancer-causing substances equal to 1/2 pack of cigarettes.

One joint causes the heart to race and overwork. People with heart conditions are at risk.

Marijuana is commonly contaminated with the fungus aspergillus, which can cause serious respiratory tract and sinus infections.

Marijuana lowers the body's immune system response making users more susceptible to infection.

Chronic Marijuana smoking causes changes in brain cells and brain waves. The brain does not work as efficiently or effectively. Long-term brain damage may occur.

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and 60 other chemicals in marijuana concentrate in the ovaries and testes.

Chronic smoking of marijuana in males causes a decrease in testosterone and an increase in estrogen, the female hormone. Therefore, the sperm count is reduced, leading to temporary sterility.

Chronic smoking of marijuana in females causes a decrease in fertility.

A higher than normal incidence of stillborn births, early termination of pregnancy, and higher infant mortality rate during the first few days of life are common in pregnant marijuana smokers.

THC causes birth defects including brain damage, spinal cord, forelimbs, liver, and water on the brain and spine in test animals.

Prenatal exposure may cause underweight newborns.

Fetal exposure may decrease visual functioning.

User's mental function can display the following effects:

• delayed decision making
• diminished concentration
• impaired short-term memory
• impaired signal detection
• impaired tracking
• erratic cognitive function
• distortion of time estimation

Marijuana Workplace Issues

THC is stored in body fat and slowly released.

Marijuana smoking has long-term effects on performance.

Increased THC potency in modern marijuana increases the impairment.

Combining alcohol or other depressant drugs with marijuana increases impairment.

Cocaine is used medically as a local anesthetic. When abused, Cocaine becomes a powerful physical and mental stimulant. The entire nervous system is energized. Muscles tense, the heart beats faster and stronger, and the body burns more energy. The brain experiences an exhilaration caused by a large release of neurohormones associated with mood elevation.

Cocaine Health Effects

Regular Cocaine use may upset the chemical balance of the brain. As a result, it may speed up the aging process by causing damage to critical nerve cells.

Parkinson's Disease could also occur.

Cocaine causes the heart to beat faster, harder, and rapidly increases blood pressure. Cocaine also causes spasms of blood vessels in the brain and heart. Both lead to ruptured vessels causing strokes and heart attacks.

Strong dependency can occur with one "hit" of Cocaine. Usually mental dependency occurs within days for "crack" or within several months for snorting coke. Cocaine causes the strongest mental dependency of all the drugs.

Cocaine treatment success rates are lower than other chemical dependencies.

Extremely dangerous when taken with other depressant drugs. Death due to overdose is rapid.

Fatal effects are usually not reversible by medical intervention.

Cocaine Workplace Issues

Extreme mood and energy swings create instability. Sudden noise causes a violent reaction.

Lapses in attention and ignoring warning signals increases probability of accidents.

High Cocaine cost frequently leads to theft and/or dealing.

Paranoia and withdrawal may create unpredictable or violent behavior.

Performance is characterized by forgetfulness, absenteeism, tardiness and missing assignments.

Opiates: Narcotic drugs that alleviate pain and depress body functions and reactions.

Opiates Health Effects

Intravenous Opiates users have a high risk of contracting hepatitis or AIDS when sharing needles.

Increased pain tolerance. As a result, a person may more severely injure themselves and fail to seek medical attention as needed.

Opiates Narcotic effects are multiplied when combined with other depressants causing an increased risk for an overdose.

Because of tolerance, there is an ever increasing need for more. Strong mental and physical dependency occurs.

With increased tolerance and dependency combined, there is a serious financial burden for the Opiates user.

Opiates Workplace Issues

Side effect such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, mental clouding and drowsiness place the Opiates user at high risk for an accident.

Causes impairment of physical and mental functions.

Since the drug alleviates the sensation of fatigue, it may be abused to increase alertness during periods of overtime or failure to get rest.

With heavy use or increasing fatigue, the short-term mental or physical enhancement reverses and becomes an impairment.

Methamphetamine: short-term mental or physical enhancement?

Central nervous system stimulant that speeds up the mind and body.

Regular Amphetamines use causes strong psychological dependency and increased tolerance.

High Amphetamines doses may cause toxic psychosis resembling schizophrenia.

Amphetamines Intoxication may induce a heart attack or stroke due to increased blood pressure.

Amphetamines Chronic use may cause heart or brain damage due to severe constriction of capillary blood vessels.

Euphoric stimulation increases impulsive and risk taking behavior, including bizarre and violent acts.

Withdrawal may result in severe physical and mental depression.

How does amphetamine work?

Not common in workplace primarily because of the severe disorientation that occurs.

There are four phases to PCP abuse:

• Acute toxicity causing combativeness, catatonia, convulsions, and coma. Distortions of size, shape, and distorted perception are common.
• Toxic psychosis with visual and auditory delusions, paranoia and agitation.
• Drug induced schizophrenia.
• Induced depression, which may create suicidal tendencies and mental dysfunction.

The potential for accidents and overdose emergencies is high due to the extreme mental effects combined with the anesthetic effect on the body.

PCP, when combined with other depressants, including alcohol, increases the possibility of an overdose.

If misdiagnosed as LSD induced, and treating with thorazine, can be fatal. Irreversible memory loss, personality changes, and thought disorders may result.

Often used as a large animal tranquilizer. Abused primarily for its mood altering effects. Low Phencyclidine (PCP) doses produce sedation and euphoric mood changes. Mood can rapidly change from sedation to excitation and agitation. Larger Phencyclidine (PCP) doses may produce a coma-like condition with muscle rigidity and a blank stare. Sudden noises or physical shocks may cause a "freak out" in which the person has abnormal strength, violent behavior, and an inability to speak or comprehend.