usa drug test » Drugs Marijuana

Marijuana: the Harmful Impacts and the Testing Methods

UsaDrugTest — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 10:10:38 +0000

Marijuana is one of the commonly used illegal drugs. Marijuana is made from the plant called Cannabis sativa. There is a chemical called “delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol” or “THC” in the drug. This THC is the chemical that makes the person using the drug to feel high. The consumption of marijuana is usually done through smoking.

Impacts of marijuana: Marijuana has a very negative impact on the human beings. It has its effect on the human beings both physically and mentally.

Effects on brain

· Marijuana is a very powerful drug that initially causes pleasure. Its consumption then affects the brain cells that control the thinking, emotions, mood and the memory. The drug even has its effects on the pituitary gland and thereby regulates hunger, thirst and the release of sexual hormones.

· The drug has its effect on the synapses i.e. the brain connections and there by cause the person to get addicted to the drug.

· Long term use of the drug can even cause the brain to stop producing the chemicals which will be responsible for making the person feel good and then the person gets chemically addicted to the drug.

The types of tests for marijuana: There are different types of tests for detecting consumption of marijuana in the human body. They are

· Hair testing: The detection of marijuana consumption can be done by testing the hair. At the roots of the hair, it shows the symptoms of marijuana consumption. The marijuana can be detected from through the hair test even after fifty to ninety days.

· Blood testing: The blood test is a costly test for detecting the marijuana consumption which could be a long procedure which may last for about four to six days.

· Saliva drug testing: This method is a short-term procedure that can detect the consumption of marijuana that has been used recently. Detection of marijuana can be detected in a person’s saliva 1 hour after ingestion, up to 14 hours.

· Urine drug testing: The detection of the marijuana consumption by testing the urine sample is one of the inexpensive ways of detecting the presence of marijuana in the human body. Marijuana can be detected even after five to six days of consumption through the urine test.

The Impact of Marijuana Abuse on Driving

UsaDrugTest — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 08:58:22 +0000

Driving is a complex psychomotor task, which requires cognitive and psychomotor abilities apart from efficient driving skills. These abilities get affected due to intoxication of substances like drugs and alcohol, which are likely to result in road accidents. This is comparatively high in case of drugs like marijuana. The primary impact of marijuana abuse is diminished psychomotor performance.

Does it impact?

There were many tests conducted on the impact of marijuana on driving of the abused. The results of almost all these tests reported that marijuana abuse has ample potential to diminish the psychomotor abilities as well as result in damage of other crucial capabilities like distorting perceptions, impairing judgment, decreasing concentration, etc. Thus, the abused gets impaired of his natural ability in performing multiple and interactive tasks and becomes inefficient to accomplish complex tasks like driving.

How does it impact?

Marijuana contains highly potent psychoactive substance called THC. When marijuana is ingested, this substance enters into the blood stream and then is distributed to all the organs of the body, including brain. The THC and other chemicals of marijuana stimulate cannabinoid receptors in cell membranes of the brain. Cannabinoid receptors influence several mental and physical activities like short-term memory, coordination, and psychomotor abilities.

The effects of marijuana abuse can last for up to 24 hours in case of smoking. These effects are found to turn more adverse when marijuana is ingested along with alcohol. After the ingestion of marijuana, it makes the abused to delay his regular response to sights and sounds. It impairs or impediments his regular eye and hand coordination. It decreases his concentration levels and ability to keep track of moving objects. As all these abilities are crucial in proper driving, a person impaired of them is unfit to drive.

Though driving is a routine task carried out everyday by many people, it is still a privilege. Marijuana abuse is found to impact the driving of the abused. Thus, it is important to take precautions, and to make sure family members or friends are not abused before letting them take the privilege of driving.