Marijuana-Related ER Visits Dramatically Rise

Marijuana has often been viewed as one of the milder illicit drugs, but new data from the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) shows that the increased potency of the drug has left many Americans getting more than they bargained for.

Released last week by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the 2002 DAWN survey showed a dramatic increase in marijuana-related emergency room visits.  Overall incidents showed a 24 percent increase in the last two years.  Though in past most of these incidents included a mixture of drugs being reported, the number of ER visits for only marijuana rose 45 percent.

In the SAMHSA release John Walters, White House Director of National Drug Control Policy said, "This report proves that marijuana is more harmful than many people think."  Walters continued to say, "The rising levels of marijuana potency that we've seen over the last several years correspond with dramatic increase in people seeking emergency medical care for marijuana-related incidents."

Dating back even further, the number of marijuana mentions in hospital emergency rooms has more than doubled since 1995.  Despite this overwhelming data, there are still those people and groups that are pro marijuana legalization.

What these advocates fail to mention is the truth about what the drug actually does to a person, such as damaging the lungs, nerves and brain.  There are over 400 chemicals found in marijuana smoke and 60 of them have been proven to cause cancer.  Marijuana contains the neurotoxin THC, which is a poison that affects the brain and nerves.  When someone smokes pot, two things happen two them: 1) There is an almost immediate burn-up of vitamins and minerals in the body. 2) The nerves in the body go numb. 

These to things happen every time someone takes the drug and it causes that person's health to steadily decrease.  A person's tolerance to the drug also builds and eventually the person has to smoke pot almost continuously just to feel somewhat normal because they have caused so much damage to themselves. 

Marijuana's negative effects also last well beyond the initial use.  THC is lipophilic, meaning the chemical is fat-bonding and gets stored inside a person's body for weeks, months and even years after use ceases. 

American author and humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard did extensive research in the field of drug use and rehabilitation and discovered that the stored drug particles can be released back into the bloodstream at later periods and continue to cause further damage and drug cravings.  In his research, Hubbard also developed a dry-heat sauna detoxification program that is totally drug-free and rids the body of the old drug residues and restores health.  This highly effective method of detoxification is used at Narconon® drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers around the world.

To get help for a loved one battling drug addiction or to find out more about the Narconon program, contact Narconon Arrowhead at 1-800-468-6933 or visit www.marijuanaaddiction.com today.

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