Teaching about Marijuana & the Brain VACALC Workshop 3-6-2012 Adrienne Keller [ Susie Bruce ] University of Virgini

1. Teaching about Marijuana & the Brain VACALC Workshop 3-6-2012 Adrienne Keller [Susie Bruce] University of Virginia

2. Primary Goals • Share some of what we teach our ADAPT students • Share some of the best web resources we’ve found – watch for the mice! • Caveat: We take several 75 minute long classes to cover this material.

3. Before the classes on marijuana, we have already covered THE BRAIN!

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5. Cortex Limbic system Brain stem

6. Brain Functioning: It’s all about communication

7. Dense Pathways in the Brain hyperlink

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10. Neurotransmitters • natural chemicals associated with emotions • Over 100 chemicals in combinations • Some important ones for response to drugs • Endorphins/ Enkephalins • Serotonin • Norepinephrine • Dopamine • Acetylcholine

11. Neurotransmitters can be… hyperlink Excitatory Inhibitory

12. How neurons excite and inhibit each other… hyperlink

13. Effect of “Exogenous” Drugs on Neurons • Neurons stop production of the natural neurotransmitter • As the body breaks down chemicals from drug, there are no natural chemicals to replace them • Crash/Craving

14. What is drug addiction? • a chronic, relapsing brain disease that affects: • Brain structure • How the brain works • characterized by: • compulsive drug seeking • use, despite harmful consequences • harmful behaviors

15. hyperlink What do mice know?

16. For more specifics in words: http://science-education.nih.gov/supplements/nih2/addiction/guide/lesson3-1.htm Illustration of cocaine’s effect on dopamine transport: http://science-education.nih.gov/supplements/nih2/addiction/activities/lesson3_cocaine.htm

17. hyperlink Pathways to the Brain

19. "Drug addiction is a brain disease that can be treated." Nora D. Volkow, M.D., DirectorNational Institute on Drug Abuse

20. With that background, we’re then ready to tackle Marijuana & the brain

22. Early Prevention Efforts

24. Marijuana History • One of the oldest cultivated plants • In the U.S. since 1720 for: rope, twine, sail cloth, oil for soap & paint • 1937 Marijuana Tax Act • 1950s & 60s “Beatnik” &“hippie” cultures • 1970 Controlled Substances Act: • Marijuana is Schedule 1 drug • 1972 Isolated psychoactive chemical • 1978 Science: cannabis is addictive

26. Marijuana: • Cannibas sativa • Genus is cannibas; species is sativa • Native to Asia • Used for centuries for fiber (hemp), herbal remedies and for their psychoactive properties. • Psychoactive substance is a cannabinoid: tetra/hydro/canna/binol (THC) tetrahydrocannabinol

27. 61 Cannabinoids Aldehydes Phenols Carcinogens Carbon monoxide 50-70% more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than tobacco What’s in marijuana smoke? Courtesy of Linda Hancock, VCU & NIDA Research Report

28. Comparison of RISK CIGARETTESMARIJUANA More consumed Less consumed Usually filtered Often unfiltered Less tar More Tar (more oil) 3-4 joints per day are as damaging as 15-20 cigarettes per day. Courtesy of Linda Hancock, VCU

29. Pot Potency Increasing Due to selective breeding 1975 - 0.74% THC 2009 - 13.01% THC >10 fold increase Higher risk for tolerance & addiction Potency Monitoring Project, Report 104, 2009: http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/publications/pdf/mpmp_report_104.pdf

31. Remember tetrahydrocannabinol? A closer look at THC

32. THC IS FAT SOLUBLE… So what?

33. THC penetrates every cell in the body.

34. THC

35. THC accumulates

36. THC accumulates in cell membranes

37. THC accumulates in cell membranes with regular use

38. Our bodies make natural cannabinoids: • Most important is anandamide • Affects many mental & physical processes • Memory and perception • Fine motor coordination • Pain sensation • Immunity to disease • Reproduction

39. Source: http://cannagraphic.com/cannabis/effects-of-marijuana-on-the-brain-infographic/

41. Common student questions: • Does marijuana cause short term impairment? • Does marijuana cause lingering impairment? • Are there long term effects from using marijuana? • Is marijuana addictive? • Can I beat the pee test?

42. CAUTIONS about the Research • Mainly animal studies. (Huge doses are used compared to doses used in young adults.) • Human studies primarily focus on healthy youth and short term effects. • Very few long term effect studies exist. • Research subjects often used other drugs in addition to marijuana. • This is a topic laden with emotion and political agendas. Courtesy of Linda Hancock, VCU

43. Time distortion • Trouble shifting attention • Impaired short-term memory • Lower verbal IQ • Impaired executive functioning

44. Similar to Brain Damageto Prefrontal Lobe

45. Short-term typical impairment is roughly equal to a .08 BAC In roadside sobriety tests • 90 min. after smoking, 94% failed • 2.5 hrs. after smoking, 60% failed

46. Airline pilots using flight simulators… • Skills needed to fly safely remained seriously impaired 24 hours later • But only 1 in 7 recognized the continued impairment.

47. Marijuana and Car Crashes Cannabis use is associated with a 3X greater risk of being responsible for a fatal crash. As # of joints smoked goes up, likelihood of causing a fatal crash increases

48. Cognitive impairment can last at least 28 days after stopping use • Very heavy users:  impairment than light users • Average use = 4.8 years • Average age = 22 years • Cognitive deficits after 28 days abstinence: • verbal and visual memory, • visual perception • psychomotor speed, • manual dexterity • executive functioning Jill Schlabig Williams, NIDA Notes, Vol. 18, #5

49. Long-term Effects • A study of 450 people found that people who smoke marijuana frequently but do not smoke tobacco • have more health problems • miss more days of work than nonsmokers • marijuana smoking doubles or triples the risk of developing cancer of the head or neck NIDA Research Report

50. hyperlink Does marijuana affect brain structure? An expert opinion