Memory Function and Substance Abuse

Two substances have been manoeuvre to have major impacts on the ability, of an individual, to learn, recall, and retain information. The effects of these cardinal entry level medicines on retrospection argon significant. This opus will focus on the memory loss associated with earlier alcohol addiction and abuse and marihuana. Both, of these substances, have been shown to be utilize by large segments of the drug abusing public both only and in conjunction with other drugs.

The majority, of the drug users, today are already middle-aged adults. These individuals were born in the 1950s and sixties and have legal access to alcohol (Males & Docuyanan, 1996, p. 29). The number of clean hard-core drug users is declining. The number of teen heavy, hard-core drug and alcohol users is declining except for marijuana use (Males & Docuyanan, 1996, p. 29). The University of Michigan study, " observe the Future," has found use of marijuana has increased by triad percent in the teen-aged population (Males & Docuyanan, 1996, p. 29). Currently, in the United States, terzetto of the high school seniors admit to using marijuana at least once, during the historical year (Males & Docuyanan, 1996, p. 28). Approximately twelve-and-a-half percent of unitary-eighth grade students also admit to using marijuana at least one time, in the last year (Males & Docuyanan, 1996, p. 28). The teenage years are cru

Jernigan, T. L., & Ostergaard, A. L. (1995). When insobriety affects memory functions: MRI of the brain. Alcohol Health & Research World, 19(2), 104-107.

Males, M., & Docuyanan, F. (1996, May). The retrieve of refer madness. Progressive, 60, 26-29.

Memory function is only partially restored after(prenominal) six week from the individual's last exposure to marijuana (Marijuana, 1990, p. 930). Individuals give out that their memory problems are eliminated, after a period of quad to six weeks (Schwartz, Gruenewald, Klitzner, & Fedio, 1989, p. 1214). The individual's perception of memory and cognitive impairment is whitewash faulty at after six weeks of abstinence. Heavy marijuana usage causes selective short term memory deficits (Marijuana, 1990, p. 930).

The memory deficits are compounded if the marijuana is combined with phencyclidine, or health professional (Schwartz, Gruenewald, Klitzner, & Fedio, 1989, p. 1215). The potency of the marijuana being used has an affect on the amount of money of THC absorbed, by the individual, at each usage. The amount of THC in marijuana has increased from approximately one and on-half a percent in 1980 to an average of approximately septet percent in some preparations by the late eighties (Schwartz, Gruenewald, Klitzner, & Fedio, 1989, p. 1216). This means that a single joint has a importantly greater impact, on memory function, now than in past decades.

Both alcohol and marijuana have marked effects on the ability of an individual's brain to function at its round top efficiency. The effects of both of these readily available, generally perceived as safe drugs, are serious. The lasting affects on memory and cognitive function can seriously debilitate an individual's ability to transact at the individual's inherent ability level for tasks requiring sustained retention and formation of memories. The ability to form and access memory is lively to everyday functioning. Tasks from the simple remembering of names and faces, to the complex steganography ability ne
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