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cognitive impairment (Harvey, 2019). “Nearly 1 in 5 people who begin marijuana use
during adolescence become addicted,” warned U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams
(Aubrey, 2019).
Attitudes toward marijuana use have changed remarkably — from 12 percent support
for legalizing marijuana in 1969 to 66 percent in 2019 (De Pinto, 2019; McCarthy, 2018).
Some countries and U.S. states have legalized marijuana possession. Greater legal accep-
tance may explain why rates of Americans who have tried marijuana rose dramatically
between 1969 and 2019, from 4 to 45 percent, with 12 percent saying they now smoke
marijuana (Gallup, 2019b).
* * *
Distributed by Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. Not for redistribution.
Despite their differences, the psychoactive drugs summarized in Table 1.3-3 share a com-
mon feature: They trigger changes to the brain and body that grow stronger with repetition.
This helps explain both tolerance and withdrawal.
Copyright © Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers.

TABLE 1.3-3 A Guide to Selected Psychoactive Drugs

Drug Type Pleasurable Effects Possible Negative Effects

Alcohol Depressant Initial high followed Depression, memory loss,
by relaxation and organ damage, impaired
disinhibition reactions

Heroin Depressant Rush of euphoria, Depressed physiology,
relief from pain loss of natural endorphin
function
Caffeine Stimulant Increased alertness Anxiety, restlessness, and
and wakefulness insomnia in high doses
Nicotine Stimulant Arousal and Heart disease, cancer
relaxation, sense of
well-being
Cocaine Stimulant Rush of euphoria, Cardiovascular stress,
confidence, energy suspiciousness, depressive
crash

Methamphetamine Stimulant Euphoria, alertness, Irritability, insomnia,
energy hypertension, seizures

Ecstasy Stimulant; mild Emotional elevation, Dehydration, overheating,
(methylenedioxy- hallucinogen disinhibition depressed mood, impaired
methamphetamine, cognitive and immune
MDMA) functioning
LSD (lysergic acid Hallucinogen Visual “trip” Risk of panic
diethylamide)
Marijuana (delta-9- Mild hallucinogen Enhanced sensation, Impaired learning and
tetrahydrocannabinol, relief of pain, distortion memory, increased risk of
THC) of time, relaxation psychological disorders

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