§tèvë

Feb 3, 08 - 1:13 PM

Gone to Pot?

Don’t be a dope – kick the cannabis habit. Here’s how

The damage: Short term
A sneaky spliff at an office party won't do your body too much harm – although it might not help your career – but one a day for a couple of weeks is enough to do physical damage: "Doing modest amounts of dope for two weeks solid would be likely to cause some memory impairment, which would pass," says Gavin Woodhall, a lecturer in Pharmacology at Aston University. "You'd really have to cane it to get psychosis, but cannabis does seem to trip vulnerable people into schizophrenia."

And you may have some fall-out to deal with; as with booze and most other drugs, you're more susceptible to lapses of judgment when under the influence. Researchers at the University of Birmingham discovered that 10% of people who smoked weed before or during sex were less likely to use a condom, putting them at risk of unwanted pregnancies or STDs.

The damage: Long term
The British Lung Foundation believes that smoking three or four unfiltered joints is as carcinogenic as 20 cigarettes. And a recent study published in the British Medical Journal suggested that smoking 50 or more joints (not in one go, obviously) makes you 6.7 times more likely to develop a psychotic disorder.

The comeback: Short term
If you're more Bill Clinton than George Clinton, nip your token toking in the bud and you'll walk away unscathed - although it will take a month for all the traces of THC (the drug's active ingredient) to leave your blood, urine and hair. Your body stores THC in fat cells, so there's no point trying to flush it out with water.

The comeback: Long term
If you've been bonging away like Big Ben since you had bumfluff on your chin, giving up is obviously your first step on the comeback trail. Any physical cravings are likely to be for nicotine . Get rid of your paraphernalia,too - so out with the bongs, pipes, ashtrays and Bob Marley posters.

To combat heart damage, up your fruit and veg intake: a 2001 study from the Harvard School of Public Health showed one extra portion a day cuts your risk of heart disease by 4%. As for your mind, "to reverse the damage, try taking fish oil supplements", says Woodhall. Your body should be clear of THC within a month, and you're also 100% more likely to stop finding Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back funny. Which can only be good news.

Rikki

Feb 5th, 2008 - 7:52 PM

Re: Gone to Pot?

Roflmao

Remember the days in years gone by when the most familiar greeting was "Stoned again Rikki?"

I have to say that I was a demon for the dreaded spliff, but, managed to give it up once and for all literally overnight without too much of a problem. And i used to smoke a lot... an awful lot... ridiculous amounts...

Having been dope free for almost 7 years now, I can only say that giving it up is not as scary as it sounds, and after a while, you don't even give it a second thought.

I may still have blonde moments, but I am no longer a Dope...lol...

chris the kiwi

Feb 7th, 2008 - 7:55 AM

Re: Gone to Pot?

got to agree with steve and rikki. you got to stop the dope thing .I spent many years giving up all sorts of drugs but couldn,t stop the weed .probably because it was more socially acceptable as well. but what a relief when I stopped , started thinking more clearly . have also recently given up coffee certain foods and exercising regularly .guys try it it fucken works . as long as we using these numbing behaviours drugs booze etc ,we keep putting the blame of our sexual abuse on ourselves . get clean put the fucken hurt we take on ourselves back to the people who deserve it . because they probably look after themselves quite nicely . kia ora brothers good to have a rant

Author	Comment
§tèvë Feb 3, 08 - 1:13 PM	Gone to Pot? Don’t be a dope – kick the cannabis habit. Here’s how The damage: Short term A sneaky spliff at an office party won't do your body too much harm – although it might not help your career – but one a day for a couple of weeks is enough to do physical damage: "Doing modest amounts of dope for two weeks solid would be likely to cause some memory impairment, which would pass," says Gavin Woodhall, a lecturer in Pharmacology at Aston University. "You'd really have to cane it to get psychosis, but cannabis does seem to trip vulnerable people into schizophrenia." And you may have some fall-out to deal with; as with booze and most other drugs, you're more susceptible to lapses of judgment when under the influence. Researchers at the University of Birmingham discovered that 10% of people who smoked weed before or during sex were less likely to use a condom, putting them at risk of unwanted pregnancies or STDs. The damage: Long term The British Lung Foundation believes that smoking three or four unfiltered joints is as carcinogenic as 20 cigarettes. And a recent study published in the British Medical Journal suggested that smoking 50 or more joints (not in one go, obviously) makes you 6.7 times more likely to develop a psychotic disorder. The comeback: Short term If you're more Bill Clinton than George Clinton, nip your token toking in the bud and you'll walk away unscathed - although it will take a month for all the traces of THC (the drug's active ingredient) to leave your blood, urine and hair. Your body stores THC in fat cells, so there's no point trying to flush it out with water. The comeback: Long term If you've been bonging away like Big Ben since you had bumfluff on your chin, giving up is obviously your first step on the comeback trail. Any physical cravings are likely to be for nicotine . Get rid of your paraphernalia,too - so out with the bongs, pipes, ashtrays and Bob Marley posters. To combat heart damage, up your fruit and veg intake: a 2001 study from the Harvard School of Public Health showed one extra portion a day cuts your risk of heart disease by 4%. As for your mind, "to reverse the damage, try taking fish oil supplements", says Woodhall. Your body should be clear of THC within a month, and you're also 100% more likely to stop finding Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back funny. Which can only be good news.
Rikki Feb 5th, 2008 - 7:52 PM	Re: Gone to Pot? Roflmao Remember the days in years gone by when the most familiar greeting was "Stoned again Rikki?" I have to say that I was a demon for the dreaded spliff, but, managed to give it up once and for all literally overnight without too much of a problem. And i used to smoke a lot... an awful lot... ridiculous amounts... Having been dope free for almost 7 years now, I can only say that giving it up is not as scary as it sounds, and after a while, you don't even give it a second thought. I may still have blonde moments, but I am no longer a Dope...lol...
chris the kiwi Feb 7th, 2008 - 7:55 AM	Re: Gone to Pot? got to agree with steve and rikki. you got to stop the dope thing .I spent many years giving up all sorts of drugs but couldn,t stop the weed .probably because it was more socially acceptable as well. but what a relief when I stopped , started thinking more clearly . have also recently given up coffee certain foods and exercising regularly .guys try it it fucken works . as long as we using these numbing behaviours drugs booze etc ,we keep putting the blame of our sexual abuse on ourselves . get clean put the fucken hurt we take on ourselves back to the people who deserve it . because they probably look after themselves quite nicely . kia ora brothers good to have a rant