Alcohol is a depressant that alters the transmission of messages between the brain and the rest of the body. It is a by-product of fermentation after a sugar, fruit or vegetable is acted on by bacteria/yeast. It is the main recreational drug in Australia, meaning that people indulge in alcohol consumption for enjoyment purposes only, especially in social events and gatherings such as parties and clubbing.
There is a lot of advocacy on the dangerous effects of alcohol and cannabis use. The term ‘dangerous’ in this context is in relation to normal body functioning, which is disrupted by the use of these drugs. Dangerous effects of alcohol and cannabis form the basis for discussion of this paper.
In a study by Dietze et al. (2009), death and hospitalisations were highlighted as the effects of alcohol. It is surprising that this is the first study in as far as alcohol-attributable harm in Australia is concerned. I would expect to find numerous studies on alcohol since it is usually a topic of concern in the contemporary society; the social media, schools, policy makers never fail to mention alcohol in at least one occasions during the day.
However, it may be because of the very same reasons that little research has been conducted. The fact that alcohol consumption, either in moderation or binge drinking, is deemed a normal occurrence in day to day life could be a reason for this. In addition, cooperation from participants, who are mainly drunkards, is not guaranteed. Other effects of alcohol, according to Korsmeyer & Kranzler (2009), include an array of neurological disorders, poor nutrition and systemic damage.
The same is true for cannabis. It is the most commonly used illegal drug in the world. Karch (2006) points out that in 2003, 161 million people used it, and 46% of 101 states reported an increasing trend in its usage. There are associations made between the use of cannabis and cardiovascular diseases (Swift, Copeland, & Lenton, 2000).
However, little research has been conducted on this, especially in Australia. The study by Karch (2006) indicates that only in vitro animal experiments have been conducted. Human case studies are not valid due to confounding factors like underlying chronic medical conditions and/or cigarette smoking.
There is minimal difference in effects between alcohol and cannabis on a face evaluation. The prevailing research concurs with Barack Obama’s statement that cannabis is no more dangerous than alcohol because each has its own share of detrimental effects. Both alcohol and cannabis have dangerous systemic effects which vary with regard to the affected body organ.
In conclusion, it is inarguable that each drug has its own share of the dangerous effects that affect the normal functioning of the body. When a person combines either two or more drugs, aggravated effects result. Unfortunately, there is a paucity of scientific evidence on the usage and effects of alcohol and cannabis.
References
Dietze, P., Jolley, D., Chikritzhs, T., Clemens, S., Catalano, P., & Stockwell, T. (2009). Income inequality and alcohol attributable harm in Australia. BMC Public Health, 9, P. 70. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-9-70.
Karch, S. (2006). Cannabis and Cardiotoxicity. Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology, 2(1), 13-18.
Korsmeyer, P., & Kranzler, H. (Eds.). (2009). Encylopedia of Drugs, Alcohol & Addictive Behavior. Detroit: Macmillan Reference.
Swift, W., Copeland, J., & Lenton, S. (2000). Cannabis and harm reduction. Drug and Alcohol Review, 19(1), 101-112.