Since way back then, there has always been a controversial debate about the legality of Marijuana, where one opposes the medical benefit utilization in the controversy of the diverse costs from Marijuana effect. Marijuana could be classified in different categories of drugs in which the intention lies to the user. Marijuana was found to be useful in therapeutic patients suffering from severe health problem conditions. A wide range of medical purposes are effectively useful with Marijuana intake, such as treating a patient with a Neuropathic Pain caused by the nerve damage, Spasticity, Glaucoma, & Movement Disorder (NORML, 2008). In the further studies of effectiveness in Cannabis, scientists suggested Marijuana as the chief stimulant drugs to enhance appetite in patients suffering from HIV, AIDS wasting syndrome, and Dementia (NORML, 2008). The greatest findings of Marijuana use in medicinal term are as for anti-nausea in cancer chemotherapy and as a treatment for depression and mood disorders in Alzheimer's patient (NORML, 2008).
Marijuana contains the THC (Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) chemical, in which a minimum of 20 number active ingredients within (Lewis, 2006). THC chemicals stay for a long period of time inside the fat molecules of human system, thus active smokers may have problem in the status of their fertility (Lewis, 2006). Apparently inside human sperms are attached the cannabinoid receptors as it naturally named as the Anandamide in which it stimulates and triggers the cannabinoid receptors in the brain and other human organs not excluding the sex organ (Lewis, 2006). Biologically evidence based plays significant role in the reproduction of natural cannabinoids in human. The increased load of cannabinoids in people who abuse marijuana could overflow natural endocannabinoid-signal systems in reproductive organs and negatively impact fertility (NORML, 2008).
Due to the presence of active cannabinoid receptors inside the human sperm, studies have been done in further details about the cause of unusual infertility among men and women, it was suggested in which the THC chemicals produce higher tendency of hazarding male reproduction system rather than female (Lewis, 2006). Even the chances of female being infertile by an excessive use of Marijuana, cannabinoid receptors are also found in female reproductive system, in the intense level continuation of marijuana use, small amount of THC is concealed in the vaginal fluid (University of Buffalo, 2003). During the process of conceiving when the sperm comes into contact with THC, the drug soaks the sperm changing it into over stimulated (University of Buffalo, 2003).
In contrary to the female relationship reproduction system and Marijuana, the case is more advanced in male’s reproduction system. Sperm in Marijuana smokers moves too fast and too early in term of the wrong timing and the incapability of reaching the egg inside the vaginal canal (University of Buffalo, 2003). Frequent Marijuana or Cannabis smokers tend to have a wrong timing of the burn-out before the fertilization inside the vaginal canal when the sperm is over stimulated and moving at slower pace before it gets in touch with the egg (University of Buffalo, 2003). When this phenomenon occurs, the probability of sperm and egg meeting up is at its modest phase, hence this may not be the possible reason of the sperm moving too fast and too early. The event of sperm being too fast and too early may caused by another occurrence in which the THC chemicals might be finding a way around the natural inhibition mechanism of fertilization (University of Buffalo, 2003).
Cannabis effect is various in some ways to the male fertility syndrome, another major outcome of frequent smokers is the existence of cannabises containing THC have greater impact on destroying the significant role of the sperm, which is the capability to absorb the egg's protective coat with enzymes to aid its penetration (BBC, 2004). THC substance inside Cannabis, if being exposed to male sperm will cause a dose dependent in the fertile sperm, as this is not the other consequences of smoking a pot (Lewis, 2006). Numerous studies have shown when the sperm is being exposed to high levels of THC would begin to swim in an abnormal fashion compared to those who do not do pot (BBC, 2004). Not only an abnormality of sperm swimming behavior does take into consideration, frequent smokers of cannabis do have greater prospects and likelihood of having a significant less seminal fluid as well as a sudden reduced in the number of the total sperm produced ( University of Buffalo, 2003).
What is not acknowledged by the scientists is how long does it takes for fertility to recover after people stop smoking the Marijuana. THC remains stored in fat for a long period, so the process may be quite slow, causing a low probability of the male reproduction system to have everything back to normal. Coffee perks up fertility levels, the caffeine contained within benefits up slow-moving sperm (British United Provident Association, 2003). Coffee boosts male fertility and Cannabis use may impair male fertility.
Among the strength of the alcohol article is it reviews the alcohol consumption from the low, moderate, and heavy use of it based on the research that has been done. The fertility researcher has done the study on the different level of alcohol consumptions. In addition, the categorization in level of alcohol consumption made us to be aware on how it is going to benefit our society in decreasing the alcohol consumption from heavy to the low dose intake and finally free from it. Furthermore, the article addresses other factors such as one’s weight, age, and etcetera may have an impact on one’s fertility other than alcohol consumption. Even though, it does not emphasize more about those factors, but this information would be helpful for people who is in the exposure of alcohol intake or is planning to take alcohol. Last but not least, the article gives numbers as a statistic review for the sake of evidence from some countries in the world, such as United States, Canada, and the list goes on. Meanwhile the strength of the marijuana article is that it gave us detailed information on how this drug can affect human fertility. Specifically, the THC component of the drug is found to be the cause of male infertility as it disrupts the spermatozoa.
The weakness of the alcohol article focuses a lot of negative consequences on females than males. It does not focus more on males consequences. In fact, not only females can be suffered from infertility but males do too and in order to be succeed in conceiving, the fertility of reproduction system from two sides (woman and man) is necessary to be fulfilled. Besides that, support group AA (Alcoholic Anonymous) is mentioned as the only recovery program and does not state any other programs that would be helpful for society today. The phenomenon of alcohol being as a habit in social life term, hence it seems harder to differentiate between social drinkers and alcoholics. Still, it wont get any easier to admit a condition of being an alcoholic in one’s individual, thus social support program, such as outing rehabilitation would help them directly. Moreover, the articles do not really state some of negative consequences in detail, such as numerous ovulatory dysfunctions. Then, a question of what kind of dysfunctions that one’s will suffer from the alcohol intake should be addressed on that example. The detail information is needed in order to benefit society, especially their knowledge to the dangerous of alcohol intake in daily-life.
Initially, what we had in mind on the effects of drugs on human being are fatality, brain damage, physiological and psychological damage. We only know that alcohol and marijuana will not affect human fertility and those hardcore drugs such as heroin and LSD only can cause infertility. After the research, it opened our eyes and realizes that all drugs will affect human fertility regardless which drugs are taken. Other than that, we have now identified the chemical component in the drugs that is responsible for this phenomenon. This information impact us in some ways.
Throughout the course of completing this paper, our knowledge has expanded on the effect on drugs (licit or illicit) overall on infertility. Nowadays, many young adults are not aware about the effect of the common licit drugs such as alcohol and marijuana which is even if taken in the small dose would affect one’s ability to have offspring. The other thing would be the mother who is pregnant and consume a small dose of drug would affect the baby’s fertility in the future (Ramlau-Hensen, 2007). As for marijuana, THC chemical stays in the fat molecules for a long period of the time which might affect the fertility too.
As for emotionally, we sympathize for those who are consuming drugs without many exposures to the knowledge about the negative effects of it on their fertility system. The long exposure to drugs would bring a lot of pain to the people who take the drugs and the close people. Now we know that one’s body will respond differently on the exposure to the drugs due to gender, age, weight, and so on. As we know that any drugs that we take, will build tolerance to our body system that makes our body craving for the availability of drugs and in some point we could hurt our physical body.
In relation to the social environment, for example media, peer preasure, family factor has big influence on today’s society. By identifying this factor, we can come up with the intervention on improving this issue. Firstly, media is the main factor in this aspect. Media, such as advertisement, movies, and many more could be reflected on how a man is a “real” man if they consume alcohol or describing alcohol consumption as a premium drink. Secondly, a bad influence that comes from the peer. The negative pressure from the peers, especially in the close community, makes someone hardly to refuse on their offer to take drugs. The other factor is the family support, in which some of substance abuser may have parents who took drugs before or being neglected. It is very important that there is a good relationship and communication among the family members and parents should be good role models.
We know that almost all religions do not allow all the spirituality people to consume alcohol as well as illicit drug, such as marijuana, due to the tolerance and dependent effect on the body. Some religions allow minimum dose of alcohol intake, yet due to the tolerance of the human body system, the intake dose will increase over time and in turn will affect the person’s fertility. For that reason, some religion forbids drugs consumption as in the spirituality’s perspective.
The impact of this topic is very significant and inter-correlated to each other like the ripple effect on the society. It starts with the micro level and up to the macro level. When a person started drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana there is a possibility that they build the tolerance and dependence on the drugs. As a result, drugs taking behavior may become a habit and a lifestyle of a person. Once this happen, the possibility of an individual to have an offspring will decrease and therefore it will cause the reduction of the population in the future.
Human population plays a very important role as it makes the world go round. Imagine if the number of human population who is alcohol and marijuana dependent increase each year. There is a high chance that in fifty years time the human population will decrease and with less young people in this world there will be less people who will work in contributing the economics in the future. Higher number of infertility cases may just cause human extinction and would impact human in social aspect. However, this would happen in an extreme case.
There are numerous ways where this issue can be improved. One of the ways is through medical breakthrough where substance abuser can undergo in vitro procedure to conceive a child. Another way which is very important is that to support the substance abuser to refrain from abusing the substance such as Alcoholic Anonymous group support. In addition to that, family is the key player in helping the substance abuser to quit. Family can give their support to the substance abuser to motivate them and to make them realize that their family cares (Micheal’s House, 2008). It is also wise to go the rehabilitation where they can monitor the substance abuser and can help them systematically according to evidence based practices such as alcohol rehab and marijuana rehab centers (Micheal’s House, 2008). As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure so another action to be taken is to educate people about this issue as not many people are aware of this. The government should also regulate a new policy regarding this issue for example completely ban alcohol and diminish marijuana, alcohol as well as other drugs.
In conclusion, alcohol and marijuana are among the most common drugs due to its availability. It is undeniable that people do know about the negative side effects of the drugs however not many would have thought that this may affect their own future generations. Our recommendation is to educate people about this issue. People are well educated with the motion of drugs cause death but they are not educated on the fact that they might not be able to have their own child. We believe that this will impact individuals as most people dream to have a family one day.
References
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British United Provident Association. (2003). Could Coffee Boost Sperm. Retrieved February 20, 2009 from the world wide web :
Division of Alcohol and Drugs Abuse. (2000). ADA Facts : Women and Alcohol. Retrieved February 20, 2009 from the world wide web : therightmix.gov.au/pdfs/WomensHealth.pdf
Family Doctor. (2006). Health Information for the Whole Family : What is Infertility. Retrieved February 17, 2009 from the world wide web :
Levinthal, C. F. (2008). Drugs Behaviour and Modern Society. United States : Pearson Education.
Lewis, S. E. M. (2006). Substance Abuse : Effects of Delta – 9 – Tetrahydrocannabinol on Human Sperm Function. Fertility Weekly, 2, 10 – 11. Retrieved February 20, 2009 from EBSCO database.
Micheal's House. (2008). Helping a Family Member Overcome Substance Abuse. Retrieved February 25, 2009, from http://www.michaelshouse.com/substance-abuse/help-family-substance-abuse.html
NORML. (2008). Working to reform marijuana laws : Medical Use. Retrieved February 20, 2009 from the world wide web :
Ramlau-Hansen, C. (2007). Women Who Smoke in Pregnancy May Effect Sons' Future Fertility. Retrieved February 25, 2009, from EBSCO database.
University of Buffalo. (2003). Sperm From Marijuana Smokers Move Too Fast Too Early, Impairing Fertility, UB Research Shows. Retrieved February 20, 2009 from the world wide web :