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Alcohol, tobacco and marijuana to cope with stress. Stress is defined as a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances. Methods of coping are ways in which individuals attempt to minimize these frustrations and learning how to tolerate stressors in life. Alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana are all common ways people tend to cope with stress. Alcohol and cannabis are both depressant drugs, while tobacco can act as both a depressant and a stimulant. All drugs have different interactions with the body and mind during times of adversity, and the effects of using drugs to cope with stress can potentially be damaging.

Alcohol as a coping strategy
Alcohol is a depressant, meaning it slows down the brain and central nervous system processes. In the short term, alcohol can actually act as a tool to aid relaxation. However, in the long term it can contribute to feelings of anxiety and depression. Although, Indulging in an occasional drink of alcohol isn't harmful if consumption is controlled. Studies have shown that drinking a glass of wine or two a day, depending on weight and tolerance, can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Alcohol and sleep
When alcohol is consumed near the time of sleeping, it is possible to fall into deep sleep, missing out on the first stage of sleep known as rapid eye movement, or REM, sleep, which is known as the dream stage. A sufficient amount of sleep typically consists of six to seven cycles of REM sleep. Ingesting alcoholic beverages prior to sleeping can potentially reduce the cycles of REM sleep to one to two. In addition, drinking can cause snoring during sleep, relaxing the tissue in the throat, mouth and nose, stopping air from flowing smoothly. It takes approximately 1 hour to process 1 unit of alcohol.

Drinking in athletes and adolescents
According to a recent survey, three-fourth's of 12th graders, over two-thirds of sophomores, and nearly two in five 8th graders have consumed alcohol and four in ten are current drinkers. Alcohol is the drug choice for America's youth. Drinking can lead to dehydration because alcohol causes the kidneys to increase their production of urine. Exercise requires high levels of sugar to provide energy but the liver cannot produce as much glucose as normal when the body is breaking down alcohol. If the liver isn't producing enough glucose, the body's performance will be negatively affected.

Tobacco as a coping strategy
More than 16 million Americans are living with a disease caused by smoking. For every person that dies of smoking, at least thirty live with a serious smoking-related illness. Tobacco is known to cause cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung disease, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Worldwide, tobacco use causes nearly 6 million deaths per year, and current trends show that tobacco use will cause more than 8 million deaths annually by 2030. In the United States, tobacco is responsible for more than 480,000 deaths per year, including 42,000 deaths resulting from second-hand exposure. Smoking is a known cause of erectile dysfunction in men, and on average, smokers die approximately ten years earlier than non-smokers.

Tobacco and stress
Smokers often report that smoking cigarettes help relive feelings. In contradiction, the stress levels of adults who smoke are slightly higher than those of non-smokers. Adolescent smokers report increasing levels of stress as they develop regular patterns of smoking, and smoking leads to less stress. Nicotine dependency seems to exacerbate stress. This is noticeable in the daily mood patterns described by smokers, with normal moods while smoking and worsening moods between cigarettes. The apparent relaxant effect of smoking only reflects the reversal of the tension and irritability they develop during nicotine depletion.

Marijuana statistics
Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States. Cannabis contains at least 60 different cannabinoids, which are chemical compounds that react on receptors throughout the brain. THC, also known as Tetrahydrocannabinol is the chemical responsible for the effects associated with marijuana use, including the euphoric high users chase. According to the United Nations, 158.8 million people use marijuana, which is 3.8% of the whole world's population.

The effects of marijuana on the mind and body
Neurons are cells that process information in the brain. Neurotransmitters allow neurons to communicate with each other. Neurotransmitters fill the gap, or synapse, between two neurons and bind two protein receptors, allowing various functions in the brain to be turned on and off. In the short-term, THC can mimic or block the actions of neurotransmitters and interfere with normal functions such as coordinators, problem solving, learning, appetite and short-term memory. Marijuana affects brain development. It reduces thinking ability, memory, learning functions, and affects how the brain builds connections between the areas necessary for these functions. Long-term marijuana use has been linked to mental illness, as well as anxiety, depression, temporary hallucinations, temporary hallucinations, temporary paranoia, and reported worsening symptoms in users with schizophrenia. As for the physical effects, marijuana increases heart-rate, enlarges breathing passages, enlarges blood vessels in the eyes, and dries the mouth. Marijuana smoking is commonly associated with airway inflammation, increases airway resistance, and hyperinflation of the lungs. Marijuana users also report more symptoms of chronic bronchitis than non-smokers. ===   Marijuana and stress === Medical marijuana advocates believe the chemical makeup of cannabis can be beneficial in treating anxiety, while others argue that can easily cause anxiety. Cannabidiol, or CBD, is the cannabis compound that has found to have significant benefits for treating people with anxiety. CBD rich cannabis can be used to treat patients seeking anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety, anti-pain,and anti-spasm effects. Animal studies suggest that CBD present in cannabis lessens anxiety and reduces the severity and frequency of seizures. Nevertheless, marijuana used as treatment for stress relies heavily on the appropriate dose. Most studies prove marijuana to help in reducing anxiety, however, some doctors and anti-drug advocates believe it can make anxiety worse. Some specialists believe marijuana seems to ease depression before the effects of the drug wear off, but may make depression worse in the long term.