On the other hand, marijuana use during pregnancy may be linked to low birth weight, although there is insufficient research in this area. The long-term effects of cannabis are less well understood due to a lack of research. Smoking cannabis can be rough on the lungs, and cannabis use can lead to addiction and substance use disorders. Cannabis can also affect brain development and brain aging, with some studies showing a link between long-term heavy cannabis use and decreased IQ points.
When comparing the effects of weed and alcohol on the body, it’s important to consider both the short-term and long-term consequences of their use. “How much you’re impaired depends on the person, and how much you smoke,” Baler said. Because some people are stoned a lot of the time, while others may use marijuana only on weekends, the health effects become difficult to generalize.
Weed Vs Alcohol: Which Substance Is More Harmful?
A study looking at cannabis use and intimate partner violence in the first decade of marriage found that marijuana users were significantly less likely to commit violence against a partner than those who did not use the drug. Men who used marijuana were the least likely to commit an act of intimate partner violence against a spouse. One paper in the journal Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology found that drug use was linked to a fivefold increase in violence, and the drug used was nearly always cannabis.
It is important to note that there is a lack of large-scale, long-term studies on the health effects of cannabis, especially in comparison to alcohol. This is partly due to federal restrictions on cannabis research and the relatively recent legalisation of cannabis in certain places. Long-term heavy drinking causes alterations in the neurons, such as reductions in their size. weed vs booze: is either one less harmful to your health Short-term effects include altered sensory perception, relaxation, and potential anxiety or paranoia at higher doses. Unlike alcohol, cannabis has no documented cases of fatal overdose from the substance alone.
Alcohol Vs Weed: Which Is Worse For Your Health?
Some experts suggest that alcohol addiction is more common and more life-destroying than cannabis use disorder. However, cannabis addiction is still a concern, and individuals can experience withdrawal symptoms when trying to stop using it. While weed may offer specific health benefits and is generally considered safer, it is not without risks. The act of smoking weed can be detrimental to lung health, and there is a potential for misuse and addiction. Furthermore, the long-term effects of daily edible consumption are still unknown, and regulation of these products varies. Alcohol’s short-term effects typically include feelings of relaxation, happiness, and increased sociability.
Cannabis Consumption Options
But people are less familiar with the effects of cannabis in general — and of cannabis beverages in particular. That’s compounded by the varied amounts, mixtures, and other ingredients different drinks may contain. The truth is that marijuana is widely used in a manner quite similar to alcohol.
How Addictive Is Alcohol Vs Weed?
The large January report found that cannabis is not connected to any increased risk of the lung cancers or head and neck cancers tied to smoking cigarettes. Close to half of all adults have tried marijuana at least once, making it one of the most widely used illegal drugs. Yet research suggests that a relatively small percentage of people become addicted. Last year, more than 30,000 people died from alcohol-induced causes in the US – and that does not count drinking-related accidents or homicides. If those deaths were included, the number would be closer to 90,000, according to the CDC. Of course, while it has many medical and other benefits, not everything is perfect with using marijuana.
Is there a ‘safe’ amount of alcohol?
Heavy drinking can also take a toll on the cardiovascular system, increasing the risk of heart disease and negatively impacting blood pressure. Marijuana use, on the other hand, can alter a person’s sense of time, induce paranoia and panic attacks, impair motor skills, and slow reflexes and coordination. Studies have found that drivers under the influence of marijuana are more likely to drive slowly and are still at an increased risk of causing accidents. The combination of alcohol and marijuana has been shown to have worse consequences than the use of either substance alone, with significantly increased risks of crashes and injuries.
- However, cannabis can still be harmful, particularly when overconsumed or misused.
- Anyone choosing to use cannabis must be mindful of their state’s current laws and the continuing federal prohibition, whereas alcohol laws are more straightforward (mainly, age and behavior restrictions).
- According to a 2022 report sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, adults ages 35 to 50 are turning to alcohol and marijuana at record levels.
- The chronic use of either substance carries health risks, but their profiles differ substantially in severity and organ systems affected.
- While there is limited research on the long-term consequences of cannabis use, particularly in the context of evolving legality, alcohol’s negative short- and long-term health effects are well-documented.
- But despite eating over 600 extra calories when smoking, marijuana users don’t – on the whole – have higher BMIs.
Binge drinking is when blood alcohol levels exceed 0.08%, which is about 4 drinks for women and 5 drinks for men in a single sitting. Heavy drinking is defined as more than 15 drinks per week for men and 8 drinks per week for women. The CDC estimates that the cost of excessive drinking in the US surpasses $249 billion every year.
- For weed users, psychosis and schizophrenia are the main concern; with booze, it’s depression and anxiety.
- While alcohol is usually fully metabolized within four to eight hours, edibles don’t even start to peak until four hours after you eat them, and effects can last for as long as 12 hours.
- Chronic alcohol use can lead to liver diseases such as fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, and cirrhosis, gastritis and pancreatitis.
- There are a few ways to stop drinking alcohol, and marijuana management is one of them.
Still, James Nicholls, a director at Alcohol Research UK, told The Guardian that those findings should be taken with a grain of salt since “any protective effects tend to be cancelled out by even occasional bouts of heavier drinking”. Of those who had tried marijuana at least once, roughly 9 percent eventually fit a diagnosis of addiction. To put that in perspective, the addiction rate for cocaine was 17 percent, while heroin was 23 percent and nicotine was 32 percent. Free availability plays an important role here, Since alcohol is available freely everywhere and anyone can easily access it around the world, It makes it more addictive. However marijuana is getting popularity now and it will soon be available freely.
On the surface, cannabis appears to be safer, but there’s simply not enough evidence to declare a winner. Cannabis addiction is surprisingly common, however, according to a 2015 study. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), 28.9 million people ages 12 and up in the United States live with it. Both can also leave you feeling a bit worse for wear the next day, though this is more likely to happen with alcohol. Getting drunk or high can feel similar to some people, while others describe the sensations as very different.
Alcohol’s Long-Term Health Risks
Drink Less Campaign
Both substances can lead to dependency, but their addiction profiles differ significantly. “Anyone can be affected by substance use, but if you have a family member who has schizophrenia or psychosis, it can be particularly risky,” he says. Stanford complies with all applicable civil rights laws and does not engage in illegal preferences or discrimination.
