How scientists rank drugs from most to least dangerous and why the rankings are flawed

While men and women were more concerned with alcohol consumption in relation to addiction, appearance, or health, the most pressing concern was public behavior, which they were only somewhat concerned about. While excessive drinking has been somewhat pacified on social media or even in real-life social settings, drinking can be deceptively dangerous, and binge drinking is particularly troubling. But how much does all of this information really tell policymakers or the public? It would matter if marijuana ends up substituting alcohol once pot is legalized (since a safer substance would be replacing a more dangerous one), but the research on that is still early. Although drug policy experts generally don’t dispute the assertion that alcohol is more dangerous than pot, the study, led by British researcher David Nutt, is quite controversial. Experts see the rankings as deeply flawed, largely because they present the harms that come from drugs in a rather crude, one-dimensional manner.

Avoiding “truth”: Tobacco industry promotion of life skills training

The way they make what percentage of violent crimes involve alcohol you feel may make them seem similar but their impact on your body and any lasting damage are not remotely the same. Sian Ferguson is a freelance health and cannabis writer based in Cape Town, South Africa. She’s passionate about empowering readers to take care of their mental and physical health through science-based, empathetically delivered information. The immediate effects of weed can vary quite a bit from person to person. Getting drunk or high can feel similar to some people, while others describe the sensations as very different.

Another person might not have any issues with misusing alcohol but still find it hard to function without weed. Weed may appear to be safer than alcohol simply because we aren’t yet aware of certain risks. Heavy drug use is never ideal — and marijuana is no different in this regard. Similarly, people were more likely to go to work after consuming marijuana compared to alcohol, and they were more likely to have sex under the same circumstances. Explore a variety of health care news & stories by visiting the Health Lab home page for more articles.

It can cause mood swings and we’re all familiar with people who are “angry drunks.” The impact of alcohol can vary based on how much you’re using and how your body interacts with it. Some people may consider both substances similar because of how they make you feel. People attribute it to be a social lubricant that allows people to stave off social anxiety and be more outgoing and talkative. Speaking of, let’s examine the addictive tendencies of these substances.

While the death toll may not be the same, the effect on drivers has been sufficiently observed. It’s illegal to drive under the influence of cannabis or alcohol. While, due to alcohol being legal for decades and drunk driving being illegal for a significant amount of time the law has preset blood alcohol levels to dictate how much alcohol is too much in your system while driving.

1. While it’s not clear whether marijuana’s role with these outcomes is cause-and-effect, experts generally agree that people younger than their mid-20s should avoid pot.
2. Euphoric effects generally kick in within the first 10 to 15 minutes and are correlated with transient changes in the brain’s electroencephalographic activity (EEG) activity.
3. Cannabis can affect your ability to pay attention, memory, and decision-making.
4. From 1992 to 2022, the per capita rate of reporting daily or near-daily marijuana use increased 15-fold.
5. Admissions navigators are available 24/7 for a free and confidential conversation.
6. In fact, marijuana smoke may even be more harmful than tobacco because users hold the hot smoke in their lungs longer to maximize their high.

Cannabis use and later life outcomes

Get helpful tips and guidance for everything from fighting inflammation to finding the best diets for weight loss…from exercises to build a stronger core to advice on treating cataracts. PLUS, the latest news on medical advances and breakthroughs from Harvard Medical School experts. State laws vary on whether and where these drinks can be sold and on age restrictions. Cannabis is more likely to lead to a use disorder where you are habitually or are psychologically addicted to cannabis and want to use it.

Cannabis use and risk of psychotic or affective mental health outcomes: A systematic review

Along the lines of memory, recent studies have shown that adolescents who smoke marijuana may be at greater risk for problems with memory and learning later in life. The studies remain inconclusive about how much marijuana use causes impairments of learning and memory. However, studies have demonstrated that these types of changes in the brain may increase the risk of psychological difficulties later in life. In sheer numbers, of course, many more people still drink alcohol on occasion than use marijuana, which is now legal for recreational use in 24 states and Washington, DC, and for medical use in 38 states and DC. Chronic or excessive alcohol consumption is known to affect balance and disrupts normal walking patterns. This is because alcohol can damage parts of the brain responsible for coordination, including the cerebellum.

Does Alcohol Increase Dopamine?

You can choose not to drive—and remind your friends and family to do the same—after using cannabis. But it doesn’t seem like anyone is taking on this kind of approach — and Nutt’s style of analysis remains popular around the world. Although Nutt couldn’t get funding to do an analysis in the US or Canada, he said a similar study is being published later this year assessing drug use in several countries in Europe. The analysis may be flawed, but its simplicity and accessibility have won over many policy circles. All of this helps prove that marijuana isn’t totally harmless — and some of its risks are likely unknown. Alcohol’s effects on behavior can also lead to more crime, while marijuana use appears to have little-to-no effect.