Alcohol / Question
Published: May 22, 2003
Dear TeenHealthFX,
I smoke weed a lot and everyone always tells me that it is bad for you and it can cause lots of damage to your body!! What my question is how come cigarettes and alcohol are legal and they do worse to your body? Also is it bad if my baby was conceived under the influence of alcohol and marijuana?
Signed: Bad If Baby Conceived Under Influence Of Alcohol & Marijuana?
Dear Bad If Baby Conceived Under Influence Of Alcohol & Marijuana?,
All these substances - alcohol, marijuana and cigarettes - can have harmful effects on an unborn child, and additionally, second-hand smoke can be very harmful to the health of a newborn. TeenHealthFX answered a question - What Is FAS? (fetal alcohol syndrome) that details what can happen to children whose mother's drink during pregnancy.
For information on the effects of weed on your body, read the answer to High Times. It is true that marijuana can have adverse effects on your health. However, you raise a good point - alcohol and cigarettes can be very unhealthy too, and they are legal. We can understand how this seems arbitrary. You might try doing an Internet search on the history of marijuana to find out more about how it came to be illegal. In any case, marijuana, alcohol, and cigarettes can all be harmful to your health.
As for your baby being conceived under the influence of alcohol and marijuana, the most important thing, if you are still pregnant, is that your baby receives proper prenatal care. You should be seeing a doctor regularly until you give birth, and completely abstaining from drugs, alcohol and cigarettes for the length of your pregnancy. If you don't have a doctor and live in northern New Jersey, you can call the Adolescent/Young Adult Center for Health at 973.971.6475. If you live outside of this area, you can call your local Planned Parenthood.
If you find it is difficult for you to stop smoking weed or drinking, you can get in touch with your local Alateen group, or call Marijuana Anonymous at 1.800.766.6779. Right now, it is most important that you focus on the health of your baby.
Signed: TeenHealthFX
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