Using Multiple Drugs & Comparing Drugs / Question
Published: January 21, 2004
Dear TeenHealthFX,
which is healthier on your body, smoking marijuana or drinking alocoholic beverages?
Signed: Which Is Healthier - Pot Or Alcohol?
Dear Which Is Healthier - Pot Or Alcohol?,
Both alcohol and marijuana have negative affects on your health.
Drinking too much alcohol at one time can lead to brain injury and even death. Drinking frequently can lead to alcohol abuse or addiction, which can cause many health problems, including weakening the immune system, damaging the liver, and destruction of brain cells.
People tend to think of pot as less physically addictive than alcohol, but as you can see from some of the questions on this site - such as "Smoking Cannabis - Can't Stop" and "How Can I Stop Using Marijuana" - it can be a hard drug to quit as well. Smoking pot is also dangerous for your lungs, and can cause decreased mental abilities and burnt out brain cells, increased tolerance (requiring more of the drug to get you high) and decreased sexual performance.
The leading cause of death among teenagers is driving after drinking alcohol. Smoking pot can also decrease reaction time and cause car accidents. Because they lower inhibitions and affect judgment, both drugs can lead to lots of other bad decisions, such as having unsafe sex.
In most states, alcohol is illegal if you are under 21. Pot is illegal no matter what your age. Not only does that make it a crime to possess pot, but it means the drug is not regulated and you do not always know what you are getting when you smoke it.
You are risking damage to your health whenever you use any drug, and if you use it often enough you could eventually be at risk for addiction.
Signed: TeenHealthFX
Homicide is the second leading cause of death among 15- to 24-year-olds overall. 
