Drug FAQ

Smoking marijuana can irritate and damage lung tissue. Marijuana smoke contains many of the same toxins and irritants found in tobacco smoke, and regular smoking may contribute to coughing, mucus production and bronchitis symptoms. Marijuana can also temporarily increase heart rate and raise blood pressure after use. Researchers are continuing to study the long-term cardiovascular effects, but people with heart or lung conditions should discuss marijuana use with a qualified healthcare provider.

Yes. Marijuana can lead to cannabis use disorder, in which a person has difficulty stopping or controlling marijuana use even when it is causing problems with health, relationships, school or work. The CDC estimates that approximately 3 in 10 people who use cannabis develop cannabis use disorder. Risk is greater among people who begin using marijuana during adolescence and those who use it frequently. Warning signs can include cravings, needing more marijuana to achieve the same effect, unsuccessful attempts to quit and continuing to use despite negative consequences.

Arkansas has a medical marijuana program that allows qualifying registered patients to purchase and use medical marijuana under state rules. Patients must meet eligibility requirements and obtain an Arkansas medical marijuana registry card. However, medical availability does not mean marijuana is harmless. THC—the main chemical responsible for marijuana's intoxicating effects—can affect memory, attention, judgment, coordination and reaction time. The health risks can vary depending on a person's age, how frequently marijuana is used, the amount of THC involved and other health factors.

Yes. THC can pass from a pregnant person to a developing baby, and marijuana use during pregnancy may affect fetal development. Research has associated marijuana use during pregnancy with problems such as lower birth weight and possible effects on neurological development. THC can also pass through breast milk. In addition, secondhand marijuana smoke contains many of the same harmful chemicals found in tobacco smoke, and children exposed to marijuana smoke can absorb THC. Pregnant and breastfeeding women are generally advised to avoid cannabis use and discuss any questions with their healthcare provider.

The brain continues developing into a person's mid-20s, which makes marijuana use particularly concerning for teenagers and young adults. Marijuana use during adolescence may interfere with attention, memory, learning, problem-solving and coordination. Starting marijuana at a younger age and using it frequently are also associated with a greater risk of developing cannabis use disorder. For Arkansas parents, schools and communities, delaying or preventing marijuana use during the teenage years can be an important part of protecting healthy brain development.

THC affects areas of the brain involved in memory, learning, attention, decision-making, coordination, emotions and reaction time. Shortly after using marijuana, a person may have difficulty concentrating, remembering information, judging time or distance, making decisions or reacting quickly. Higher-THC products can produce stronger effects. These changes are especially important when someone is driving, operating equipment, working or performing activities that require concentration and good judgment.

You must be over 18 years old to apply for a medical marijuana card and to purchase marijuana legally with the card. 

Prescription opioids are powerful medications most often used to treat moderate to severe pain, such as pain after surgery, a serious injury, or certain medical conditions. Common prescription opioids include hydrocodone, oxycodone, morphine, codeine and fentanyl. Although these medications can be useful when medically appropriate, they also carry risks including dependence, addiction and overdose.

Opioids attach to special opioid receptors in the brain, spinal cord and other parts of the body. This reduces the brain's perception of pain. Opioids can also affect the brain's reward system and produce feelings of relaxation or euphoria. These effects can reinforce repeated use and contribute to the development of opioid use disorder in some people.

Along with relieving pain, prescription opioids can cause drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, nausea, constipation and sedation. One of their most dangerous effects is slowing breathing. At high enough doses, breathing can become dangerously slow or stop completely, reducing the amount of oxygen reaching the brain.

Yes. Anyone taking prescription opioids can develop physical dependence, tolerance or opioid use disorder, although these are not the same thing. Tolerance means more medication may be needed over time to produce the same effect. Physical dependence means the body has adapted to the medication and withdrawal symptoms may occur when it is stopped. Opioid use disorder involves a problematic pattern of opioid use that causes significant problems or distress.

Combining prescription opioids with substances that also cause drowsiness or slow the central nervous system can greatly increase the danger. This includes alcohol, benzodiazepines such as Xanax or Valium, sleep medications, muscle relaxers and other opioids. These combinations can increase sedation and make dangerously slowed breathing or overdose more likely.

An opioid overdose can cause a person to become unconscious or impossible to wake, breathe very slowly or stop breathing, make choking or gurgling sounds, develop discolored lips or nails, or have very small “pinpoint” pupils. An opioid overdose is a medical emergency. If an overdose is suspected, administer naloxone if available and call 911 immediately.

Naloxone is a medication that can rapidly reverse an opioid overdose. It works by blocking opioids from opioid receptors and can restore normal breathing when an overdose has caused breathing to slow or stop. Naloxone is commonly available as a nasal spray. It will not harm someone if it is given to them and they are not actually experiencing an opioid overdose. Emergency medical help is still necessary after naloxone is given.

Arkansas actively monitors controlled-substance prescriptions through the Arkansas Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (AR PDMP). The program records controlled prescriptions dispensed by Arkansas pharmacies and certain other dispensers and gives authorized healthcare professionals access to prescription histories to help promote safe prescribing and identify potential misuse. Prescription opioids such as hydrocodone and morphine are among the controlled medications monitored through the program.