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CCSU Counseling and
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Smoking any Substance
Raises Risk of Lung Infection Smoking any substance- tobacco, marijuana, or crack- increases a smoker's risk of developing bacterial pneumonia and other infections of the lungs, according to the findings of drug abuse, smoking and health and AIDS researchers. The researchers found that smoking either marijuana or tobacco produces significant damage to the cilia in the lining of the airways. Among smokers of both marijuana and tobacco, it appears that the effects of marijuana add to the effects of tobacco, and vice versa. "The damage to the ciliated cells in the lining of the airways caused by smoking tobacco and/or marijuana weakens the ability of the lungs to remove inhaled particles, making the lungs more vulnerable to infection," said Dr. Tashkin, a professor of medicine at the University of California at Los Angeles School of Medicine. A NIDA supported study found that HIV positive
Injecting Drug Users (IDUs) who smoked illicit drugs were almost twice as
likely to develop bacterial pneumonia as were their counterparts who did
not smoke illicit drugs. People with AIDS often die of pneumonia and other
lung problems, and smoking tobacco and/or illicit drugs increases the risks
for these diseases. "The effect that smoking has on the lungs is more serious than most people realize. Smoking anything is bad for your health, especially if your immune system has been weakened," says Dr. Tashkin.
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