What does bango smoke do to the lungs?
Bango is mostly consumed by burning, and burning produces smoke that carries into the lungs many of the same irritants found in tobacco smoke. It is also often mixed with tobacco itself.
The World Health Organization notes that chronic cannabis smoking damages respiratory tissue and is linked to chronic bronchitis and reduced lung function. Many people who use it notice a chronic cough, phlegm and wheezing, and this gets worse in people with asthma.
| Problem | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Chronic cough and phlegm | Especially in the morning, and often improves after stopping |
| Bronchitis | Constant irritation of the airway and repeated infections |
| Worsening asthma | More frequent attacks that are harder to control |
| Added harms of tobacco | When mixed with tobacco, the person is also exposed to the harms and addictiveness of nicotine |
How dangerous is bango sprayed with synthetic substances?
This risk is almost specific to the herbal form. Because bango is dried herb, it can easily be sprayed with a solution of synthetic cannabinoids without changing its appearance. The European Union Drugs Agency has warned that some products sold as cannabis on the illicit market may be adulterated with potent synthetic cannabinoids.
These substances, like those found in Strox and Voodoo, are far stronger than THC and unpredictable, and are linked to seizures, loss of consciousness, severe agitation and heart problems that can be fatal. The person using often does not know they have been exposed, and instead thinks they used “strong bango.”
Does strong bango cause psychosis?
Hybrid strains high in THC and low in CBD, known as skunk, have been linked in research to a higher risk of psychotic episodes. In a large European study published in The Lancet Psychiatry, daily use of high-potency cannabis was associated with a markedly higher likelihood of a psychotic disorder compared with never using, and daily use combined with high potency was found to be the riskiest combination.
A psychotic episode shows up as intense suspicion of others, hearing voices, strange beliefs and behavior that is hard to understand. Some of these episodes resolve once the substance is gone, while others are the start of a psychotic illness that needs long-term treatment, especially in people with a family history. For more, see drug-induced psychosis.
How does bango affect studying and learning?
The effect of THC on short-term memory and attention does not end when the high wears off, and in someone who uses regularly it can last for days. For a student, this means difficulty studying and retaining information, poor concentration in lectures, and a gradual decline in grades that may be wrongly put down to laziness.
Difficulty fixing new information in memory and retrieving it.
Distraction and slow processing of information and problem solving.
Constant procrastination and losing track of deadlines.
Apathy and a lack of interest in academic and career goals.
Is bango bad for the heart?
Right after smoking, the heart rate rises noticeably for a while, blood pressure may change, and some people feel dizzy when standing up. This load can be dangerous for people with heart or artery disease, or those who use it with stimulants. If use is accompanied by chest pain or fainting, it is an emergency.
Does bango smoke harm children and pregnant women at home?
Exposure to bango smoke at home exposes children and pregnant women to irritants that are harmful to the lungs, and THC itself may reach them. Leaving the substance within children's reach is also a real danger: a child who swallows it may develop severe drowsiness, loss of balance and difficulty breathing, and needs emergency care immediately.
During pregnancy, THC crosses the placenta, and use is linked to lower birth weight according to the World Health Organization. For that reason, complete cessation is advised, along with medical support if stopping is difficult.
Bango, driving and injuries
Poor coordination, slowed reaction time and distorted judgment of distance make driving under the influence of bango a direct cause of accidents, and FRANK notes that it may double the chance of a serious crash. The danger is not limited to driving: operating machinery, working at heights and swimming all become risky under the influence.
What is the risk of combining bango with alcohol or pills?
Combining bango with alcohol increases dizziness, vomiting and loss of coordination, and raises the risk of accidents more than either one alone. Combining it with sedative pills or tramadol increases drowsiness and confusion, and may mask dangerous signs of poisoning. And because the herbs may be sprayed with synthetic substances, mixing makes the effect almost impossible to predict.
Long-term harms of daily use
- Addiction: Tolerance, dependence and difficulty stopping in a large share of daily users.
- Anxiety and depression: Symptoms worsen over the long term despite the temporary calming effect.
- Sleep: Reliance on bango to sleep and poorer sleep quality.
- Digestive system: Some long-term users develop cannabis hyperemesis syndrome; details are on the page about the harms of hashish.
- Social life: Declining performance at school and work, and family, financial and legal problems.
Why is the harm greater for teenagers?
Bango is often the first substance a teenager tries because it is presented as milder than others. But the teenage brain is more sensitive to the effects of THC, and the risk of addiction, psychosis and falling academic achievement rises. According to NIDA, starting before age 18 raises the risk of cannabis use disorder several times over compared with starting in adulthood.
To learn how a family can notice bango use, see bango addiction symptoms.
When does a person who uses bango need emergency care? Call ambulance (123) immediately
- Severe panic, hallucinations, or suspicion and aggression that do not settle
- Chest pain, a strong pounding heartbeat or fainting
- Continuous vomiting with signs of dehydration such as intense thirst and passing little urine
- Seizures, rigidity or sudden loss of consciousness, signs that the herbs may be sprayed with a synthetic substance such as Strox
- A child who swallowed or was exposed to a cannabis product and seems very drowsy, unsteady or is having trouble breathing
Call ambulance (123) and stay with the person. If they are vomiting or unconscious, place them on their side (recovery position) so they do not choke, and keep what is left of the substance or its packaging to show the medical team. Do not use any home remedies.
Call the ambulance 123