Marijuana addiction is the - a faster heartbeat and pulse rate
consequence of habitual use of - bloodshot
marijuana. It can be described as
chronically making the decision to
quit using marijuana followed
shortly by a relapse due to
overwhelming cravings for it.
Marijuana is considered to be both
mentally and emotionally
addictive. Users come to believe
that they need it to function
normally and have fun. This
misconception is very common
Marij uana among those who use marijuana
on a daily basis. Many of these
habitual marijuana users find that
Add iction they must be high on marijuana to
enjoy themselves and to feel
normal, even though marijuana
(Do y ou belon g?) itself is not physically addictive.
Marijuana addiction is just like any
other addiction. The user
Pr ev en tio n M et hod and eventually feels they "need" the
Co ntr ol drug, finding themselves unable
to quit using it for fear of
withdrawal symptoms. Marijuana
addiction, like other drugs come
with a long list of side effects and
withdrawal symptoms.
How Marijuana Affects the
Body
Some immediate physical effects
of marijuana include:
eyes
- dry mouth and throat
No scientific evidence indicates
that marijuana improves hearing,
eyesight, and skin sensitivity.
Marijuana use increases the heart
rate as much as 50 percent,
depending on the amount of THC.
It can cause chest pain in people
who have a poor blood supply to
the heart - and it produces these
effects more rapidly than tobacco
smoke does.
Scientists believe that marijuana
can be especially harmful to the
lungs because users often inhale
the unfiltered smoke deeply and
hold it in their lungs as long as
possible. Therefore, the smoke is
in contact with lung tissues for
long periods of time, which
irritates the lungs and damages
the way they work. Marijuana
smoke contains some of the same
ingredients in tobacco smoke that
can cause emphysema and
cancer. In addition, many
marijuana users also smoke
cigarettes; the combined effects
of smoking these two substances
creates an increased health risk.
"Burnout" is a term first used by
marijuana smokers themselves to
describe the effect of prolonged
use. Young people who smoke
marijuana heavily over long
periods of time can become dull,
slow moving, and inattentive.
These "burned-out" users are
sometimes so unaware of their
surroundings that they do not
respond when friends speak to
them, and they do not realize they
have a problem.
How Marijuana Affects the
Mind
Laboratory studies have shown
that animals exhibit symptoms of
drug withdrawal after cessation of
prolonged marijuana
administration. Some human
studies have also demonstrated
withdrawal symptoms such as
irritability, stomach pain,
aggression, and anxiety after
cessation of oral administration of
tetrahydrocannabinol (THC),
marijuana's principal psychoactive
component. Now, NIDA-supported
researchers at McLean Hospital in
Belmont, Massachusetts, and
Columbia University in New York
City have shown that individuals
who regularly smoke marijuana
experience withdrawal symptoms
after they stop smoking the drug.
Studies at Columbia University in
New York City have demonstrated
that, in addition to aggression, Marijuana Addiction Treatment
marijuana smokers experience There is no medication used to
other withdrawal symptoms such treat marijuana addiction. A
as anxiety, stomach pain, and person experiencing marijuana
increased irritability during withdrawal will usually encounter
abstinence from the drug. "These mood swings, agitation,
results suggest that dependence aggressiveness, insomnia, and a
may be an important craving for the drug. Medication
consequence of repeated daily can be prescribed to reduce these
exposure to marijuana," says marijuana withdrawal symptoms,
NIDA. but rest and talk therapy is
usually the best addiction
Signs of Marijuana Abuse treatment. After about three to
Some noticeable signs of five days the actual cravings for
Marijuana abuse include: the drug will diminish, although
- Rapid, loud talking and bursts of the affected individual will still
laughter in early stages of experience thoughts about using
intoxication. the drug. Generally speaking,
- Sleepy or stuporous in the later those affected by marijuana
stages. addiction should enroll in
- Lack of concentration and outpatient programs. These
coordination. programs are specifically
- Forgetfulness in conversation. designed to assist in the
- Inflammation in whites of eyes. development of effective coping
- Odor similar to burnt rope on skills rather than turning to
clothing or breath. marijuana use. If the individual
- Distorted sense of time passage continues to return to the use of
- tendency to overestimate time marijuana or other drugs, they
intervals. should seek admission to one of
- Craving for sweets. many inpatient addiction
- Increased appetite. programs.
- Use or possession of
paraphernalia including roach clip, Final comment
packs of rolling papers, pipes or Although marijuana use has been
bongs. common in many segments of the
American population for two
generations, and many adults and
teenagers know marijuana users
who have not developed addiction
even to prolonged use, the
potential for the development of
addiction is almost certainly
greater today than in the 1960s or
’70s. The marijuana of today is
different. It’s not just much more
expensive; it also contains
significantly more THC. In fact, the
THC content of today’s pot is
several times higher than that of
even strong “weed” from the ’60s.
This makes it more potent, but
also more likely to induce
tolerance and true addiction.

- Respect yourself
- Love your family
- Enjoy life
- Make life more productive
- Never, ever get addicted to
prohibited drugs
- Stay close to god
- QUIT…Quit…