- On June 16, 2023
- By SallyAnn Grey
Is Marijuana Addictive? Possibly, But It Depends
Dependence on marijuana happens when users build up a tolerance for the substance and need more and more of it to experience the same effect. It makes the world more interesting to counteract the loss of pleasure in depression. For those with PTSD who experience nightmares, it shuts down the process by which dreams form in the brain. Studies of identical twins raised in different families support this theory. They have higher rates of an addiction co-occurring, which means that if one of them develops an addiction, the other is at greater risk for developing one, than fraternal twins raised apart. Research has also found that developing a strong sense of self-efficacy, or a belief that a person can resist using cannabis, is an important predictor of long-term abstinence.
Volkow explained that the patterns of activity in the brain shift from the drug activating reward centers to activating other, nearby regions related to the formation of habits. One marijuana user, Conrad, age 47, of San Francisco, said that when he can’t smoke, he drinks more. The conversation around marijuana use has become more nuanced since the World War II era film “Reefer Madness” portrayed the drug as destructive and dangerous. This classification is something that really grates people who support legalization of marijuana. According to a research by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the average THC content in confiscated marijuana samples in 1990 was just under 4 percent. Plus, pediatricians and others have long said that marijuana can impair brain functions in people under the age of 25.
Why is Treatment Helpful for People with Addiction?
It’s easy to make excuses and believe that marijuana addictions don’t exist. If your loved one needs marijuana to complete basic, everyday tasks, it is time to pay attention to the other signs. The Canyon, a treatment center in Malibu, California, lists 10 signs that someone might have an addiction to marijuana. Among the signals is a growing tolerance for the drug’s effects, as well as using more marijuana than they initially intended to use. There are a couple of different treatment options for people with cannabis use disorder. It’s important to note that if there is a co-occurring condition, treating both conditions at the same time can provide the most favorable treatment outcome.
- Marijuana is a drug used as a medication for different health purposes.
- Marijuana comes from the Cannabis sativa or Cannabis indica plant.
- The response is what OpenAI’s chatbot says when a user asks a question or requests that it perform a task in violation of OpenAI’s terms of service.
- Both types of treatment offer counseling and education to help people with addictions adapt to drug-free lifestyles.
- THC, which stands for tetrahydrocannabinol, is the part of the cannabis plant that causes the mental effect.
Join 40,000+ People Who Receive Our Newsletter Get valuable resources on addiction, recovery, wellness, and our treatments delivered directly to your inbox. So many social activities, friends, and family units have inherent triggers that can push you into relapsing back into drug, alcohol, marijuana addiction or other substance use. The dangers inherent in wax manufacturing include the possibility of molecules of dangerous butane being present in the wax. The highly concentrated cannabis extract known as marijuana wax is named for its thick, sticky consistency and dark amber color.
It May Affect Your Mental Health
The company claims to have 550 million monthly users, per Musk, and the company is seeing 500 million posts per day, including posts, replies, quote posts and reposts, according to X CEO Linda Yaccarino. Neither exec has said if bots factored into those metrics, though. Despite the numerous posts from these bots, AI-powered accounts aren’t X’s only problem.
- Although cannabis is believed to be a relatively safe drug, it can still lead to substance abuse in some instances, which is characterized by addiction and dependence.
- It is cultivated widely across the globe and is the only major recreational drug grown within the U.S.
- Because addiction to weed is generally not as severe as addiction to harder drugs, it is not always labeled explicitly as addiction.
- However, under even the most liberal laws currently in effect in the United States, kids smoking weed remains illegal.
Once you have eliminated the substance from your body, you will need time, talk, and tools to overcome that physical and mental dependence. Dr. Rufus Tony Spann is a nationally certified school psychologist, licensed professional counselor, yoga teacher and reiki master. Over the years, he has served as a department chair, adjunct professor, assistant professor, speaker and trainer.
What Does Marijuana Abuse Look Like?
Whether starting with inpatient detox or outpatient detox, your treatment begins by asking for help. Methacrolein is structurally similar to acrolein, a pulmonary irritant, which causes acute lung injury and pulmonary edema in laboratory animals. Scientists theorize that the relatively new practice of inhaling these irritants given off by heating marijuana wax at overly high temperatures can injure lungs and even mimic pneumonia in some cases. Stacey Colino is a Maryland-based writer and author who specializes in health and psychological issues. Her work has appeared in the Washington Post and in dozens of national magazines, including Prevention, Health, Newsweek, Real Simple, Parade, Good Housekeeping, Woman’s Day, Glamour, Shape, Parents and Men’s Journal.
If you use it regularly, you could have the same breathing problems as someone who smokes cigarettes. That’s partly because THC seems to weaken some users’ immune systems. While we are unable to respond to your feedback directly, we’ll use this information to improve our online help.
“Marijuana-addicted people rarely present for treatment,” said Stalcup. “So, a lot of the people we see have gotten caught up in the legal system. “There are people who have a glass or two of wine a day,” said Hart. “In fact, a glass or two of wine a day is considered healthy… Now, you certainly might see some sort of withdrawal symptom if someone’s been drinking for a few years and they abruptly stop doing that. “If I try to cut down or stop my intake and have negative consequences — cravings, irritability, upset stomach, chills, etc. — that could be a sign that my use has become dependence.
However, this law required companies to disclose the inclusion of cannabis in their products to customers. After the Mexican Revolution in 1910, many Mexican immigrants moved to the United States, bringing their approach to cannabis use with them. Rather than consuming it in drinks and tinctures, these immigrants tended to smoke the drug.
For individuals who use marijuana frequently and regularly and then attempt to quit withdrawal symptoms may surface. Marijuana addiction treatment involves behavioral therapy techniques that help a user change drug-seeking habits and build coping skills https://ecosoberhouse.com/ to lead a drug-free life. Treatment for pot abuse is mainly necessary for users who have developed a dependence on the substance, which impairs such an individual’s quality of life. While most people do not develop cannabis use disorder, it can happen.