Marijuana Addiction

To millions of Americans, marijuana seems harmless. Some people consider it to be “non-addictive” as they know it can be used for medicinal purposes. There are seemingly no significant health risks the come with marijuana use. Marijuana, for these reasons, is the most commonly used illicit drug. In 2009, there were 16.7 million users in the United States, an increase from 15.2 million in 2008. In fact, 2.4 million of those marijuana users were under 18 the first time they tried the drug.

Contrary to popular belief, marijuana is addictive, and admissions to marijuana addiction programs have doubled in the last few years. Marijuana addiction, just like an addiction to any other drug, requires a professional detox program to give patients the best chance at recovery.

What Is Marijuana?

Marijuana is the plant Cannabis sativa. As aforementioned, it is commonly used throughout the United States. It can be smoked or ingested, and causes the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that produces euphoric effects. Marijuana also affects the areas of the brain that stimulate hunger and sleep, causing users to feel relaxed and have cases of the “munchies.”

How Does Marijuana Cause Addiction?

Unlike some opiates and narcotics, marijuana is not physically addictive. Marijuana causes psychological addiction which results in an uncontrollable urge to obtain and use the drug. Marijuana addiction does not cause a physiological dependency in the body, but the person craves the drug because they wish to experience its effects. Marijuana can still cause tolerance, even though it is not physically addictive. Tolerance occurs when an individual no longer experiences the same effects after using marijuana for a longer period of time, and therefore must take a higher dosage.

Long-Term Risks of Marijuana Use

What many marijuana users fail to understand is that long-term use comes with potentially serious complications. These complications can be dangerous and even life-threatening.

Lungs and Respiration
Marijuana smoke contains 50 to 70 percent more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than tobacco. Marijuana users also inhale smoke and hold it in their lungs for longer than tobacco smokers, meaning they are exposed to the toxins for longer. Marijuana smokers are at a risk for lung and upper digestive tract cancers because the carcinogenic causes mutagenesis of epithelial cells in lung tissue. Marijuana smokers also experience problems such as cough, phlegm and increased risk for respiratory infection.

The Heart and Cardiovascular Function
Studies have shown that when an individual smokes marijuana, their heart rate increases from anywhere between 20 and 100 percent for up to two to four hours following consumption. One studied showed that a marijuana smokers’ risk for heart attack was almost five times greater than non-smokers, because of increased heart rate and blood pressure.

Cognitive Abilities
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, marijuana abusers have impaired physical and mental health, cognitive skills and social abilities. Marijuana smokers are also at risk for fatal car accidents because of impaired driving.

Marijuana Addiction Treatment

Marijuana is not a physically addictive substance, so it is treated differently than a physical addiction. Physical addictions cause physical withdrawal symptoms, but marijuana withdrawal is not the result of a physical dependency. Marijuana withdrawal causes psychological cravings, but it does not place the patient at risk. Therefore, marijuana rehab patients may consider outpatient treatment as a viable option for them. Outpatient programs are more flexible and less expensive than inpatient programs, and ideally suited for someone with a psychological drug addiction.

Marijuana Addiction