Marijuana Abuse Signs, Symptoms & Effects Of Addiction

The signs of marijuana abuse can often be difficult to identify. Once an individual identifies the symptoms and side effects of marijuana abuse, the next step in the recovery journey become clear.

Understanding Marijuana Abuse

Learn about marijuana abuse

Marijuana— also known as pot, grass, weed, and reefer— is made up of dried stems, flowers, and leaves of the Cannabis sativa hemp plant. Marijuana can be used by rolling the mixture into papers, what is referred to as a joint, and smoking it like a cigarette. Others smoke pot by using a pipe or a bong. Additionally, marijuana can be mixed into food such as brownies and eaten.

The active ingredient in pot is THC (Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) and is responsible for creating the desired high most people experience.  THC quickly passes through the lungs and into the bloodstream, which carries the drug into the body and brain, causing a long lasting high. Once THC reaches the brain it binds to the brain’s cannabinoid receptors. These receptors are found on the surface of nerve cells in areas of the brain that influence movement, pleasure, memory, thinking, concentration, coordination, sensory perception, and time perception. THC artificially stimulates the brain, which disrupts the endogenous cannabinoids and over time can lead to addiction.

THC produces its euphoric effects by stimulating the release of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain. Over a prolonged period of pot abuse, the reward pathways of the brain become damaged. Marijuana smoke is a toxic mixture of particles and gasses that cause harm to the lungs. Many chronic pot users suffer from respiratory infections, a greater risk for lung cancer, and cancers of other areas of the respiratory tract.

Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug and is used more often among younger adults and adolescents. Prolonged marijuana use can lead to an inability to stop using pot despite the negative consequences that it is causing in an individual’s life.

Statistics

Marijuana abuse statistics

According to the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 17.4 million individuals have smoked within the past month. In the year 2010, marijuana was used by 76.8% of illicit drug users and was the only drug used by 60.1% of them.

It’s estimated that 9% of marijuana users will become dependent upon marijuana. For those that begin using marijuana in their teen years, 1 in 6 will become dependent on this substance.

Causes and Risk Factors

Causes and risk factors for marijuana abuse

Researchers have still not determined what exactly leads to the development of substance abuse and addiction. It is generally thought that the development of an addiction is caused by a number of different factors working together. These include:

Genetic: Many individuals who have a first-degree relative, such as a parent or sibling, who struggles with addiction are more likely to develop an addiction if they begin abusing substances such as marijuana. While this factor does not determine addiction, it is a future indicator.

Biological: It’s been postulated that certain individuals may be born lacking the appropriate levels of cannabinoid receptors in the brain and may smoke pot as a way to correct these inborn deficiencies. While this is not a common cause, it is a possible explanation for the development of a marijuana addiction.

Environmental: Individuals who are born into negative home environments are more likely to develop an addiction later in life. Some individuals who grow up in households where substance use is present may come to believe that this is appropriate behavior. Additionally, they may have learned that substance use is an appropriate means of coping with life stressors. Finally, individuals who begin to abuse drugs at an earlier age are more prone to develop an addiction.

Psychological: Many individuals struggle with undiagnosed mental illnesses and may attempt to self-medicate in order to help control the unpleasant symptoms. Unfortunately, using marijuana can only exacerbate the effects the mental illness is having on an individual’s well-being.

Signs and Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of marijuana abuse

Symptoms of marijuana addiction occur on a spectrum depending upon the length of abuse, the amount of marijuana used, and the frequency in which an individual abuses marijuana. Some of the most common symptoms include:

  • Sense of relaxation
  • Sense of wellbeing
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Mood swings
  • Fear
  • Panic attacks
  • Problems with memory and concentration
  • Laughter
  • Sleepiness
  • Inability to properly carry out complex tasks such as driving
  • Impairment in ability to form new memories
  • Distinctive marijuana smoke smell in clothing
  • Appears high or spaced out
  • Slowed reflexes
  • Increased appetite – “the munchies”
  • Slowed response time
  • Impaired coordination
  • Slowed speech
  • Abnormal patterns of speech – jumping from one topic to the next without properly finishing a thought
  • Upper respiratory infections
  • Hypertension
  • Increased risk for cancer
  • Weight gain
  • Tachycardia
  • Red, watery eyes
  • Worsening symptoms of mental illnesses
  • Heightened sensory perception
  • Altered time perception
  • Distrust
  • Impaired short-term memory
  • Lapses in memory
  • Psychotic episodes
  • Hallucinations
  • Delusions
  • Loss of sense of personal identity

Effects

Effects of marijuana abuse

The long-term effects of chronic marijuana usage will vary depending upon the amount of pot used, the length of use, and the method of abuse. Effects of long-term marijuana usage include:

  • Addiction
  • Impaired memory
  • Impaired ability to learn
  • Reduced intellectual level
  • Sleep problems
  • Chronic upper respiratory infections
  • Increases risks for development of schizophrenia
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Amotivational syndrome

Withdrawal

Effects of marijuana withdrawal

While marijuana isn’t a particularly addictive substance, dependence upon marijuana is more common among those who are heavy users. Withdrawal symptoms for those who decide to stop using pot after long-term chronic usage include:

  • Insomnia
  • Restlessness
  • Decreased appetite
  • Irritability
  • Anger
  • Depression

Co-Occurring Disorders

Marijuana abuse and co-occurring disorders

Many individuals who struggle with marijuana addiction are also suffering from other undiagnosed mental health disorders. These may include:

  • Other addictions
  • Alcoholism
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Depressive disorders
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Schizophrenia
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