Facts about Marijuana Abuse & Addiction
By Staff Writer
Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug in the United States, with more than 83 million people over the age of 12 having at least tried the drug at one time in their lives. Substance abuse professionals estimate that about 5 million people currently use marijuana on a regular basis.
Marijuana is a popular drug because it is relatively easy to obtain, inexpensive and the legal penalties for possessing small amounts of it are fairly mild in most states.
People are often persuaded by friends to try marijuana, believing that it is impossible to become addicted to a drug that is so widely known for its relaxation properties. The truth, however, is that marijuana can be just as addictive as any other type of drug.
Marijuana users start to feel the effects of the drug as soon as it reaches the brain, which is normally within just a few minutes of inhaling the drug. The effects typically last from one to three hours, depending on a person's metabolism and how much of the drug they have been exposed to.
Minutes after inhaling marijuana smoke, a person's bronchial passages relax, the blood vessels in their eyes expand and their heart rate increases drastically. As the THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana) enters the brain, users begin to feel a type of "high" or euphoric feeling because of chemical activities occurring in the brain's reward center. THC works by stimulating the brain cells in this part of the brain so that they release a chemical known as dopamine.
Marijuana impairs a person's ability to recall certain events, form memories and move their attention from one thing to another. It also disrupts balance, coordination and response times, making it extremely dangerous for people to use this drug and then operate any type of machinery or equipment, including cars.
The long-term health risks associated with marijuana use include an increased risk of developing cancer of the head, neck, lungs or throat; respiratory infections; and obstructed airways.
Impact on Learning
Research has shown that students who smoke marijuana are not only less likely to graduate from high school, they consistently receive lower grades while they are in school. This reduction in performance doesn't simply end after high school; it continues to follow people well into their adulthood, particularly if they continue using marijuana on a regular basis.
For example, employees who smoke marijuana are more likely than their non-smoking coworkers to experience problems on the job because of their drug use. Marijuana use has been directly linked to increased tardiness, absences, workers' compensation claims, accidents and job turnover rates. Marijuana smokers also tend to indulge in more non-productive activities than their non-smoking counterparts, including daydreaming, leaving work early without explanation, ignoring tasks and spending more time on personal issues.
In addition to directly impacting school and job performance, marijuana use can lead to depression, anxiety and a variety of personality disturbances over time. Because marijuana carries such a strong capacity to compromise a person's ability to learn and retain information, it can greatly impact not only learning skills, but a person's ability to function normally in social situations.
An Addictive Drug
Even though many people do not believe that marijuana use carries any real risk of developing an addiction, the reality is that long-term use can lead to addiction in many people. The National Household Survey on Drug Abuse has estimated that more than 2 million Americans over the age of 12 are addicted to marijuana.
One of the things that makes stopping marijuana use so difficult is the cravings that tend to develop in people who have used the drug for a long period of time. Additionally, there are a variety of withdrawal symptoms that develop when addicted individuals try to stop using marijuana:
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Insomnia
- Increase in aggressive behaviors
- Anger
- Depression
- Headaches
- Brain disorders
Withdrawal symptoms may last for as long as 45 days. For many, seeking help at a substance abuse treatment facility is the best option for finding relief from their addiction simply because of the structured treatment programs that are available. In addition to detox to help them stop using marijuana, substance abuse treatment facilities also provide counseling services, which are an essential component of any complete treatment program.
Drug addiction treatment programs also help people to have a much better chance of avoiding relapse, largely due to the extensive counseling that individuals receive while enrolled in a treatment facility.
