Marijuana Addiction, Abuse and Treatment
Cannabis has been around for centuries and the plant has been used to make rope, thread, clothes and even smoked for its psychoactive properties and medicinal purposes. The drug has been widely used in America for more than 40 years.
It is estimated that close to 5 million Americans regularly use marijuana. In the last 2 decades, surveys reveal that use of marijuana among the younger population of school and college students has widely increased. Recent data indicates the average age when marijuana is used is 18 years. The majority of individuals who use marijuana are also frequent users of alcohol and other illicit drugs.
Pharmacology
Marijuana is obtained from the dried leaves and flowers of the hemp plant. The potency of marijuana depends on the method of preparation. Ganja and hashish are both three-five times more potent than marijuana. Although marijuana is usually smoked, it can also be eaten or mixed in beverages like tea, coffee and in very rare cases, it is also injected. Analysis of marijuana has revealed that the content of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is currently much higher than in the past 2 decades. THC is the primary psychoactive component of marijuana. The intoxicating effects of marijuana usually last 2-3 hours.
Trafficking
The majority of marijuana available in the US is smuggled in from Mexico and is a low potency, commercial grade product. The high potent marijuana is usually home grown or smuggled in from Canada. Recent seizures indicate that the content of THC has increased in the home grown product. The states which continue to cultivate large amounts of marijuana are California, Kentucky, Tennessee, Hawaii, and Washington. Law enforcement data indicate that arrests for marijuana possession are up across the nation. The Bureau of Justice Survey indicates that about 12% of prisoners in the nation are serving time for a first marijuana related offense.
Why Do People Abuse Marijuana?
Marijuana is used for several reasons including inquisitiveness, peer pressure or for fun. The majority of users claim that the drug often causes euphoria, a sense of relaxation, sexual arousal and easier socialization with other colleagues. The easy access, cheap price and minimum legal penalties has led to an increased usage of this drug in the past 2 decades.
Adverse Effects
Marijuana addiction use has been associated with numerous physical and behavioral adverse effects. The majority of users report some type of side effect. There have been numerous reports of motor vehicle accident and work related accidents which have been associated with marijuana use usually related to mental clouding and sluggishness.
The safety of marijuana during pregnancy is not in question. Continued use during pregnancy has been known to cause a small size fetus with low birth weight. Also reported is that the children of mothers who have used marijuana during pregnancy have a higher rate of a type of blood cancer
Some patients with pre-existing medical conditions who use marijuana may be at risk for developing respiratory tract infections, bronchitis, emphysema and COPD. Marijuana smoke does not contain nicotine but does have a significantly higher tar content than cigarettes and this has been associated with a higher incidence of lung cancers in these patients.
The most common side effects of marijuana are cognitive deficits. Short term use has been associated with memory defects, mental clouding and confusion.
Tolerance and Dependence
Marijuana use can lead to abuse, tolerance and dependence. After long term use, withdrawal symptoms can develop if the marijuana usage is stopped suddenly Generally the withdrawal symptoms are mild and may include nausea, tremor, sweating, weight loss, insomnia, agitation and irritability.
Does Marijuana Have Any Medical Value?
Advocates of marijuana for medical use always claim that marijuana has some medical properties in the treatment of glaucoma, nausea, vomiting and tremor. However, today there are excellent and much safer drugs used to treat these medical conditions and there is no justification for the use of marijuana. However, some states do allow legal use of marijuana for improving appetite in AIDs patient and decreasing the nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy.
Possible Medical uses for Marijuana
- Anti emetic
- Increase appetite
- Decrease tremors
- Decrease seizures
- Decrease glaucoma
- Decrease stress
Marijuana Abuse
Although marijuana abuse in the younger populations is of a major concern, one needs to be aware that there are other patient groups that also abuse marijuana. Numerous individuals with certain psychiatric disorders such as stress, anxiety, post traumatic disorder and bipolar disorder have also been known to abuse marijuana. These concerns have led to many institutions obtaining direct disclosure of marijuana-related problems, usage, and a positive urine drug screen prior to undertaking any therapy.
Legislation
Marijuana is a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act. Schedule I drugs are classified as having a high potential for abuse, no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, and a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision.
Marijuana Dependence Treatment
Prior to any intervention, most drug treatment programs include education, monitoring of drug use, strengthening of social support, treatment of possible comorbid psychiatric disorders and referral to a pain specialist.
Withdrawal and acute panic reactions and flashbacks during marijuana intoxication are usually managed with supportive therapy. In severe cases, low-dose benzodiazepines are used. Generally the withdrawal symptoms from marijuana are mild and do not required any drug therapy.
Patients with marijuana abuse or dependence are referred to a comprehensive substance abuse treatment program. Such programs are designed to avoid relapse and include comprehensive substance abuse and psychiatric evaluations, laboratory testing, group therapy, education, social services, individual counseling, promotion of 12-step programs (such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous) and treatment of any co-morbid psychiatric illness.
Often, these programs involve individual reflection about how problems with substance abuse develop the direct and indirect costs of substance abuse, biopsychosocial triggers for substance use, relapse prevention strategies, ways to enhance coping skills and spiritual issues.
REFERENCES
- Losken A, Maviglia S, Friedman LS. Marijuana. In: Friedman LS, et al., eds. Source book of substance abuse and addiction. Baltimore, Md.: Williams & Wilkins, 1996:179-87.
- Cohen G, Fleming NF, Glatter KA, Haghigi DB, Halberstadt J, McHugh KB, et al. Epidemiology of substance use. In: Friedman LS, et al., eds. Source book of substance abuse and addiction. Baltimore, Md.: Williams & Wilkins, 1996:23-46.
- Schuckit MA. Cannabinols. In: Drug and alcohol abuse: a clinical guide to diagnosis and treatment. 3d ed. New York: Plenum Medical, 1989:143-57.
" Marijuana smoke does not contain nicotine but does have a significantly higher tar content than cigarettes..." False, marijuana is the dried leaf, flower, and stem of the cannabis plant, there is no tar content as there is no processing step in the production and distribution of marijuana. naturally occurring tar is produced in pine and pine like trees, and found fossilized in the earth, to say marijuana has more tar than cigarettes would be to the same effect as saying dandelions do as well. i would like to see the specific source or article of this segment
Austin,
If you look at the bottom of the article there is information supplying the references used in the article. I hope that will help answer your question.
Autumn
The benefits of marijuana are well documented from relief of pain of muscular diseases to coping with glaucoma. This web page is a front either by right wing religious groups who despise anyone enjoying themselves or is preying on the ignorance of marijuana smokers to make a quick buck. Look at the date of the references - mid 1990's when the government was in full "scare" mode.
Another great article full of absolute false information.
Did you even notice how 2 points in your article contradict each other.
Make up your mind, "there is no justification for the use of marijuana" or is it:
Possible Medical Uses for Marijuana
Possible Medical uses for Marijuana•Anti emetic
•Increase appetite
•Decrease tremors
•Decrease seizures
•Decrease glaucoma
•Decrease stress
I think you need to educate yourself, as your information on the allowed uses by states with medical marijuana is also false. Those states allow a far broader amount of uses than just for Cancer and AIDS patients as you suggest.
Why do you think 1/3 of our states currently allow medical marijuana?
Is that because there is no recognized medical use as well?
it is so bad for you so do not do it if you are good at sports to do it.
I smoke bud and i am crazy at football baseball and i am sponsored for snowboarding. you can smoke and be good at sports just not cigs those fuck you up.
My husband smokes every day all the time. While he is nice while he's high, when he comes down he is a complete asshole and treats me like a piece of shit in front of our children. So there is the downside. I think it's okay to do once in a while, but every single day to keep yourself high? I imagine there are people who can handle it, and are productive. But I know from him when he comes down he is an asshole...through and through. Which is why I want him to stop completely. He forgets things, picks fights, antagonizes. It's ridiculous and I'm sick of it.
I'm so glad that I read this from you. I'm currently dating a guy who is addicted to marijuana. He is the exact same way. Always sweet and thoughtful when he's high; then when he comes down, he's a total asshole. I've asked him to stop as well, but he just lies to me saying he'll quit. Then, the first few bucks he makes is spent on it. I have no problem with recreational marijuana use and I also believe that some people can function on it, but he can't..or rather chooses not to. I am incredibly sick of it too. I wish you the best of luck and hope things get better for you.
well....the thing is...if that guy is like that to you...dump his ass...there is not reason for ANY man to be treating a girl like that...get rid of him before you get hurt.
Perfect information, perfect treatment solution contains every post in this site. I think everyone need to educate himself, about various medical problem. Also each of this guidelines should follow everyone. It must helpful to everyone. well done carry on.