In 2016, California voters passed Proposition 64, the Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA), which legalized cannabis for non-medical purposes for people 21 and over. This made it much easier for anyone to obtain and use marijuana. Unfortunately, it also helped to bolster the idea that weed is harmless. While it may be true that alcohol is associated with more health risks than cannabis, marijuana use is not risk-free. Consuming cannabis increases the risk of intoxication-related accidents and may worsen the symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders. At high enough doses, cannabis use can even lead to psychosis.
People who say marijuana is not addictive are mistaken. Marijuna abuse and addiction are real, and they can result in a range of negative consequences that further complicate and disrupt a person’s life. In order to decrease the risk of developing an addiction to marijuana, it’s important to know the signs of marijuana abuse. But first, let’s take a look at the effects the drug has on the brain and body.
Effects of marjiuana use
Marijuana is a psychoactive drug that has both short- and long-term effects on the brain and body. Some of these are observable from the outside, and others may be a little more difficult to detect. Immediate effects of marjijuana use may include:
- Altered sense of time
- Changes in mood
- Increased appetite
- Impaired coordination
- Slowed reaction time
- Difficulty thinking and problem-solving
- Elevated heart rate
- Dry mouth
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Sleepiness
- Hallucinations or delusions (at higher doses)
- Psychosis (at higher doses)
In the long-term, marijuna abuse can significantly alter brain development and disrupt a person’s overall health. One study shows that persistent cannabis users show neurological decline from childhood to midlife. In addition to cognitive decline, potential long-term effects of marijuana abuse include:
- Mood disorders
- Anxiety disorders
- Lung infections / persistent cough
- Memory impairments
- Irregular heart rate
- Marijuana addiction
Everyone is different, and while one person may experience only minor effects of marijuana abuse, another may be seriously impaired for the long term. The best way to decrease the risk of physical and mental health complications from marijuana abuse is to stop using it.
If you’re worried that you or someone you love could be abusing marijuana, it may be time to get help. But how do you know when recreational marijuana use becomes marijuana abuse or addiction?
Signs and symptoms of marijuana abuse and addiction
Because marijuana comes in many different forms, including “edibles,” marijuna abuse can be more difficult to detect than alcohol abuse, but there are some signs and symptoms of abuse and addiction you can look out for, including:
- A significant amount of time and effort spent getting drugs and getting high
- Decreased participation in recreational activities in order to pursue getting high
- Increased tolerance (needing more to achieve the same high)
- Presence of withdrawal symptoms when not using marijuana
- Difficulty maintaining responsibilities at work or at home
- Dependency on marijuana for relaxation or stress-relief
- Continuing to get high despite negative consequences
- Inability to stop using marijuana
If you or someone you love is experiencing any combination of the above symptoms, it may be time to seek help.
Marijuana addiction treatment in San Diego
Pro-marijuana users have long been touting the idea that marijuana is not addictive. But that’s just not true. Marijuana addiction is real. The good news is that it’s also treatable. At Alvarado Parkway, we can help you recover from marijuana addiction. We offer inpatient and outpatient addiction treatment and dual diagnosis treatment programs, with customized care plans tailored to the needs of each individual. Our caring and compassionate mental health professionals use a variety of evidence-based treatment modalities to help patients overcome their addiction and optimize their mental health. We would love to do the same for you. Please call us at 619-333-7050 or fill out our contact form to get started on your journey to recovery today.
