Marijuana addiction

Marijuana addiction is one of the most widely spread addictions among the population. The misconception that it does not affect your body or life the way other drugs do gives individuals a false sense of security. It is said that marijuana addictions lead to other drugs and marijuana has often been called a “gateway drug”.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse reported that about one out of three, of nearly 62 million Americans, who are over the age of thirteen, have tried marijuana at least once. This is an astonishing number, and can be contributed to the lack of knowledge, and how easily marijuana can be obtained among such young age groups.

Marijuana addiction is mostly a mental and psychological addiction. There really is no definitive evidence among human and animal research that marijuana is physically addictive. Marijuana addiction has similar signs and indicators as other drug addictions. For example, an obsession with obtaining marijuana, where and how to get it, spending all of the person’s money on marijuana, and coming up with excuses as to why it’s not a good time to quit using marijuana, are all examples.

Short-term effects of a marijuana addiction include:

• Laziness

• Red, or blood-shot eyes

• Impaired judgment and muscle coordination

• Cardiac problems

• Loss of memory

• Increased appetite

• Lethargy

• Decreased motivation

• Paranoia or anxiety attacks

Long-term marijuana addiction can lead to more serious consequences such as permanent memory loss, heightened inability to learn new things, isolation from family or friends who don’t use, chronic coughing, and even other drug addictions. Long-term marijuana addiction can also lead to problems with fertility. The use of marijuana affects the hormones that produce the hormones that regulate the reproductive system. Men will often experience a decreased sperm count, and women will sometimes experience irregular periods. More likely than not, these problems will only lead to problems when it comes to conceiving, and will not cause complete fertility.

There are some warning signs that one can recognize of someone who is suspected to have a marijuana addiction. Those include:
 

• increased irritability when not on the drug

• increased tolerance to the drug and needing more to achieve the same high

• spending more money than a person has on marijuana

• spending a great deal of time thinking about marijuana and how to get it

• missing important deadlines or events

• change in friends

• happiness only when on marijuana

Treating a marijuana addiction early is one of the best things a person can do. Before marijuana addiction gets to be too serious, or leads to other drugs and serious health problems, getting a hold of the problem is the best method of prevention. The admissions to drug rehab facilities for people with marijuana addictions has nearly doubled over the years, due to an expanded awareness of the danger and problems marijuana addictions can lead to.

Specialized programs and group therapy that are targeted toward a dependency of marijuana has led to a high success rate of recovery from marijuana addiction. More research and information as it is discovered and released will also give researchers, health care providers, and others associated with marijuana addictions a better understanding of how the drug affects individuals, and how to overcome the addiction.