Marijuana Withdrawal Help
If you have a marijuana addiction, there are treatment centers and marijuana withdrawal programs geared to helping you NOW. Your marijuana addiction is slowly destroying your body and mind. You need help for your addiction to marijuana, which is taking over your life, hurting those closest to you and stealing your dreams. You have tried to stop using marijuana, but can't stop. You have always returned, worse than before. We know, we've been there and couldn't do it by ourselves either. Call Recovery Connection NOW for help. Call 1-800-99-DETOX. (1-800-993-3869)
Street names for marijuana: grass, pot, weed, bud, Mary Jane, dope, indo, hydro.
Marijuana Addiction Starts with the Addictive Plant
Marijuana addiction has its roots in a plant named Cannabis. Marijuana is most commonly smoked in hand-rolled cigarettes (joints), pipes, cigars (blunts), or water pipes (bongs). The active ingredient in marijuana is THC, which is responsible for the potency and effects of marijuana. THC levels of marijuana in the United States have increased dramatically over the past two decades leading to more marijuana addictions than ever before.
Commercial-grade marijuana contains parts of the marijuana plant such as stems and seeds that are not of high potency. "Sinsemilla," higher potency marijuana, contains only the leaves and buds of the cannabis plant, where THC is most concentrated.
Effects and Consequences of Marijuana Addiction
Marijuana's effects begin as soon as the drug enters the brain, causing the user to feel high for about 1 to 3 hours. The euphoria that results when THC enters the brain is caused by the stimulation of brain cells to release the chemical dopamine. When the euphoria passes, the user may feel sleepy or depressed and may also encounter feelings of panic, anxiety, paranoia or distrust. Continued use, in an attempt to regain that feeling of euphoria can lead to marijuana addiction. If marijuana use is stopped, marijuana withdrawal symptoms may occur.
Acute Effects of Marijuana and Marijuana Addiction
During the marijuana "high" the effected individual may experience these acute effects:
- Impairs short-term memory
- Impairs attention, judgment, and other cognitive functions
- Impairs coordination, balance, and reaction time
- Increases heart rate
Persistent Effects of Marijuana Use
The effects of marijuana use can extend past the time of actual use. These additional effects may or may not become permanent. They include:
- Impairs memory
- Impairs learning skills
- Increases risk of chronic cough, bronchitis, and emphysema
- Long-term (cumulative, potentially permanent effects of chronic abuse)
- Can lead to marijuana addiction
- Increases risk of cancer of the head, neck, and lungs
Marijuana Addiction and Pregnancy
Research has shown that marijuana addiction can affect the fetus in a number of detrimental ways. Fetal exposure to marijuana can cause infants to experience altered responses to visual stimuli and increased tremulousness, which may indicate problems with neurological development. Other studies have shown that during infancy and preschool years, marijuana-exposed children have more behavioral problems than non-exposed children. Research also indicates that fetal marijuana exposure may lead to problems with visual perception, language comprehension, sustained attention, and memory tasks.
Detrimental Health Effects of Marijuana Addiction
Marijuana addiction has been linked to numerous health problems, including:
- Frequent respiratory infections
- Impaired memory and learning
- Increased heart rate
- Anxiety
- Panic attacks
- Disrupted coordination and balance
- Changes in reaction time
In addition, results of a recent study on the effects of marijuana use indicate that a person's risk of heart attack within the first hour of smoking marijuana is four times the usual risk.
Marijuana Addiction and School/Work Performance
Marijuana addiction is believed to have a direct correlation to a drop in grade point averages, decreased satisfaction with school, negative attitudes, and increased rates of school absenteeism among high school and college students.
In a recent study on the effects of marijuana use among high school students, researchers compared marijuana smoking and nonsmoking 12th graders' scores on standardized tests of verbal and mathematical skills. Heavy marijuana users who smoked seven or more times per week scored significantly lower on their tests than nonsmokers.
Marijuana use in the work place may cause increased tardiness, frequent absences, accidents, worker’s compensation claims or job turnover. Studies have also shown that marijuana users have problems far beyond those of their nonsmoking coworkers.
Marijuana Withdrawal
Individuals addicted to marijuana or those who have been abusing the drug for long periods of time may experience cravings and other marijuana withdrawal symptoms when trying to quit. Some of these marijuana withdrawal symptoms include irritability, difficulty sleeping, anxiety and an increase in any feelings of aggression. Addiction treatment is designed to assist those going through marijuana withdrawal and set them on a road to permanent recovery.
Marijuana Addiction Treatment
There is no medication used to treat marijuana addiction. A person experiencing marijuana withdrawal will usually encounter mood swings, agitation, aggressiveness, insomnia, and a craving for the drug. Medication can be prescribed to reduce these marijuana withdrawal symptoms, but rest and talk therapy is usually the best addiction treatment. After about three to five days the actual cravings for the drug will diminish, although the affected individual will still experience thoughts about using the drug. Generally speaking, those affected by marijuana addiction should enroll in outpatient programs. These programs are specifically designed to assist in the development of effective coping skills rather than turning to marijuana use. If the individual continues to return to the use of marijuana or other drugs, they should seek admission to one of many inpatient addiction programs.
If you believe you or someone you know needs help with marijuana addiction, or for immediate assistance finding drug rehab centers that specialize in marijuana addiction and marijuana withdrawal treatment, please call Recovery Connection now at 1-800-99-DETOX. (1-800-993-3869) Help is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Don't wait - GET HELP NOW!
Marijuana Treatment Centers:
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington, D.C.
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
If your state doesn't appear on this list, please call Recovery Connection® at 1-800-99-DETOX and we will be happy to assist you.
