Marijuana/Marijuana Addiction

Marijuana is the name for the drug harvested from the leaves, flowers and stems of the hemp plant. When smoked the drug produces a mild euphoria, a distortion of time and the sharpening of some senses. While there are over 400 chemicals in marijuana with little known of their combined effects on the body, it is THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) that produces the sought after high. Marijuana grown and sold today is much more potent than that produced in the 1960’s.

The debates over legalization of marijuana usually obscure the fact that the drug is definitely addictive. THC is quickly distributed first in the blood and then in other parts of the body, especially in areas of high fat content. In addicts the drug can be detected by drug screens for as long as two months after last use.

Marijuana slows reaction time and can, with prolonged use, produce panic attacks and paranoia. Daily use gradually destroys concentration and learning ability by impairing short-term memory. One of the symptoms of long-term addiction to marijuana is an amotivational syndrome, a social withdrawal and a lack of interest in achievement. It may be that the neurotrasmission system of the brain is impaired to such a degree that it cannot produce the neurotransmitter linked to positive feelings and social interaction.

Withdrawal from marijuana is not as uncomfortable as withdrawal from opiates, but the addict will find a general discomfort, irritability and disrupted sleep. Relapse potential is high unless the addict commits to a structured program of recovery. Cross tolerance to all psychoactive drugs must be stressed, as many patients arrive in treatment believing that they can still drink alcohol if they abstain from marijuana and vice versa. The introduction of any psychoactive drug disrupts the limbic system of the brain and thus a return to active addiction. conclusion. Because the adolescent brain is still maturing the effect of addictive drugs is more pronounced and occurs more quickly. Too often the behavior caused by the drugs is mistaken for a mental disorder and psychoactive drugs are prescribed that cause greater disequilibrium. As with adults our medical team assesses each adolescent's medication history and makes individual recommendations to parents on the medical necessity of each psychoactive drug. If a drug is removed it is always tapered according to pharmaceutical protocols.

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