About 25%, or 70 million Americans, used illicit drugs in 2022, national survey data reveal. More than 17%, or nearly 49 million Americans, reported past-year substance use disorder. For example, THC is able to alter the functioning of the hippocampus (see “Marijuana, Memory, and the Hippocampus”) and orbitofrontal cortex, brain areas that enable a person to form new memories and shift his or her attentional focus. As a result, using marijuana causes impaired thinking and interferes with a person’s ability to learn and perform complicated tasks.
- Drug abuse is when a person’s drug use causes significant negative effects.
- Although detectable amounts of THC may remain in the body for days or even weeks after use, the noticeable effects of smoked marijuana generally last from 1 to 3 hours, and those of marijuana consumed in food or drink may last for many hours.
- In addition to seeking professional treatment, it is a good idea to have a support network of people who can help you through hard times and celebrate your successes with you.
- Examples include therapy and motivational incentives (providing rewards to patients who remain drug-free).
- Opioids are effective painkillers, but they can also be addictive, and the U.S. remains in the grip of an opioid use disorder crisis.
- Westfahl reported that 1,413 people died from drug overdoses in 2022 in Philadelphia, up from 1,276 overdose deaths in 2021, a 10% increase.
The FDA approved the first over-the-counter nasal naloxone spray in March. The agency also approved a second agent to reverse https://ecosoberhouse.com/ opioid overdoses called nalmefene in May. In 2010, for example, fentanyl was involved in fewer than 10% of drug overdoses.
The Effects of Marijuana Abuse
There are a variety of treatments available, and if one doesn’t work, another one may be better for you. Many people can use marijuana safely without becoming addicted or abusing it. But like any mind-altering substance, there’s always a chance that it can become problematic.
- Scientists have historically classified marijuana (THC) as a hallucinogen.
- Cannabis is thought to ease pain and inflammation and help control spasms and seizures.
- Instead of feeling relaxed, the person tends to feel restless or irritable; instead of craving sweet or fatty foods, the person can lose their appetite; instead of feeling sleepy, the person can experience rebound insomnia.
- “This would include assessing cannabis use disorder, a problematic pattern cannabis use that affects a person’s well-being and ability to function, addressing pain management needs and treating co-occurring psychiatric conditions, such as depression and anxiety.”
- If you or someone you love may be experiencing marijuana abuse or addiction, talk with a trusted healthcare professional.
The opposing, and increasingly popular, viewpoint, that cannabis can help wean people with opioid use disorder off opioids, is also called into question in this new study. As people age, they lose neurons in the hippocampus, which decreases their ability to learn new information. Chronic THC exposure may hasten age-related loss of hippocampal neurons. In one study, rats exposed to THC every day for 8 months (approximately 30% of their lifespan) showed a level of nerve cell loss at 11 to 12 months of age that equaled that of unexposed animals twice their age. Westfahl reported that 1,413 people died from drug overdoses in 2022 in Philadelphia, up from 1,276 overdose deaths in 2021, a 10% increase.
Marijuana and Pregnancy
No medications are currently available to treat marijuana use disorder, but behavioral support has been shown to be effective. Examples include therapy and motivational incentives (providing rewards to patients who remain drug-free). Continuing research may lead to new medications that help ease withdrawal symptoms, block the effects of marijuana, and prevent relapse. After examining the acute and long-term effects of cannabis, CUD appears to conform to the general patterns of changes described in the Koob and Volkow model of addiction.
When considering gender, alcohol users had more significant gender differences compared to the marijuana users. Generally, females reported less energy, more emotional instability, and more psychological problems in comparison to males. Research is needed on the ways in which government policies on marijuana affect public health outcomes. Historically, there has been an inverse correlation between marijuana use and the perception of its risks among adolescents (Fig. 2A). Assuming that this inverse relationship is causal, would greater permissiveness in culture and social policy lead to an increase in the number of young people who are exposed to cannabis on a regular basis?
How we reviewed this article:
These devices pull the active ingredients (including THC) from the marijuana and collect their vapor in a storage unit. SAMHSA’s mission is to lead public health and service delivery efforts that promote mental health, prevent substance misuse, and provide treatments and supports to foster recovery while ensuring equitable access and better outcomes. Mothers who smoke pot while pregnant face a higher risk of giving birth to underweight or premature babies.
Here we summarize findings about the effects of chronic cannabis use on these circuits. The preoccupation/ anticipation stage is implicated in the reinstatement of substance use following abstinence. Executive control over craving and impulsivity is key in maintaining abstinence and is mediated by the PFC. Behaviorally, this translates into excessive salience attribution to drug-paired marijuana addiction cues, decreases in responsiveness to non-drug cues and reinforcers, and decreases in the ability to inhibit maladaptive behavior (Koob and Volkow 2016). Recent research suggests that if you start to use marijuana at a young age, use it frequently, and for a long period of time, you could be at risk of having schizophrenia or other mental conditions that involve psychosis.
THC also disrupts functioning of the cerebellum and basal ganglia, brain areas that regulate balance, posture, coordination, and reaction time. This is the reason people who have used marijuana may not be able to drive safely (see “Does marijuana use affect driving?”) and may have problems playing sports or engaging in other physical activities. Recovery from marijuana addiction is not something that you should try to tackle all on your own. In addition to seeking professional treatment, it is a good idea to have a support network of people who can help you through hard times and celebrate your successes with you. This support network can be made up of family and friends, fellow patients you meet in treatment, people you interact with at 12-step meetings, and even online support groups and forums. Scientists and healthcare providers can’t state any general benefits of marijuana with certainty.
Studies also note that if you’re at risk of a mental condition, you may be more likely to smoke marijuana at an earlier age, maybe as a way to medicate yourself. Using marijuana may raise your chances of clinical depression or worsen the symptoms of any mental disorders you already have. More clinical trials are needed to provide a thorough assessment of the safety and effectiveness of cannabis to ease symptoms of opioid addiction, De Aquino added. About 120 people die each day from drug overdoses related to opioid addiction, the researchers said in background notes. Opioid use disorder and related deaths cost the U.S. economy more than $1 trillion a year.
Leave A Comment