Although these findings support the idea of marijuana as a “gateway drug,” the majority of people who use marijuana don’t go on to use other “harder” drugs. It’s also important to note that other factors besides biological mechanisms, such as a person’s social environment, are also critical in a person’s risk for drug use and addiction. Read more about marijuana as a gateway drug in our Marijuana Research Report. The chronic relapsing nature of addiction seems to involve underlying neurophysiological changes in reward, stress, and executive function circuits (Koob and Volkow 2016).
In addition to its role in HPA axis dysfunction and reward processing, the hyperactivation of the eCS may also play a role in the executive dysfunction sometimes observed in cannabis use. The eCS is highly active in adolescent brain development, particularly in the PFC, a region that exercises executive function (Dow-Edwards and Silva 2017). Exogenous cannabinoids hyperactivate CB1 receptors which are expressed in pyramidal neurons and GABAergic interneurons, indicative of the regulatory role of the eCS in GABA and glutamate neurotransmission (Caballero and Tseng 2012; Volkow et al. 2017a).
Treatment for Marijuana Abuse
The researchers found chronic marijuana use impacts certain aspects of cognition including memory, decision-making, and attention. Specifically, they found that using more marijuana led to larger lapses in memory, mainly among participants who began using marijuana as adolescents. If you’re a regular smoker, you’re more https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/cognitive-dissonance-treatment-in-sober-living/ likely to wheeze, cough, and produce phlegm. Cannabis may aggravate existing respiratory illnesses, such as asthma and cystic fibrosis. It has potential medicinal effects for conditions like epilepsy and anxiety. Drug abuse and addiction can be scary and uncertain, but it’s treatable, and there’s help out there.
- Overall, earlier-onset marijuana users became more persistent users and saw the most cognitive impairment.
- At this time, several THC-based drugs have been approved by the FDA to treat pain and nausea.
They will work with you to get properly evaluated and the appropriate treatment. Treatment options or “rehab” for marijuana addiction is similar to treatment programs and protocols for addiction to alcohol and other drugs. One study found that people who smoke marijuana frequently but do not smoke tobacco have more health problems and miss more days of work than those who don’t smoke marijuana, mainly due to respiratory illnesses. It is not yet known whether marijuana smoking contributes to the risk for lung cancer.
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But researchers are still learning about these, especially long-term effects. Scientists have historically classified marijuana (THC) as a hallucinogen. However, not all instances of marijuana use cause hallucinogen-like effects. marijuana addiction In other words, marijuana is cannabis, but not all forms of cannabis are marijuana (contain THC). Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
Cannabis is not an effective treatment for opioid addiction, a new study of thousands of people being treated for opioid use disorder suggests. This article reviews recent literature regarding adverse effects of marijuana use. Negative effects of marijuana use relating to physical health, psychological well-being, and outcomes such as academic performance are discussed, especially in relation to the adolescent population. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies marijuana as a Schedule I substance. This means that it has no currently accepted medical uses and a high potential for addiction. But providers may certify marijuana use to help with certain medical conditions in states that legally allow it.
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For frequent users, higher potency can increase the risk of marijuana addiction. An overdose occurs when a person uses enough of the drug to produce life-threatening symptoms or death. However, some people who use marijuana can feel some very uncomfortable side effects, especially when using marijuana products with high THC levels.
Previous preclinical and clinical studies indicate that features of the three stages of drug addiction described by Koob and Volkow are also present in cannabis addiction (Fig. (Fig.1),1), although these findings may not be as robust as other drugs of abuse. Endogenous cannabinoids such as anandamide (see figure) function as neurotransmitters because they send chemical messages between nerve cells (neurons) throughout the nervous system. They affect brain areas that influence pleasure, memory, thinking, concentration, movement, coordination, and sensory and time perception.
