You never hear of any dying from daily pot use. You certainly don’t hear
about it in the same way you hear about deaths and other tragedies
caused by alcohol and other “harder” drugs. And, there are some serious
medical conditions for which marijuana is now believed to be an
effective treatment. Additionally, the movement to legalize marijuana
seems to be growing—25 states have legalized medical marijuana, while
four states plus Washington, D.C. have gone even further and legalized
recreational use of pot.
So, what’s the big deal?
Well…The big deal is that like any substance or activity that has
the ability to alter your mood or neurological responses, marijuana can
be addictive. And, like all other addictions, it can have a devastating
impact on your life.
Nowhere to Turn
When people do start to feel that their marijuana use is interfering
with their lives and relationships in a negative way, they often have
trouble asking for and getting the support they need. Molly Hankins, in a
personal essay for Nylon magazine, put it like this: “Being a junkie or
an alcoholic who turns themselves over to a 12-step program, the sober
lifestyle, God, whatever, registers at the David Bowie end of the
addiction spectrum. Being addicted to weed barely registers as laughable
and there’s no one in my life I feel comfortable talking to about it.
As the era of marijuana prohibition in this country seems to finally be
coming to an end, what is the popular discussion surrounding appropriate
use? How much is too much? How do I stop if I want to but can’t?
Among the many excellent pointsMolly makes in her essay, her point
about the need for a discussion around marijuana and addiction really
hits home. The low rate of fatalities directly related to marijuana use,
as opposed to heroin or alcohol use, for example, may have contributed
to a general societal complacency around Marijuana addiction.
It’s important to note that even though weed may not be as fatal,
statistically speaking, as heroin or alcohol, depression is often
co-occurring condition that goes along with marijuana addiction. And,
withdrawal from marijuana can exacerbate symptoms of depression and
anxiety. Many people—like “Jake” who wrote a letter to Scientific
American in 2012 describing his marijuana addiction—often end up having
suicidal thoughts.
This means that the drug can, in a way, be indirectly tied to some
fatalities. The drug may not be directly responsible for deaths related
to suicide, but it certainly doesn’t help to prevent them. Here’s how
Jake describes his experience:
“Over time, the proportion of high time to clean time became steadily
more heavy on the high side. I went through several periods of
suicidally. During my last six months of use the possible necessity to
kill myself always seemed just a week or two away. My plan while I was
at school was to jump off of a nearby parking garage. At home, I would
use my dad's shotgun to shoot myself in the head. I didn't want to feel
what I felt when I wasn't high. Luckily, I always got high before I was
ready to actually kill myself.”
How Much is Too Much?
For those who become addicted to marijuana, "recreational use" of the
drug slowly stops being fun or relaxing. The need to smoke in order to
cope with life’s ups and downs and the need to hide how much you’re
smoking (or ingesting) from others can have the same isolating and
disruptive effects on a person’s life as any other addiction. Here are a
few of the signs that someone may be dependent on the drug:
1. CravingPeople who are addicted to pot often
think that they aren’t "really addicted" if they don't smoke it every
day. While it’s true that marijuana addicts can go a few days between
smoking again before they suffer any symptoms, it’s important to note
that that’s because the chemicals in marijuana can stay in a person’s
system for days. Once all of those chemicals are out of their system,
subtle but serious withdrawal symptoms can start to set in. The first
sign is a craving powerful enough to drive the addict to use the drug
again.
2. Irritability and DepressionPeople who are
addicted to marijuana find themselves becoming increasingly irritable
and depressed if they go many hours without another hit. Often they
don’t recognize the connection between their mood changes and the drug.
After several days without the drug addicts can begin to develop severe
depression accompanied by frequent crying spells. Many in recovery from
marijuana addiction say the experienced a rapid and immense drop in
self-confidence and self-esteem along with intense feelings of worthless
and anxiety. Some even developed suicidal thoughts.
3. Loss of Ambition
While some pot users may
continue to function at their jobs and their personal lives, addicts may
end up accomplishing a lot less than would if they were not addicted to
the drug. People who were once active and ambitious may stop
participating in work, school or social functions, and lower their
ambitions or drop them altogether.
4. Physical Changes
Withdrawal from marijuana can
also include physical symptoms like nausea and loss of appetite. People
in withdrawal often also report having sleep disturbances and
nightmares that can continue over a period of months.
How Do I Stop If I Want To But Can’t?
Many people with addiction and substance use problems are afraid to
ask for help because of the stigma associated with the disorder. This
can especially be true for those struggling with marijuana addiction.
Since many harbor the belief that marijuana is a completely harmless
drug, many addicts might assume that their friends and or family members
will dismiss their concerns, especially if they are marijuana users too
who don’t feel that they have experienced any ill effects from the
drug.
So, it’s especially important for those who fear that they may be
dependent on pot to know that they are not alone - many people struggle
with this particular drug in the same ways that they do. They are not
imagining things—marijuana addiction is real and it can be treated. And,
They are not weak - anyone can become addicted to marijuana.
Help for Marijuana Addiction
If you think that you or a loved might have a problem with marijuana,
reach out for help from a therapist and a local Marijuana Anonymous
(MA) group.
If the addiction is severe and is accompanied by other disorders such
as depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder—and it often is— inpatient
or intensive outpatient treatment may be needed. If so, look for a
program that provides treatments that can begin to heal both the
emotional and neurological aspects of addiction through trauma work,
experiential therapies like equine therapy and art therapy, and
brain-based therapies like biofeedback and neuro feedback.
Our specialists at
The Meadows would be happy to answer any questions
you might have about addiction treatment. Please call us anytime at
800-244-4949 or chat with us through our website.
Reference Source:
Addiction Treatment Center In Arizona 
