Marijuana Addiction

Reach out now, we can help

Home / Drug Addiction / Marijuana Addiction

What is a Marijuana addiction
- South Africa recently made the monumental decision that the prosecution of marijuana use is now unconstitutional. This has resulted in much hot debate. Marijuana can now be legally used by adults within private dwellings. The finer details of the law are still up for debate and discussion. It remains to be seen who can legally buy marijuana, how much a person can have in their possession and who may legally sell it along with a host of other concerns.
  
  Though marijuana may not cause the same physical dependency as other drugs, it is psychologically addictive. This means that people rely on it for emotional and psychological stability. In an article by the Los Angeles Times it was stated that around 9% of people who use marijuana become addicted to it. Addiction is not a matter of withdrawal driving a person to use. This is obvious, otherwise people would not return to their drug of choice once these symptoms have subsided. People use drugs for a variety of reasons, mainly because they do not know how to cope with their everyday challenges without them. Marijuana is no different to any other drug in this regard. It can, and is, used so that people can separate themselves from their reality.
  
  According to the South African Community Epidemiology Network on Drug Use (SACENDU), October 2018 report marijuana is still the most common illicit drug used, especially among youth attending specialist treatment centres. Between 30% of patients in the Western Cape and 55% in Gauteng, attending specialist treatment centres had marijuana as their primary or secondary drug of use.
  
  It should also be noted that marijuana as we know it today is completely different from what the plant originally was. There are two main ingredients in marijuana.THC and CBD. THC is the chemical compound in marijuana that gets you high, CBD acts as a natural anti-psychotic and for a long time the two would balance each other out. Through breeding methods most marijuana has a much higher THC content than it had even a few years ago. This is a result of the demand for stronger and better drugs. It has also been speculated that the increase in THC and subsequent lowering of CBD levels affects the demand for rehabilitation for marijuana use.
Short-term effects
- The short-term effects of marijuana occur because THC rapidly moves from the lungs into the blood. This chemical acts on cannabinoid receptors, leading to a high for users. These receptors are found in the parts of the brain that influence concentration, thinking, sensory and time perception, pleasure, memory and coordination. The effects may include :
  - Severe anxiety, including fear that one is being watched or followed (paranoia)
  - Short-term memory problems
  - Strange behaviour, seeing, hearing or smelling things that aren’t there, not being able to tell imagination from reality (psychosis)
  - Loss of a sense of personal identity
  - Lowered reaction time
  - Increased heart rate (risk of heart attack)
  - Increased risk of stroke
  - Problems with coordination (impairing safe driving)
Long-term effects
- The long-term effects of marijuana can lead to an adverse effect on memory and learning. Those who smoke marijuana consistently when young may experience cognitive impairment as adults even when no longer using the drug. The long-term effects of marijuana can be unpredictable and can also lead to a number of other unwanted effects, such as respiratory issues, difficulties learning and issues with problem-solving. Additionally, marijuana use has been associated with certain mental health issues such as depression and anxiety and may even worsen symptoms in those with schizophrenia. Long-term effects may include :
  - Poor school performance
  - Impaired thinking and ability to learn and perform complex tasks
  - Lower life satisfaction
  - Addiction (about 9% of adults and 17% of people who started smoking as teens)
  - Relationship problems, intimate partner violence
  - Antisocial behaviour
- Studies have shown that marijuana withdrawal symptoms can appear less than 1 day after the last use, reaching peak intensity between days 2 and 4, and can generally last for 7 to 10 days. Even after withdrawal symptoms have disappeared, it is important to seek treatment to address the underlying causes of the addiction.
What are synthetic cannabinoids?
- A synthetic cannabinoid is a chemical compound that activates the same neuroreceptor in the brain as organic cannabinoids, such as THC that is found in marijuana. They are not the same chemical. They simply have a similar effect on the same part of the brain. The chemical compound is added to plant matter that makes it easy to smoke. Despite some misconceptions these substances contain no actual cannabis. It can also be consumed as a tea or in some cases the drug is produced as a liquid that can be used in vapes or e-cigarettes.
  
  Synthetic cannabinoids were first produced in a lab by chemist John Huffman as part of his research into marijuana. This research was leaked and black-market producers quickly realized that since these substances contained no actual banned chemicals, they could easily be sold and marketed to vulnerable persons as an alternative to illegal drugs such as marijuana and other party drugs.
  
  The science behind synthetic cannabinoids made it very appealing to producers who wanted to skirt around the law. When a government classes or criminalizes a drug, they use its chemical structure to identify it. Because the manufactures could continually shift a few molecules around they could keep the drugs legal. But this also poses a huge danger to the persons consuming it. One synthetic cannabinoid, HU-210, was found to be 100 times more potent than THC. A person could buy the same brand, from the same vendor and receive a vastly different product. This dramatically increases the likelihood of overdose
  
  Synthetic cannabinoids are sold under a range of names, the common ones being: Herbal Blend, Blazing, Puff, Spice, Incense, Fake Weed, K2. It comes in small foil packets and will look like a legitimate mass-produced product. The contents resemble dried marijuana, but also Robertson’s Mixed Herbs. Many manufactures will not put any identifying information on the packaging but it will often come with warnings such as: Harmful if swallowed , May cause respiratory irritation , or even Not for human consumption.
  
  For the moment, all synthetic cannabinoids are not under any type of legal restriction in South Africa. These products can be bought, sold and consumed without any fear of legal repercussions. The drug has however been criminalized in many parts of the world due to its dangerous and addictive nature. In most cases the passing of this drugs classification and the subsequent criminalizing, has been as a response to an epidemic like surge in use. The UK passed their Psychoactive Substances Act in 2016 as a response to the Spice Crisis . When considering legality, it is always important to remember that just because something is legal does not mean it is safe.
Effects include
- Because of the ever-changing chemical structure of synthetic marijuana, side effects are difficult to pin down. Problems may vary from batch to batch. What we do know for sure is that synthetic cannabinoids are highly addictive, have a high propensity for abuse and do cause withdrawal symptoms after sustained use.
  
  The following is a list of documented side effects:
  - Hallucinations
  - Tremor
  - Vomiting
  - Anxiety
  - High blood pressure
  - Confusion and paranoia
  - Rapid heart rate
  - Heart attack
  - Renal failure
  - Seizures
  - Loss of consciousness
  - Bleeding from the eyes, nose and ears
  - Psychotic and violent behaviour
  - Psychosis (lasting anywhere between a few weeks to a few months)
  - In extreme cases death

If drugs are controlling your life, we can help. TALK TO US NOW

Drug Rehabilitation Treatment

The idea of overcoming drug addiction may seem overwhelming, but recovery is possible at Crossroads Recovery Centre…..

View our treatment program

Addiction Rehabilitation &
Treatment is a Phone Call Away

The road to recovery is not always an easy one but getting yourself or your loved one the best care from the team at Crossroads Recovery Centres provides you with a map to sober, healthy living. No matter how bad things seem, there is hope and it’s just a phone call away.

Johannesburg Admissions: +27 74 895 1043

Outpatients Admissions: +27 84 840 0079

Pretoria Admissions: +27 82 653 3311

Stories of Recovery

The encouragement, love and support from the team at Crossroads allowed me to eventually see that I was worth something - that my life could be turned around and that I could accomplish the things that had long been a forgotten dream.
Oliver VG
Read more
On the last day of my stint at Crossroads I could only express gratitude towards all who works there. A wise councillor once commented on my question when one is ready for rehab by explaining that when one is ready for rehab, rehab is ready for you.
Johan B
Read more
I was lost and my soul was broken until I ended up at Crossroads and was introduced to the Twelve Steps. With the help of their excellent staff and amazing support I have recently been clean for 18 months, I could not have done it without them!
Carla S
Read more
"Just for today I am more than three years in recovery. I have Cross Roads to thank for this wonderful gift. Cross Roads helped me to set a firm foundation in my recovery on which I can continue to build."
Angelique J
Read more