Marijuana Addiction: What Every Parent Should Know
Marijuana is highly addictive and is often called pot, marijuana, weed, weed, or even Mary Jane. It is a greenish mixture of dried and crushed leaves, seeds, flowers and stems. Most people smoke this mixture using hand-rolled cigarettes, called joints, and some even call them “bongs.” Another favorite method is to make “Blunts”, which are made by slicing cigars and then replacing the tobacco with marijuana. It is often combined with other drugs such as cocaine. Some addicts also use it to make tea or sometime consume it mixed with food.
An individual becomes highly addicted to marijuana, and then this addiction limits their potential. It triggers numerous psychiatric disorders, and individuals suffer the withdrawal syndrome associated with this drug when stopping consumption. This is a real threat to the younger generation that is looking for instant happiness. In general, parents are unaware of many of the habits of adolescents and underestimate the threat that marijuana represents for the adolescents of the 21st century.
Power has increased many times compared to what it was a few decades ago. The drug that is available on the market today is quite different from what was available in the past. Much of this drug is grown using hydroponics and fertilizers. So it’s not the same drug that your Uncle Eddie grew in his backyard. It is 6 times stronger than the variety that was available during the 1960’s and 1970’s. This increase in potency unfortunately increases the health and social risk and later leads to addiction. Marijuana addiction is inevitable and only detoxification can save the addict.
Specialists have categorized marijuana as an addictive drug and have documented it as a drug that causes withdrawal symptoms when addicts try to break this deadly habit. The intensity of the withdrawal symptom is not as high as that suffered by heroin addicts, but it is still dangerous and as intense as alcohol detoxification. Parents should know that detoxification is unpleasant and could really pose a threat during the recovery stages.
Marijuana Withdrawal Symptoms
Considered highly addictive and characterized as compulsive, often uncontrollable.
Tolerance: Generally characterized by increased intake of marijuana to achieve maximum intoxication, thus diminishing the effect due to excessive use of the same amount of marijuana.
Insomnia: addicts don’t get enough sleep.
Irritability: Generally relates well to mood swings.
Nausea.
Lack of appetite.
Strong craving that makes the addict uncomfortable, which many people cannot overcome for the first few days, leading to high withdrawal symptoms. This, in turn, forces people to use more marijuana to reduce withdrawal symptoms.
The abuse is so strong that many teens are addicted to it, seeking residential treatment. Heavy use increases present and future psychiatric problems leading to depression and anxiety and sometimes cancer.
How to overcome addiction
The occasional joint doesn’t do much damage, but a lot of people get addicted to it. Recreational use usually leads to addiction, and this addiction disrupts daily life. Thousands of children receive treatment in various rehabilitation centers every year.
It’s not unusual for someone to seek professional help, so go ahead and seek help for your child if you notice any of the symptoms listed above; as they say, “A stitch in time saves nine” because the sooner the problem is fixed, the better the end result will be.