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Why Is Marijuana So Addictive?

Thursday, April 23, 2009
Related Tags: marijuana | addiction | nida | symptoms | withdrawal
 

Instructions

Marijuana Misconceptions

  • Step 1:
    Marijuana is an illegal substance, just like heroin, cocaine and other illicit substances. Yet marijuana addiction is different from the experiences of an alcoholic or a heroin addict. These other drugs have physically addictive properties, but marijuana does not. Therefore, there are few or no withdrawal symptoms.

Effects of Marijuana

  • Step 1:
    One thing that marijuana does have in common with the stronger abused drugs is that it releases dopamine along the reward pathway of the brain. When marijuana is smoked, it produces a euphoric effect, distorts perception, increases the heart rate and lowers the blood pressure.

Is Marijuana Addictive?

  • Step 1:
    According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, long-term marijuana use leads to addiction in some people. Addiction in this sense consists of the inability to control urges to seek out and use marijuana.

Possible Marijuana Withdrawal Symptoms

  • Step 1:
    The National Institute on Drug Abuse states that, when long-term marijuana users do experience withdrawal symptoms, they generally include irritability, sleeplessness, decreased appetite, anxiety and drug cravings. These symptoms normally do not last for more than two weeks.

Marijuana Addiction Treatment

  • Step 1:
    In most cases, marijuana is used in conjunction with other drugs or alcohol. Marijuana treatment exclusively is rather rare. NIDA supports the use of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for the treatment of those that believe they are addicted to marijuana.

Resources

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Why Is Marijuana So Addictive? Provided by eHow.com
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