MS Marijuana Addiction
Treatment & Recovery
More than ever before, an increasing number of people are at risk of developing a marijuana addiction, despite the myth that marijuana can’t be addictive. This increased risk comes from shifting perspectives on marijuana, easier access to the drug through legalization in some parts of the country, and its increased potency over time. In fact, on average, marijuana is four times stronger today than it was in the 1990s.
There is a lot of misinformation about marijuana addiction around the internet, so we at Extra Mile Recovery want to clear up some important facts about this drug, explain how marijuana addiction occurs, and explore ways our marijuana addiction recovery program can help if you or a loved one are struggling with marijuana abuse.
What is
Marijuana?
Marijuana goes by many names — “weed,” “pot,” and “cannabis” are a few of the most popular, but there are several others. It’s a psychoactive drug that’s made using dried flowers from Cannabis plants, and its active chemical, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), can cause pleasurable feelings, muscle relaxation, and increased appetite. It can also change the way users think by affecting memory, critical thinking, coordination, perception, response, and motivation.
Marijuana is available by prescription in Mississippi only for people with severe epilepsy. In all other medical or recreational cases, it is illegal to consume, possess, and distribute the drug. It’s important to note that just because a drug can have medicinal purposes, that doesn’t mean it’s safe: both opioid pain medications and prescription benzodiazepines can be both addictive and dangerous when abused.
Marijuana Abuse
and Potential Risks
While it’s true that marijuana isn’t physically or chemically addictive, it can absolutely still be mentally addictive and make users feel like they can’t live their lives without it. Addiction is marked by a loss of control over using the substance, but many marijuana users will still experience dependence or withdrawal symptoms. When a person’s life starts to be controlled by their cannabis use, it’s referred to as a “marijuana use disorder”. About 3 out of every 10 marijuana users will develop a marijuana use disorder. [2]
Marijuana isn’t acutely dangerous to use, but it can impair rational thought and motor skills, making it dangerous to complete certain tasks — such as driving — when under the influence. There are also more dangerous synthetic versions of marijuana. “Spice” and “K2” are slang terms for a generation of lab-made drugs made to imitate marijuana, all of which are illegal in Mississippi. Despite being banned, though, these imitators are harder to regulate, and may still be sold in some stores under misleading names.
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Signs and Symptoms
of Marijuana Addiction
Marijuana is perhaps most well-known for its distinctive smell and the bloodshot eyes of those who use it. However, some signs of marijuana abuse and dependence aren’t always so obvious.
Here are some of the most common signs and symptoms of marijuana abuse:
Here are some of the most common signs and symptoms of marijuana abuse:
- Emotional instability: Mood swings, anxiety, paranoia, irritability, low motivation, restlessness
- Altered thinking: Poor memory, inability to make decisions, difficulty learning, worse coordination, changes to senses and perception
- Societal issues: Problems at school or work including attendance and completing work, borrowing and stealing, legal problems
- Physical signs: Significant weight change, rapid heartbeat, chronic cough, red eyes, dry mouth, poor hygiene, bad health, marijuana smell
- New behaviors: Greatly increased or decreased appetite, insomnia, poor reaction times, engaging in risky activities, frequent use, fewer effects from use, loss of control over use
- Hiding use: Covering smells with deodorizers, preventing eye redness with eyedrops, buying or stealing paraphernalia associated with marijuana use such as lighters
Effects of
Marijuana Abuse
Long-term marijuana abuse can affect both the mind and body. Chronic users can develop depression, anxiety, paranoia, and even changes to their personality. Longtime users, especially teens, may also impair their own cognitive development, making it difficult to learn, use their memory, or become motivated to fulfill certain responsibilities, including job and school work.
A common method of consuming marijuana is through burning the drug and inhaling the smoke. Smoking has its own risks, and has the potential to cause lung infections, heart problems, poor immune systems, brain damage, and cancer. Smoking marijuana is dangerous for pregnant users as well, and is linked to fertility issues and developmental disorders.
Mississippi Marijuana
Detox and Withdrawal
Whether or not a user has a marijuana addiction, they’re still at risk to experience withdrawal symptoms. Marijuana withdrawal is typically most intense between one and three days after its last use, but can last for up to two weeks. Withdrawal symptoms aren’t generally life-threatening, but can cause serious discomfort, pain, and turmoil that can result in relapse. These symptoms include:
- Irritability and anger
- Anxiety and paranoia
- Depression and suicidal thoughts
- Restlessness and insomnia
- Altered appetite, fluctuating weight, and abdominal pain
- Fever-like symptoms including tremors, sweats, chills, and migraines
- Irritability and anger
- Anxiety and paranoia
- Fever-like symptoms including tremors, sweats, chills, and migraines
- Restlessness and insomnia
- Altered appetite, fluctuating weight, and abdominal pain
- Depression and suicidal thoughts
While it’s less common, some chronic users experience Post-Acute Withdrawal Symptoms (PAWS), meaning that they have some of the above symptoms — or issues with focus, memory, decision-making, and marijuana cravings — for a longer period of time after ceasing their use of the drug.
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Treatment for Marijuana Addiction
in Mississippi
Marijuana addiction presents some unique challenges, including in how it’s perceived: many people don’t believe that marijuana addiction can occur, or that it represents a major problem. For a person abusing marijuana, it can be difficult to commit to getting clean and living a healthier life.
At Extra Mile Recovery, we believe that the solution lies in tackling these challenges head on — namely, through a diverse range of therapeutic methods that aim to overcome mental blocks and stigmas unique to marijuana addiction. Our founders and many of our staff have personal experience with addiction rehab, and we understand the difference that a compassionate, personalized treatment plan can make in empowering clients to change their lives.
To learn more about our addiction rehab center in Mississippi and how you or a loved one might benefit from a marijuana addiction recovery program, please call Extra Mile Recovery at 662-810-4146 today.
