What is marijuana?
Marijuana is an illegal drug that comes from dried flowers and leaves of the
hemp plant. It can be smoked, taken by the mouth, or put into foods. When taken,
marijuana alters a person's mood. Its psychological effects include:
- Increased laughter
- An intense feeling of great happiness or well-being
- Increased appetite
Larger doses of marijuana can produce:
Marijuana available today is more than 20 times as potent as what was
available in the early 1960s.
What's so bad about marijuana?
Marijuana is risky for many reasons. Consider these facts:
Marijuana:
- Makes it more difficult for the body to fight illnesses
- When smoked, contains over 2,000 chemicals that can stay in your body up to a month
- Can harm the heart, lungs, brain, and sex organs
- Contains more cancer-causing agents than cigarettes
Marijuana use can lead to:
- Asthma
- Memory loss
- Panic attacks
- Lung damage
- Brain damage
- Slowed reaction time
- Change in sex drive
- Death due to impaired driving
- False beliefs
- Unfounded fear or distrust
- Decreased immunity to illnesses
People who use marijuana often:
- Lack energy and motivation
- Lose interest in activities, work, and school
- Have difficulty concentrating and learning
When should I seek help for marijuana use?
If you can answer "yes" to even one of these questions, it is time to seek help:
- Do you often wonder when you can smoke again?
- Do you worry if you can't get marijuana?
- Is smoking marijuana creating problems in your job, school, or relationships?
- Do you spend more and more money on pot?
- Have you been stopped for driving while high?
Can a person become addicted to marijuana?
Yes. A person who uses marijuana heavily might find that he or she needs more
and more of the drug to obtain the desired effect. This condition happens when
the body begins to adjust to marijuana. The user may spend more time and money
on his or her drug habit. As an addict, he or she might:
- Behave less responsibly
- Withdraw from family and friends
- Be overly focused on getting the drug at the expense of other activities
Unlike drugs such heroin and cocaine, marijuana does not produce strong
physical withdrawal symptoms. What's most important to remember is that any time
drug or alcohol use continues to affect your life in a negative way, it's time to seek help.
How can I help someone who is abusing marijuana?
Although it might be obvious to you that someone you care about needs help,
people with drug problems often do not believe they have a problem. Arguing or
trying to push someone to stop using or taking drugs rarely works. There are
ways that you can help the person realize that he or she needs help.
- Don't attempt to "shame" the person
out of drug use. Feelings of guilt or shame are often a cause of drug use.
- Don't confront a person who is high or drunk.
Let him or her know how you feel when he or she is not using.
- Don't lend money for drugs.
- Encourage the user to seek help.
- Get help for yourself, if you need it.
How is marijuana abuse treated?
Counseling is the main form of treatment. The goal of counseling is to help the
person confront emotional issues that lead to marijuana use and to learn ways to
abstain from marijuana use.
Recovery programs vary in length and can take place in residential treatment
centers or outpatient settings.
Where can I seek help?
National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence
12 West 21st Street
New York, NY 10010
1 (800) 622.2255
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This information is provided by the Cleveland Clinic and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. This document was last reviewed on: 2/1/2005...#4392
