There are certain things that define addiction and abuse. If three or more symptoms of distress are seen within a twelve month period then a person is considered addicted. Addiction is a chronic, often relapsing brain disease that causes compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences to the addicted individual and to those around him or her. Although the initial decision to take drugs is voluntary for most people, the brain changes that occur over time challenge an addicted person’s self-control and hamper his or her ability to resist intense impulses to take drugs. The main cause of addiction to marijuana is the psychoactive ingredient known as THC. THC stands for delta-9-tetrahydro-cannabinal. It is a drug that is stored
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Chronic marijuana users become physically and emotionally addicted to the effects of the drug, experiencing strong urges to purchase and use the drug even when it goes against their best interests. Each year, more than 150,000 people seek treatment for an addiction to marijuana. Thousands others don’t seek treatment and attempt to cope with the debilitating effects of the drug on their own. They often become caught up in a cycle of attempting to quit followed by a relapse when they are overcome with a compulsion to obtain and use marijuana. Within a few minutes after inhaling marijuana smoke, a person’s heart rate speeds up, the breathing passages relax and become enlarged, and blood vessels in the eyes expand, making the eyes look bloodshot (red). The heart rate—normally 70 to 80 beats per minute—may increase by 20 to 50 beats per minute or may even double in some cases. Taking other drugs with marijuana can amplify this …show more content…
Consequently, someone who smokes marijuana daily may be functioning at a reduced intellectual level most or all of the time. Considerable evidence suggests that students who smoke marijuana have poorer educational outcomes than their nonsmoking peers. For example, a review of 48 relevant studies found marijuana use to be associated with reduced chances of graduation. A recent analysis using data from three large studies in Australia and New Zealand found that adolescents who used marijuana regularly were significantly less likely than their non-using peers to finish high school or obtain a degree. They also had a much higher chance of later developing dependence, using other drugs, and attempting suicide. Several studies have also linked heavy marijuana use to lower income, greater welfare dependence, unemployment, criminal behavior, and lower life
Chronic marijuana users become physically and emotionally addicted to the effects of the drug, experiencing strong urges to purchase and use the drug even when it goes against their best interests. Each year, more than 150,000 people seek treatment for an addiction to marijuana. Thousands others don’t seek treatment and attempt to cope with the debilitating effects of the drug on their own. They often become caught up in a cycle of attempting to quit followed by a relapse when they are overcome with a compulsion to obtain and use marijuana. Within a few minutes after inhaling marijuana smoke, a person’s heart rate speeds up, the breathing passages relax and become enlarged, and blood vessels in the eyes expand, making the eyes look bloodshot (red). The heart rate—normally 70 to 80 beats per minute—may increase by 20 to 50 beats per minute or may even double in some cases. Taking other drugs with marijuana can amplify this …show more content…
Consequently, someone who smokes marijuana daily may be functioning at a reduced intellectual level most or all of the time. Considerable evidence suggests that students who smoke marijuana have poorer educational outcomes than their nonsmoking peers. For example, a review of 48 relevant studies found marijuana use to be associated with reduced chances of graduation. A recent analysis using data from three large studies in Australia and New Zealand found that adolescents who used marijuana regularly were significantly less likely than their non-using peers to finish high school or obtain a degree. They also had a much higher chance of later developing dependence, using other drugs, and attempting suicide. Several studies have also linked heavy marijuana use to lower income, greater welfare dependence, unemployment, criminal behavior, and lower life