Marijuana use by adults in safe environments, such as at home but not while driving a vehicle, is a pastime that can be enjoyed occasionally without too much worry. It is when the occasional enjoyment becomes habitual overuse that there may be a serious problem.
As marijuana becomes legalized in more and more states for recreational use, it is important to understand the health risks
Marijuana use can lead to the development of problem use, known as a marijuana use disorder, which takes the form of addiction in severe cases.
The vast majority of people who use marijuana, or weed, for recreational purposes, do not become addicted to it. However, about 9% of adults who are regular users become addicted. In younger people, the addiction rates are higher: Research reports that about 17% of teenage marijuana users become addicted.
Marijuana use disorder becomes an addiction when the person cannot stop using the drug even though it interferes with many aspects of his or her life.
. Marijuana IS addictive. Here are a few statistics to make this clearer.
What are the odds of becoming addicted? Studies have shown that:
Of all the people who use marijuana, about one in eleven will become addicted.
When a young person begins smoking marijuana in his or her TEENS, he (or she) has a one in six chance of becoming addicted.
In 2011, there were nearly half a million visits to ERs related to problems with marijuana use. Common symptoms were severe nausea, vomiting, high blood pressure, anxiety, panic attacks and paranoia.
According to the 2013 World Drug Report, an estimated 1 in 15 high school seniors is a daily or near-daily user of cannabis. For parents who once smoked marijuana “on the weekend or at parties,” they can understand what a high school student smoking DAILY would mean to his ability to really do school or be a school kid.
Worsening mental and physical health
Relationship problems
Higher probability of dropping out of school or abandoning goals
Lower grades and reduced academic success
Increased absences from school or work
More workers’ compensation claims
Less career success compared to peers.
Drugs work very well, at first, for mentally ill people. If you’re anxious, it’ll go away with a couple of hits, a beer. It’s like magic. But then, the tolerance sets in. So, not only do they need to drink more to relieve the anxiety but every single time they try to stop, the underlying anxiety comes back worse.
Marijuana withdrawal, unlike withdrawal from a heavy alcohol dependency or harder drugs, is rarely life-threatening. Severe alcoholics and heroin addicts can die from withdrawal if the process is not managed properly with adequate healthcare.
It is important that adults use marijuana in a responsible way and set a good example for teenagers. Addiction is becoming a bigger problem and those who experience discomfort about their marijuana use should seek professional help.
