37 Tons of David Victorson: A Tale of Ballsy Redemption
Ultimately, he became a skillful drug counselor and for some years a rehab center owner himself, specializing in treating young addicts. For years he had sold drugs without thinking about any harm the drugs might cause to his customers, but now his … Read more on Huffington Post

NFL Notes: Houston WR Andre Johnson reports to camp
He entered the league with a history of marijuana abuse after failing two drug tests in college. Gordon reportedly entered a rehab clinic following a recent DUI arrest in North Carolina. Gordon participated with Cleveland's other veterans in a … Read more on Yakima Herald-Republic

Jim & Doreen: NBC4's top-rated anchors are still leading the pack after 25 years
She thought she wanted to be a print journalist, but at the University of Georgia, she discovered she liked broadcasting. … Once, years later, when his mother visited him in a drug-rehabilitation facility, a counselor asked him what he wanted to say … Read more on Washington Post

Question by patcheze: What is Marijuana abuse?

Best answer:

Answer by ChicagoParty5420
NO SUCH THING…:)

Add your own answer in the comments!

Guest column: Is legalizing marijuana good for our kids?
Young people are more susceptible to addiction because their developing brains are not capable of moderating the drug's use and abuse. Marijuana is responsible for the most adolescent drug treatment admissions in this country and it is the second most … Read more on Florida Today

Feds' Medical Marijuana Program Abused By Opportunistic Criminals, RCMP Says
Police investigations have revealed various abuses of the federal medical marijuana program, including trafficking for personal gain, violent theft of homegrown pot and involvement of organized crime, RCMP Cpl. Shane Holmquist says in an affidavit … Read more on Huffington Post Canada

Tinted lights lead to child abuse charge for Loxahatchee men
A deputy pulled over Guillermo Ramirez, 49, of Loxahatchee Groves, driving near 66th Court N and Indian Trail Drive in Loxahatchee at about 7:30 p.m. and said he smelled a strong odor of marijuana. "Guillermo advised me that he had just received a copy … Read more on Sun-Sentinel

Age Matters: Marijuana, a fine line between recreation and therapy
Psychologically, per the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the main effects of marijuana on mood encompass a range of emotions, including euphoria, calmness, short-term memory loss, anxiety, and paranoia. Many now feel it is psychologically addictive … Read more on Roanoke Times (blog)

Possible treatment for marijuana abuse found
Boosting levels of a naturally occurring compound in the brain could prevent people who abuse marijuana but are trying to quit from relapsing, a new study suggests. Researchers studying drug-addicted rats and monkeys found that a substance called … Read more on Fox News

What is Marijuana Abuse? Legalization Raises Questions About Regulation
As we reported earlier this month, approval of recreational marijuana use has started to climb at gay marriage speed. After decades of having its reputation maligned as a Schedule I drug — that is, the toughest-controlled category reserved for drugs … Read more on Bustle

Speaker at R.I. conference says marijuana use among nation's youth is rising
WARWICK — At a time when more states are legalizing marijuana for medical or recreational purposes, marijuana use among the nation's youth is rising, a psychiatrist who specializes in addiction said at a conference Friday. In a presentation entitled … Read more on The Providence Journal

Sam Montgomery continues to deny marijuana use
The Texans reportedly cut third-round draft pick Sam Montgomery and two other rookies for smoking marijuana the night before Sunday's game against the Chiefs. Montgomery's story is that he smoked no marijuana, and he's sticking to it. “It is our … Read more on NBCSports.com

Around the country, marijuana is still the most often used illegal drug. The majority of marijuana addicts are younger people- over forty percent of high-schoolers have tried it. Marijuana is truly a “gateway drug”, it beign the first illegal drug that most people try. As of 2007, the most recent year for which data is available, there were almost three million illegal drug users in this country- and more than half of them started with using marijuana.

There’s a common misconception that marijuana is a safe drug, and that it’s not addictive. Nothing could be further from the truth- marijuana abuse and addiction are almost as prevalent as the abuse of opiates and alcohol. Of all admissions to drug rehab centers in 2007, sixteen percent were for marijuana addiction.

Abuse and marijuana addiction aren’t the same thing. Marijuana abuse is smoking for a non-medical reason, and addiction happens when the user needs THC (marijuana’s active ingredient) to function normally. Marijuana addicts need more and more of the drug to get the same high. A marijuana “buzz” can last up to eight hours, during which time the addict can’t drive or operate machinery safely, and their thought processes are impaired.

Studies show that there’s a connection between marijuana addiction and depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. It’s not really known whether continued marijuana use causes mental problems, or simply makes an existing mental problem worse. Especially in younger marijuana addicts, constant use can lead to a severe psychotic reaction.

Research shows that marijuana addiction and use cause changes within the brain, similar to those seen in users of other drugs. Withdrawal from marijuana can cause a stress response, and decreased dopamine production, which can lead to irritability. While detoxing from marijuana use doesn’t usually produce the painful withdrawal symptoms seen with other, harder drugs, that doesn’t mean that the symptoms are any less real or treatable.

According to NIDA, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, studies show that very few drug addicts start out without trying alcohol, tobacco, or marijuana first. Marijuana addiction can lead to other addictions, possibly because the THC alters the brain’s chemistry.

The abuse of, and addiction to marijuana are getting worse in the United States. Studies by SAMHSA show that both marijuana abuse and addiction have risen steadily over the last decade. First time users are on average, almost eighteen years old- very bad news for parents of older kids. The younger a child is the first time they use, the greater the likelihood is that they will end up with a marijuana addiction. Marijuana abuse and addiction are a serious matter- rather than treating it like it’s not that big of a deal, the addict and their family needs to get help as soon as possible. Don’t try to treat a marijuana addiction on your own. Go to a doctor for an evaluation, and they will be able to determine what treatment program suits your needs best.

Drug Enforcement Agnecy (DEA) – http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/index.htm
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA) – http://www.samhsa.gov/
National Institue of Health (NIH) – http://www.nih.gov/