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/