Marijuana Addiction Symptoms, Signs & Side Effects

All over the country, there is controversy about the legalization and use of marijuana. While recreational use is not yet legal everywhere, many states have legalized the substance. Many people have the opinion that marijuana is not a harmful substance. However, there are some marijuana addiction symptoms and marijuana addiction signs you should be aware of.

Marijuana Addiction Symptoms

There are many side effects associated with the use of marijuana. Just because it is legal in many states does not mean there aren’t harmful side effects. Alcohol is also legal, and there are many symptoms that are associated with marijuana abuse and marijuana addiction.

If you are in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus or anywhere in Ohio, and you think you may have issues with marijuana addiction, it’s smart to learn about marijuana addiction symptoms.

Marijuana use in the short-term has many side effects. The short-term side effects of marijuana are generally the result of how THC affects the brain. When THC passes into the bloodstream and then affects the brain and that causes the side effects of marijuana use. These side effects include impaired cognition, mood changes and altered senses. There are other short-term effects associated with using marijuana like psychosis and hallucinations.

There are also marijuana addiction symptoms and long-term marijuana use symptoms that you should be aware of. The most serious symptoms occur when someone began using marijuana as a teen or an adolescent. When this happens, the substance can cause issues with the way the brain develops connections. There may be other long-term effects associated with the use of marijuana in the brain, but research is still being done in this area.

Long-term effects of marijuana can also include paranoia and hallucinations or an exacerbation of symptoms that are linked to existing mental health disorders such as schizophrenia.

Marijuana Addiction Signs

If you suspect that someone you love may have a marijuana addiction, it’s important to know what to look out for. The signs of marijuana use can typically include:

• Tiredness or lethargy
• Cravings for food
• Problems concentrating
• Losing interest in typical activities
• Being secretive
• Being oddly talkative
• Confusion
• Coordination problems
• Red eyes

How can you tell when someone is addicted to marijuana? There is a debate as to whether or not someone can become addicted to marijuana. The fact is, though, that marijuana is addictive. In some cases, it’s just a psychological addiction. In some cases, there can even be a physical marijuana addiction.

Some of the marijuana addiction signs can include:

• Trying to stop using marijuana but being unsuccessful.
• Being preoccupied with the next time you will be able to get high or spending most of your time high.
• Poor work or school performance.
• Feeling like you need marijuana to feel relaxed or normal.
• Changing your schedule or basing it around when you can get high.
• Self-medicating with marijuana.
• Losing interest in activities or hobbies you used to be interested in.
• Continuing to abuse marijuana in spite of negative consequences.
• Using more and more marijuana.
• Developing a tolerance to marijuana.
• Changes in behaviors.
• Not being motivated and having a sense of apathy.

Marijuana Overdose Signs

With other drugs like heroin or even alcohol, overdose can lead to a fatal outcome. This is not the case with marijuana. However, marijuana overdose is dangerous because of a lack of awareness and/or cognition issues that can lead to risky behaviors and dangerous situations.

There is also the potential for someone who has taken too much marijuana to experience severe paranoia and/or psychosis. This can sometimes mean hallucinations and severe anxiety.

If you or someone you love is experiencing marijuana addiction, it’s important that you seek treatment as soon as possible. The Recovery Village Columbus offers detox programs, inpatient programs and outpatient programs for the treatment of marijuana addiction so that you can begin a long-term path to recovery.