They are a lot of arguments and misconceptions over the use of marijuana. People argue if weed is addictive or not and if the drug can trigger health problems. Over the many years, people have debated and tried to answer those questions. Research, however, tells us that marijuana is truly addictive and can also be a threat to a person’s health if take abusively. Even with the results of the studies, controversies still come up regarding the issues.
It is important to note that not everybody who tastes marijuana becomes addicted. There are more than a few people who do become addicted to the drug and are having a hard time dealing with the marijuana withdrawal symptoms. An estimate of 9% of people who use marijuana can become dependent on this drug. This percentage increases to 17% for individuals who have tasted marijuana during their younger years. For people who are using the drug every day, the probability of addiction increases to as much as 50%.
A study involved 500 serious marijuana users who are looking for ways to quit and to fight the marijuana withdrawal symptoms. From this number, around 33% went back to the drug in order to ease their marijuana withdrawal symptoms. More than 42% of these people reported to experiencing at least one marijuana withdrawal symptom. Other similar studies also garnered around the same results.
Regular marijuana users can claim to experience marijuana withdrawal symptoms after approximately 8 hours of their last use. The withdrawal signs become more obvious within the first 10 days and then would start to diminish around the first 3-4 days. Unfortunately, a marijuana-dependent user can experience the withdrawal symptoms for as long as a month and a half or 45 days.
Anxiety has proved to be the most obvious withdrawal symptom of marijuana. During the first phase of withdrawal, this symptom is a real problem for people wanting to quit their use of marijuana. Although the anxiety levels may range from mild to moderate, it is ever present. Plenty of people go through dramatic mood changes and could even act in a different way. Also, the person’s aggressive behavior can also increase and the person can also become irritable than usual.
A lot of marijuana withdrawal symptoms are direct opposites of the effects of marijuana. Rather than feeling hungry, plenty of people notice that their appetite is decreased and sometimes do not eat anything. Rather than feeling sleepy, plenty of habitual marijuana users trying to quit find it difficult to get some sleep. Rather than becoming relaxed, these people tend to be agitated.
Usually, a person’s lack of appetite will only last a few days after quitting and start going through the effects of marijuana withdrawal symptoms. There are some who are consistently feeling nausea and some will also experience diarrhea. Insomnia is also common and is typically experienced in the first weeks of quitting.
The drug marijuana can interfere with your consciousness mechanism that allows you to dream. When a person is under the influence of marijuana or going through the marijuana withdrawal symptoms, he either does not remember his dreams or doesn’t dream at all. If the person stops the use of marijuana, the ability to dream returns to normal. However, dreams can be common which often end up in nightmares.
Despite the argument that marijuana isn’t a health risk, it does have some effects on somebody’s health. Some of these are increased risk for heart attack, weakened immune system and an increased risk for having lung problems.
