synthetic marijuana

Is Marijuana Addictive?

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DrugRehab.org Is Marijuana Addictive_

A 2016 Gallup poll found that current marijuana use nearly doubled between 2013 and 2016. Based on these findings, roughly one in eight Americans presently use this drug. With statistics this high, it’s important to understand the reality surrounding marijuana use and abuse. Many Americans grow up hearing that marijuana, or weed, is not addictive. Not only is this perspective untrue, but it’s also harmful to a person’s health. Like other drugs, cannabis use can lead to adverse health effects, abuse, and in the most serious cases, addiction.

Can Marijuana Use Become Addictive?

DrugRehab.org Is Marijuana Addictive__marijuana use disorderThe National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) asserts “that 30 percent of those who use marijuana may have some degree of marijuana use disorder.” They continue, reporting that “people who begin using marijuana before the age of 18 are four to seven times more likely to develop a marijuana use disorder than adults.” For those who start in their teens, approximately one in six will develop an addiction, whereas one in nine adult-onset users will.

Keep in mind, even if you’ve been using marijuana daily for some time without becoming addicted, there’s still a possibility it could happen. In fact, according to research presented by the University of Washington’s Alcohol & Drug Abuse Institute, of those who:

  • Try the drug one or more times within their life, one in ten will become dependent.
  • Abuse the drug on a daily basis, half will become dependent.

The most easily witnessed proof that marijuana is addictive is that it can lead to cravings, tolerance, and withdrawal. These states are all primary hallmarks of addiction.

Why Is Marijuana Addictive?

Like any addiction, this is complicated and relies on numerous factors, many of which scientists are still learning. However, some researchers theorize that the rising potency of THC in marijuana is partly responsible. The primary compound in marijuana which is responsible for creating the high is THC.

Also, as consistent with other drugs of abuse, research has identified the possibility that marijuana can alter dopamine. Within rat subjects, NIDA writes that “early exposure…decreases the reactivity of brain dopamine reward centers later in adulthood.” Due to its role in regulating reward and pleasure, dopamine is heavily linked to addiction. Even more impactful is research published by JAMA Psychiatry in May of 2016. These findings actually identified certain genes which are linked to cannabis dependence.

Regardless of how or why marijuana is addictive, the important truth is that if you use marijuana, you are exposing yourself to this and other risks.

What Are The Signs Of A Marijuana Addiction?

Like all drugs of abuse, marijuana abuse and addiction changes the way a person thinks, acts, and behaves. If you’re concerned that your loved one is abusing or addicted to marijuana, they may exhibit certain signs, such as a(n):

  • Altered perception of time
  • Dry mouth “cotton mouth”
  • Enhanced sensory experiences
  • Increased appetite “the munchies”
  • Intense pleasure (euphoria)
  • Laughter
  • Red, dry eyes
  • State of relaxation

DrugRehab.org Is Marijuana Addictive__Signs Of A Marijuana Addiction

Marijuana can also cause:

  • Anxiety
  • Distrust
  • Fear
  • Panic
  • Paranoia

In severe cases, when used to excess, a user may experience acute psychosis, including delusions and hallucinations.

What Is The Criteria Of A Cannabis Use Disorder?

A cannabis use disorder (CUD) encompasses a spectrum of both abuse and dependence. As cited by Medscape, an individual with a CUD must meet at least two of the following 11 criteria during the period of one year:

A person(’s):

  • Uses marijuana in amounts or for a time greater than they planned on.
  • Cannot decrease their use even if they want or attempt to do so.
  • Expends large amounts of time finding, using, or recuperating from using the drug.
  • Is overcome with an intense need to use the drug (craving).
  • Ability to carry out important responsibilities at home, school, or work is impaired by the continued use of the drug.
  • Keeps abusing the drug even when it causes harm to them within relationships or social obligations.
  • Withdraws or completely stops engaging in pleasurable, social, or vocational events due to marijuana.
  • Uses the drug on a regular basis even when it exposes them to physical risk.
  • Doesn’t stop using the drug even when they know it’s causing or worsening a physical or mental health problem.
  • Doesn’t experience the same effect at the previous dose of the drug and/or needs more of the drug to create pleasurable feelings (tolerance).
  • Experiences withdrawal should they suddenly stop using the drug. Or, if this occurs, they use the drug to avoid these symptoms.
  • Withdrawal from marijuana can last up to 14 days. It may include cravings, irritability, physical malaise, restlessness, a suppressed appetite, and various changes to their mood and sleep.

Are There Other Risks Of Marijuana Abuse?

Despite its popularity and widespread use as a recreational drug, marijuana use is not without risks. Marijuana abuse and addiction carry some pretty serious risks which may surprise you, including:

Amotivational Syndrome

It’s theorized that marijuana is associated with amotivational syndrome, a chronic psychiatric disorder which closely resembles depression and causes:

  • Apathy
  • Blunted emotional responses
  • Decreased activity
  • Impaired memory
  • Incoherent state
  • Lack of motivation
  • Poor concentration
  • Withdrawn behavior

Cognitive Changes

Research is ongoing, however, marijuana use and abuse has been linked to memory impairment, decreased cognitive abilities, and even changes to the brain’s structural components.

As detailed by NIDA, regular exposure is particularly worrisome to adolescents. This abuse may impair “executive functions such as memory, learning, and impulse control compared to people who do not use.” Also:

“A large longitudinal study in New Zealand found that persistent marijuana use disorder with frequent use starting in adolescence was associated with a loss of an average of 6 or up to 8 IQ points measured in mid-adulthood. Significantly, in that study, those who used marijuana heavily as teenagers and quit using as adults did not recover the lost IQ points.”

Co-Occurring Disorders

DrugRehab.org Is Marijuana Addictive__Co-Occurring disordersTime reports that “90% of people with marijuana addictions also suffer from another psychiatric condition or addiction.” The JAMA study illuminates the seriousness of this comorbidity. These findings link certain cannabis dependence genes to genetic risk factors for major depression and schizophrenia.

Links To Other Forms of Drug Abuse

The theory that marijuana is a gateway drug isn’t without merit after all. Though most who use this drug will not develop other forms of drug abuse, research has found a connection. A second JAMA Psychiatry publication found that “cannabis use is associated with an increased risk for several substance use disorders.”

Are You Or A Loved One Addicted To Marijuana?

Even though marijuana isn’t as addictive or dangerous as other drugs, it can still disrupt and damage a person’s life in many serious ways. And like other substance use disorders, marijuana addiction can require support and treatment. We can help you with these things. DrugRehab.org can support you as you learn more about marijuana abuse, addiction, and treatment. Contact us now.

If you or a loved one is battling heroin or an opioid addiction, contact us now!

For More Information Related to “Is Marijuana Addictive?” Be Sure To Check Out These Additional Resources From DrugRehab.org:

 

Sources

Gallup — One in Eight U.S. Adults Say They Smoke Marijuana
JAMA Psychiatry — Cannabis Use and Risk of Psychiatric DisordersProspective Evidence From a US National Longitudinal Study
US National Library of Medicine — A Motivational Syndrome In Organic Solvent Abusers

Spice Addiction And Treatment

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DrugRehab.org Spice Addiction and Treatment

Spice, also called K2, is a synthetic (fake) cannabinoid, which means it has chemical properties similar to marijuana. The National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teens (NIDA) explains that sellers of the drug market it as safe and recreational. But spice is actually quite dangerous due to the risks posed by abuse of it.

Because of this, “Spice is most often labeled ‘Not for Human Consumption’ and disguised as incense” according to the NIDA. While spice may be marketed as similar to marijuana, the drug does not contain the same natural compounds found in marijuana.

DrugRehab.org Spice Addiction and Treatment Smoke Spice

With synthetic properties, spice can have adverse, unpredictable effects which can be quite severe, and may even lead to death. Spice addiction can escalate quickly, affect your health, and cause issues in many aspects of your life.

How Is Spice Abused?

You smoke spice in the same manner as marijuana; rolled in paper like a cigarette. Some people also put it into a tea and drink it. Spice is also sold in liquid form and used in e-cigarettes (vaporized).

What Are The Side Effects?

Spice is fairly new to the drug world, so research on it is limited.What we do know is that it reacts in the brain and body similarly to marijuana, but can be more extreme. Some reported side effects include:

  • Anxiety
  • Confusion
  • Paranoia
  • Hallucinations
  • Improved mood
  • Calm, relaxed feeling
  • Changes to perception

Some people who experienced severe effects and sought emergency care also had symptoms of increased heart rate, violent behavior, vomiting, and suicidal thoughts. These symptoms can signal overdose, or a buildup of the drug in the body. Overdose can occur from prolonged use, or from too much of a drug during one instance.

Spice affects the body by increasing blood pressure, and slowing the blood flow to the heart. In addition to the risk of overdose, possible long-term effects include kidney damage and seizures.

Other Risks of Spice Addiction

Many of us associate marijuana as a “safe drug.” Whether or not that is true, spice is not the same drug, and it’s important to know the risk potential of it. Spice can cause addiction, and addiction can result in a number of consequences. Just some include negative effects to your health, family, personal life, obligations, and finances.

Addiction can also lead to tolerance. When you have been taking a drug for a period of time, your body can become used to the effects of it—so much that it eventually stops feeling them. If your brain is already used to these effects, though, you’ll experience intense cravings to keep using the drug.

Spice can also cause withdrawal, which means that you’ll experience physical symptoms when not taking it, such as anxiety, feeling depressed, headaches, and irritability.

Who Is Affected?

Anyone can be affected by drug abuse, but spice has a great impact on teens. As of 2016, “spice is the second-most popular illegal drug used by high school seniors (marijuana is the first)” the NIDA states.

Since 2011, over 11,000 emergency room visits were attributed to synthetic marijuana. Of this number, more than 75 percent were aged 12-29, and the majority were males.

How Can You Overcome Spice Addiction?

As with any addiction to substances, the key to successful recovery is treatment. You can seek self-treatment, but the care you’ll find at a rehab center provides the support necessary to meet your goals.

Spice addiction can result in withdrawal, so the first step in treatment is detoxification. This process allows your body to flush the toxins built up from abuse. Once you complete this phase, you can begin healing.

DrugRehab.org Spice Addiction and Treatment 2011, Over 11,000

Treatment is available through a myriad of methods, but the best plans will be tailored to your needs. Addiction affects the mind, so a big part of healing is rebuilding the confidence and self-esteem necessary to maintain a substance-free life. This can be achieved through Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, which combines motivation and capabilities to help you achieve goals.

Cognitive behavioral therapy teaches you to build entirely new lifestyle habits, replacing the old ones which fostered substance abuse. Counseling can help you give voice to some of the troubling thoughts and emotions that occur during treatment.

These are just some of the evidence-based methods offered at our rehab centers. Whatever treatment path you take, it should be one that addresses not just your health needs, but your individual needs as well.

Reach Out For Treatment Today

Some drugs of abuse present dangerous risks, even with just one use, and spice is one of them. If your teen has been abusing spice, or you know someone who struggles, there is no better time to seek help. We are here to make the process of finding and securing treatment as easy as possible, so you can focus on what’s truly important: healing.

Contact us today at DrugRehab.org to learn more about spice addiction, treatment options, and the best rehab centers available.

For more information, call now!

For More Information Related to “Spice Addiction And Treatment” Be Sure To Check Out These Additional Resources From DrugRehab.org:

 

 

Sources

Drug Free World—Synthetic Marijuana Long-Term Effects
National Institute On Drug Abuse—DrugFacts: Synthetic Cannabinoids
National Institute On Drug Abuse For Teens—Spice
Substance Abuse And Mental Health Services Administration—Spice, Bath Salts, And Behavioral Health

K2: A Frightening Mass Overdose

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K2 A Frightening Mass Overdose

Like zombies in an episode of “The Walking Dead.”

That’s how witnesses described the scene in Brooklyn this week, where dozens of dazed men and women staggered in the streets after smoking K2 – a popular brand of synthetic marijuana.

Some victims collapsed on the sidewalk. Others were twitching, vomiting or screaming at passerby. In just a two-block area, 33 people were taken to New York hospitals with a suspected K2 overdose (all were treated and are expected to recover).

The gritty scene is a reminder of the wildly unpredictable contents of “fake weed,” an herb mix laced with synthetic cannabinoids.

It’s easy to get a bad batch, according to a recent interview that we conducted with Dr. Eric Wish, one of the nation’s top experts on synthetic cannabinoids.

K2 Synthetic Marijuana“Basically the only person who knows what’s in a particular batch is the chemist who created that batch,” says Wish, Director of the Center for Substance Abuse Research (CESAR) at the University of Maryland.

“People who take it are playing Russian Roulette because they don’t know what they’re taking and how it will affect the body,” Wish says.

Known by more than a hundred street names – including K2, Spice, and No More Mr. Nice Guy – synthetic marijuana claims to mimic the effects of real marijuana.

But experts say it’s a poor replica.

“Scientists and public health experts will not use the term ‘synthetic marijuana’ because it implies that the substance mimics marijuana,” Wish says. “The new chemicals are so different from marijuana that nothing could be further from the truth.”

The recent mass overdose in Brooklyn, the most serious incident involving K2, was traced to an infamous local deli that sold the drug. But the danger goes well beyond New York.

So far this year, every state has reported calls to poison control centers involving exposure to synthetic cannabinoids, with Texas reporting the most calls (159), according to the American Association of Poison Control Centers.

Synthetic Cannabinoid Calls

Through June 30, 2016, poison control centers fielded 1,462 calls regarding exposure to synthetic cannabinoids. That’s actually a downward trend, since there were 7,794 exposure calls last year overall, and at least 15 deaths related to synthetic cannabinoids in 2015, according to the CDC.

Whether or not we’ll see more zombie-like tragedies from the effects of K2 is unknown.

Vendors who sell the drug – typically some bodegas, head shops and corner stores – will continue to skirt the law by marketing synthetic cannabinoids as “herbal products” with the disclaimer “Not for Human Consumption.” Chemists will keep changing the formulation to avoid liability and prosecution. And users will continue to flock to a dirt-cheap high ($5 or less a pop).

The health risks, however, remain a growing concern. Synthetic cannabinoids “may affect the brain much more powerfully than marijuana; actual effects can be unpredictable and, in some cases, severe or even life-threatening,” reports the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

“The symptoms can be anything from coma to anxiety to drowsiness to stimulation,” Wish says. “It all depends what was in that batch.”

If you or someone you know has a bad reaction to synthetic cannabinoids, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222 for help. Dial 911 immediately if someone stops breathing, collapses or has a seizure.

What Is The Difference Between Hashish And Marijuana?

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What Is The Difference Between Hashish And Marijuana

Same Plant, Different Forms: How Hashish And Marijuana Differ

You have probably heard quite a fuss about marijuana. The drug has become increasingly well known—especially in the twenty-first century. Within the last decade, weed has become legalized in many states and countries around the world for both medicinal and recreational use. However, simply hearing about a drug does not erase valid questions about the details regarding a drug’s properties, what forms the drug comes in, and how the drug is used. In this article, we will explore these details as they apply to marijuana and hashish, while answering the following question: How are marijuana and hashish different?

The “Faces” Of Marijuana

Marijuana is identified by multiple nicknames (pot, dope, ganja, weed, and mary jane, just to name a few). In countless articles, weed is also referred to as hashish or hash. However, the identifying words for marijuana and those for hashish should not be used interchangeably, for the two are not one and the same.

Producing Weed VS Producing Hashish

Pot and hashish are made from the same plant: the female cannabis plant, cannabis sativa. But the process of how the two are created and the results of each are very different. In order to produce marijuana, the form of cannabis that is most common, the following steps are completed:

  1. Harvest female cannabis plant
  2. Dry flowering tops/buds (and sometimes the leaves) of plant
  3. Dried product is ready for medicinal or recreational use

In order to produce hashish, the steps are more involved:

  1. Harvest female cannabis plant
  2. Dry flowering tops/buds of plant
  3. Collect trichomes (fine, hair-like resin glands) at top of buds
  4. Filter plant with sieve to separate flower and resin
  5. Crush resin into powder by hand or with machine (this step releases oil and creates a tacky texture)
  6. Mold the now sticky resin into a ball or “brick”/slice
  7. Final brick is ready for use

How Pot And Hash Are Used

Marijuana and hashish are used in similar fashions. Both drugs can be smoked with a pipe, bong, or as a joint/blunt (like a cigarette). Hash and pot can also be consumed or ingested. For example, the dried product of marijuana is often added as an ingredient to food or even steeped in hot water to make tea.

THC Levels In Hashish And Marijuana

Although hash and marijuana are used similarly, the two are greatly distinguished by the levels of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) each product contains. Pot is the form of cannabis that most people are familiar with, but it is actually the least potent. THC, the active chemical of cannabis that affects the nervous system, is found in pot at a maximum level of 25 percent to 30 percent. Hash is often much stronger, ranging from 20 percent up to 60 percent. Many agree that hashish that is properly produced has a THC level that is three times as potent as pot.

Mind-Altering Effects Of THC

No matter the levels of THC in weed and hash, the chemical affects the brain in the same way. THC binds to a network of receptors in the brain and changes the state of the nervous system. Once marijuana or hashish are used, the brain responds within minutes. The notable short-term effects of these drugs are:

  • Deficiencies in memory
  • Difficulties in comprehension or learning
  • Problems with general thinking and problem solving
  • Increased heart rate
  • Anxiety
  • Decreased coordination
  • Paranoia
  • Panic attacks

Long-term effects of the use of these dangerous drugs include:

  • Memory loss
  • Permanent impairments in judgment
  • Altered perception of surroundings
  • Aggressive and/or rebellious behavior
  • Respiratory problems
  • Cravings, compulsive use, and addiction

The Reality For Those Who Enjoy Cannabis

The use of hashish and marijuana are becoming extremely common among adolescents and adults alike. It has been noted that approximately 14 percent of people within the United States have used a form of cannabis within the last month. Such increased social and cultural acceptance of the drug causes a more laid-back attitude associated with the serious effects—both short- and long-term—that THC induces. However, the magnitude of the effects should not be ignored.

Help Is Here

 

Information regarding the serious manner in which THC affects the brain is widespread. If you or someone you know is struggling with any of the difficulties listed above, or has even fallen into addictive behavior, there is help available. Immediate assistance is only a phone call away. Contact us at DrugRehab.org for any information regarding addiction or to get into a treatment facility that can set your life back on track.

Contact us at DrugRehab.org for any information regarding addiction or to get into a treatment facility that can set your life back on track.

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Synthetic Pot Use On The Rise

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Synthetic Pot Use on the Rise

There has been a push towards the legalization of marijuana, or pot, in many U.S. states which has brought on much controversy. Some enthusiastically support it while others are strongly opposed. It should not be surprising then, that synthetic pot use has also skyrocketed recently in 2015.

Poison control centers across America have seen a rise in calls regarding synthetic pot (marijuana) and the trend is disturbing. Synthetic pot calls have been up this year (around 3,572 calls so far as of June 2015) and that is up 229% from January to May of 2014. Even more shocking is that the CDC reported that calls about synthetic pot rose from 349 calls in January of 2015 to 1,501 calls in April 2015 (a 330% rise). What is even sadder is that so far in 2015, 15 reported deaths have been due to synthetic pot use.

Lab created pot is not a new concept, but it has risen drastically despite law enforcement trying to stop it.

What You See Is NOT What You Get

Sellers of synthetic pot like to evade law enforcement by selling synthetic pot incognito (as “incense”). Selling synthetic pot is illegal but that does not stop sellers from producing and selling it, or buyers from buying it. But, the concoction of what sellers put into the synthetic pot would alarm anyone. Synthetic pot is also called “spice” or “K2”. It is a concoction of herbs that are sprayed with psychoactive chemicals that mimic the main ingredients of pot (THC or tetrahydrocannabinol). In other words, it’s a nightmare waiting to happen. The products are then mislabeled as “safe” and “natural” by the sellers when in reality they are not. And law enforcement has seen a rise in deaths or severe complications due to this synthetic pot.

There have been many reported incidences of people going to the ER for using synthetic pot. Because the drug is literally a made up, lab concoction and is sprayed with unknown amounts of who knows what (there are 200 variations of synthetic ingredients and counting), it is extremely dangerous to consume, oftentimes binding itself 1,000 times stronger to cannabis receptors than “real” pot itself. It is not safer to use even under the guise of “home-grown”. The chemicals sprayed on the synthetic pot to make it look like real pot are 100 times more dangerous. One bag might consist of a different mixture of chemicals and could make you feel “relaxed”. While another batch from somewhere else could lead to severe hallucinations or even death. It’s a gamble and no matter what, you will always lose in some way. Nobody knows exactly what’s in it. And it’s too inconsistent.

Couch Lock And Other Side Effects

In addition to synthetic pot causing an altered mental state, agitation and possibly even psychosis, there is another term that teens have coined called “couch lock”. Couch Lock is where you are fixated in one spot, you can’t move, but you are still conscious. It’s a state where the individual is so “high” they can’t even get off the couch. And that sounds terrifying.

Users experience vomiting, dizziness, short breath, confusion and altered mental states, increased pulse and many other symptoms when they call poison control centers. Some other side effects can include:

  • Pale skin
  • Seizures
  • Inability to control body movements
  • Sweating
  • Psychosis
  • Dysphasia (deficiency of speech and sometimes lack of speech comprehension)
  • Delusions and/or hallucinations among others
  • Suicidal or homicidal thoughts or actions
  • Intense Paranoia

When the drug is ingested, it only takes about 3-5 minutes for the effects to be felt, but the high can last anywhere from 1 to 8 hours. It is not a drug to be taken lightly, it is highly addictive, and should be avoided at all costs. The best approach right now is to spread education and prevention of the drug.

How Synthetic Pot Came To Be

Synthetic pot use first began in the U.S. around 2008 (although it was produced by scientists around the 1980s to study its effects on the brain) and became available to teens and youth because it was sold at places such as convenient stores and online, until it was deemed illegal in 2012. Congress passed the Synthetic Drug Abuse Prevention Act of 2012, which banned five different types of cannabinoids found in the spice bags. Synthetic pot has been classified as a “Schedule I Controlled Substance” and put in the same category as “real” pot.

A Schedule I Controlled Substance meets three criteria:

  1. Having no medical reason for the drug whatsoever
  2. Cannot be prescribed by a doctor
  3. Contains addictive properties

Possession of and selling synthetic pot has severe consequences. On a first offense, you could be sentenced up to 5 to 40 years. A second offense could bring you 10 years to life.

A Drug With Many Names

In addition to being called “spice” or “K2”, synthetic pot (marijuana) is also sold under many different names. If you have heard a loved one refer to a substance as: “fake weed”, “Yucatan Fire”, “Skunk”, “Moon Rocks”, “Black Mamba” “Bliss” “Bombay Blue”, “Genie”, and “Zohai”, these are all just other names for the same poison. Whatever it might be called, the effects and danger are still the same. Do not be fooled into thinking that synthetic pot is somehow less potent than the “real stuff”. It is not and as mentioned before, is even more dangerous than the “real” drug. It is sold in small silvery bags and does look a lot like potpourri. It is marketed as being, “safe, natural, and legal”. That is all a lie. It is not safe. It is not natural. And it is not legal.

Seek Help Now Before It’s Too Late

If you or a loved one is thinking about experimenting with this drug, reading this blog just might have helped save your life. Never try the drug and never experiment with it. It’s just not worth it. Some people are addicted to it for years and experience all the negative side effects (and have altered their brains and personalities permanently) and others try it one time and are dead. You never know what could happen to you or a loved one.

If you or someone you know has an addiction to synthetic pot or other substances, this is a serious problem. Seek help immediately for you or your loved one because you never know when it might be too late. Reach out to us at Drugrehab.org today.

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