- Adderall
- Alcohol
- Barbiturates
- Chronic Relapse
- Cocaine
- Codependency
- Compulsive Hoarding
- Crack Cocaine
- Crystal Meth
- Dual Diagnosis
- Eating Disorder
- Ecstasy
- Gamma Hydroxybutyrate (GHB)
- Gender Specific Issues
- Heroin
- Hydrocodone
- Inhalants
- Ketamine (Special K)
- Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD)
- Marijuana
- Methadone
- Methamphetamine
- OxyContin
- Phencyclidine (PCP)
- Prescription Drug Abuse
- Process Addiction
- Ritalin and Concerta
- Sex and Love Addiction
- Steroids
- Suboxone
- Synthetic Cannabis
- Trauma
- Valium
- Video Game Addiction
- Xanax
Marijuana
What is Marijuana?
The most frequently abused illicit drug in the U.S., marijuana accounts for more than 15% of all admissions to treatment facilities. It is a product of the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa, and its primary active ingredient is tetrahydrocannabinol – THC for short.
Effects and Treatment Options
When marijuana is smoked, the chemical passes from the lungs into the bloodstream, carrying THC to the brain and other organs of the body. It acts on and impairs those areas of the brain that influence memory, pleasure, sensory and time perception, coordination, and concentration. Research demonstrates that marijuana has a negative impact on learning and memory, which can last for days or weeks. Daily marijuana use may result in diminished intellectual capacity. Research on its long-term effects indicates some changes to the brain comparable to those changes found in those who abuse other major drugs. The most recent studies have found a connection between marijuana use and schizophrenia and/or related disorders.
There are multiple treatment options available to help an individual end marijuana dependency, with behavioral interventions, including cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational incentives, showing the greatest promise.