When used in a cigarette, the effects of cannabis are seen within a few minutes; it has a peak effect in 30 minutes and wears off after 2-4 hours. Some motor and mental effects can last up to 12 hours. Apart from cigarettes, cannabis is also consumed orally by putting it in food. When cannabis is consumed by inhaling smoke, more cannabis is used than when taken orally.
Cannabis is a gateway to other substances. Studies show that cannabis addiction increases a person's use of other substances as well as the potential for substance dependence.
What Are the Risk Factors That Can Lead to Cannabis Addiction?
- Genetic Predisposition: People with a family history of alcohol or substance abuse are at greater risk of developing cannabis dependence as a result of trying or using cannabis.
- Psychological Factors: Stress, impulsivity, thrill-seeking, depression, anxiety, eating disorders increase the risk of developing cannabis dependence.
- Environmental Factors: Physical/sexual/emotional abuse or trauma and easy access to substances increase the risk of developing cannabis dependence.
How to recognize if someone is addicted to cannabis?
Cannabis use causes changes in perception, short-term euphoria and relaxation, exaggeration of sensory experiences and distortion of time perception. After use, there is an increase in activities such as watching movies or listening to music, and eating too much.
Some individuals experience anxiety, increased feelings of fear and panic attacks, while others experience slowdowns. It also causes mental and physical disorders such as restlessness, difficulty sleeping, decreased appetite, weight loss and impatience.
Individuals who use cannabis are observed to laugh unnecessarily when they are under the influence of the substance after using cannabis, or they are observed to be scared and in a state of panic. Other symptoms include problems with balance, redness of the eyes, memory impairment, and weakened reactions.
People who use cannabis have red eyes and sleepiness. It is possible to find “Visine” eye drops to relieve eye redness, wrapping paper, seeds, a grinder, the smell of weed on the person or in the environment, a pipe and small cut water bottles in the room.
The following factors are indicators that a person is developing cannabis dependence:
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when not using cannabis,
- The person continues to use despite attempts to quit,
- The person gives up activities with family or friends in order to use cannabis,
- If cannabis use causes problems in the person's family, education or work life.
What are the Problems Caused by Cannabis Addiction?
Cannabis dependence increases the risk of chronic cough, bronchitis and schizophrenia. In addition, Cannabis dependence can increase the risk of anxiety, depression and behavioral and personality changes. These changes can lead to decreased school performance, eating and sleeping problems.
Memory problems are one of the most common reasons people seek treatment for cannabis addiction. Clinical research has not yet proven that cannabis use can have lasting effects on brain function. So far, the effects of the drug have primarily been associated with long-term use and appear to be reversible. When cannabis addiction is treated, its effects on memory, learning and coordination can disappear. On the other hand, long-term use of cannabis can affect your memory or your ability to think clearly.
What Are the Most Common Psychological Problems Associated with Cannabis Addiction?
Mental illnesses that can be caused by cannabis addiction include;
- Although there is no direct relationship between depression and cannabis dependence, it is known that cannabis dependence is associated with other factors that increase the risk of depression such as dropping out of school and unemployment.
Depending on genetic characteristics, family life, lifestyle and personality traits, cannabis addiction can be a trigger for depression. - Cannabis addiction can cause anxiety. Many people choose to use cannabis because of its relaxing and euphoric effects. Others experience anxiety and paranoia when they use it. According to a study, cannabis addiction can cause an increase in anxiety.
- Psychosis/Schizophrenia Cannabis dependence can cause psychosis. This risk is 7 times higher in users than non-users. In addition, cannabis dependence leads to decline and impairment in cognitive functions. There is a strong similarity between the acute and transient effects of cannabis dependence and the symptoms of psychosis, including impaired memory, cognition and processing of external stimuli.
- As a result of cannabis addiction, a person has difficulty learning new things and remembering them. The person may also experience thought disorder, hallucinations and paranoia. Psychosis as a result of cannabis addiction can become permanent if use is not stopped.
Misconceptions About Cannabis
- Cannabis is not harmful because it is natural.
- Cannabis is not addictive.
- The effect of cannabis lasts only a few hours.
- Cannabis relieves stress.
- Cannabis is less harmful than cigarettes and alcohol.
- Cannabis opens the mind.
The Truth About Cannabis
- Many plants are poisonous to humans.
- Cannabis is psychologically addictive. It also has the potential for physical dependence, depending on the dose and frequency of use.
- Since cannabis is stored in fat cells in the body, its effect can last for days or weeks. (When cannabis is smoked as a cigarette, its effect peaks in the blood in a few minutes and decreases rapidly within hours. It is excreted from the body in the urine and takes days to be excreted).
- As with other drugs, cannabis only delays facing problems.
- Cannabis contains 412 chemicals. When smoked as a cigarette, it is 5 times more harmful than cigarettes. It has significant similarities with alcohol in terms of the psychosocial problems it causes.
- Cannabis makes the mind foggy, impairs memory, speech, understanding and decision-making.
How is Cannabis Addiction Treated at Moodist?
In the treatment of cannabis addiction at Private Moodist Hospital, the patient is admitted to an outpatient or inpatient treatment program after being evaluated by a psychiatrist. After the diagnosis is clarified, the person is evaluated psychosocially and a family interview is held.
If an outpatient treatment plan is decided after the evaluations, the patient is admitted to an outpatient treatment program.
Treatment for cannabis addiction (withdrawal and support) involves the same principles as treatment for other substances of abuse.
Information for those with a relative addicted to cannabis
First of all, do not rush to talk. Watch and observe him for a while without him noticing.
During this process, try to learn about the substances. Talk to him/her when you feel ready to talk. Choose a suitable setting to have the conversation.
Tell him/her your feelings and thoughts about using cannabis. At first there may be denial, this is natural.
If he denies it, don't press him, this shows that he is not yet ready to talk about it. In such a situation, keep watching. Keep watching without disturbing the person until he/she accepts the situation and shares it with you.
There are some things to remember when you are watching the other person. Such as not violating the other person's boundaries and paying attention to ethical values. The more attentive you are to these issues, the healthier your relationship will be.
