Pasadena Recovery Center » Marijuana

Marijuana May Increase Abuse of Other Substances

Pasadena Recovery Center — Mon, 14 Mar 2016 15:00:23 +0000

Marijuana use may increase a person’s risk for abuse of other substances, including nicotine, a new study has discovered. Researchers in this latest study cautioned that marijuana users, particularly heavy users, should be carefully monitored for signs of abuse of other substances and referred for treatment when appropriate. The findings are especially concerning in light of the changing attitudes about marijuana use across the country, coupled with the spreading legalization of marijuana for both medicinal and recreational purposes.

Dangers of Changing Attitudes about Pot

Last year, USA Today reported that only around 12 percent of Americans supported marijuana legalization in 1969. Today, more than half support legalization and many states have now moved forward with making legalization a reality, despite the fact that the substance remains banned at the federal level. Now, four states and the District of Columbia have legalized pot for recreational use, while the substance is legal for “medical” purposes in 23 states and the District of Columbia.

“Attitudes toward marijuana, both medical and recreational, have changed a great deal in the last several years, and this new study sounds a note of caution about underappreciated risks linking marijuana use to subsequent development of drug abuse and dependence,” Carlos Blanco, MD, PhD, National Institute on Drug Abuse and a researcher on the study, told Medscape Medical News.

Study Findings

The study, which was published online in the journal JAMA Psychiatry, looked at how marijuana use affected the risk of both substance abuse disorders and mental health disorders. Researchers studied a sampling of 34,653 adults in the U.S., which was fairly evenly split between men and women. All of the survey subjects were participating in the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions and were interviewed in the first wave between 2001 and 2002 and the second wave three years later.

The study found that cannabis use did impact the rate of several types of substance abuse disorders. In fact, two-thirds of the study subjects developed a substance abuse disorder within that three-year timeframe. While the study did not show a causal relationship between marijuana use and a substance abuse disorder, researchers advised that the link between the two should be sufficient for impacting “clinical care and policy planning.”

Nicotine Dependence

The odds ratio for marijuana users to develop nicotine dependence was 1.7, according to this study. Other studies have shown that abuse of other substances was higher for teens that used nicotine products, increasing the dangers of developing a nicotine dependence. Tobacco also causes more deaths annually than all other substance abuse combined. There is no doubt that despite the knowledge we have today about the dangers of nicotine, it continues to be widely used among all ages and demographics in this country.

Another concern that has grown exponentially in recent years is the use of e-cigarettes, particularly among the youth of this country. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, teens are twice as likely to smoke e-cigarettes and cigarettes. Cannabis use may play into these statistics, as nearly six percent of teens that use e-cigarettes said they are using them to smoke marijuana.

Alcohol Use Disorders

According to this study, the odds ratio of developing an alcohol use disorder after smoking pot was 2.7. This is not the only recent study that has shown a significant association between pot and alcohol use, either. A new study published this month in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence found that marijuana users may be five times more likely to develop a problem with alcohol. This study included more than 27,000 adults, none of which had a problem with alcohol when they began using marijuana.

Drug Use Disorders

The odds ratio for developing a drug abuse disorder using a substance other than marijuana in this study was 2.6. Drugs might include both illicit drugs like heroin and prescription drugs like opioids. The National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates that abuse of illicit drugs costs the U.S. around $193 billion annually. The agency also found that around nine million men and women in the U.S. reported a problem with prescription drug abuse in the past year, with more women likely to abuse those drugs than men.

Other Risks of Marijuana

In addition to the increased risk of substance abuse disorders, regular marijuana use has a number of negative effects on the mind and body. Short-term effects of marijuana may include:

Impaired coordination
Anxiety or panic
Lowered reaction time
Reduced judgment
Memory impairment
Increase in risky behavior
Increased heart rate and heart attack risk

The long-term effects of marijuana are not fully understood at this time, but it appears they can be even more damaging than first thought. Those effects might include:

Suppression of the immune system
Sexual dysfunction
Respiratory issues
Mood and personality changes
Cognitive impairment (may be permanent)
Increased risk for depression and anxiety

There is also evidence to suggest heavy marijuana use could lead to dependency on the substance. Now, studies are indicating the use of marijuana could also lead to dependency on other substances as well.

Today’s Danger

Marijuana sold today is much more potent than what was used decades ago. THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, can also be extracted from the plant, a process known as dabbing. Dabbing is a dangerous practice, particularly for first-time pot users, offering at least four times the strength of a traditional joint. Overdoses are possible with these substances, and emergency rooms across the country have seen patients that have suffered dangerous consequences of these substances.

In addition, synthetic forms of marijuana like Spice and K2 have hit the market, exposing users to additional hazards. These substances are completely unregulated, although they can be purchased in convenience stores and online. This means there is no way to know exactly what is in the drug, or just how potent the drug really might be, leaving users vulnerable to unpredictable and sometimes life-threatening effects.

If you are struggling with marijuana abuse, now is the time to get help. At Pasadena Recovery Center, we can help you get the treatment you need to overcome your addiction and find new life in sobriety. Call us today at 866-663-3030.

5 Myths about Marijuana

Pasadena Recovery Center — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 19:56:41 +0000

Marijuana is making headlines in most states as the debate about legalization of the drug continues. Unfortunately, much of the information provided in this ongoing debate is misleading or incorrect. To help you separate the facts from the fiction, the staff at Pasadena Recovery Center has listed some of the top myths currently circulating about marijuana and the truths about those claims.

Myth #1: Marijuana is No More Dangerous than Alcohol

This statement is often backed up by misleading statistics showing more costs of alcohol abuse to society than costs of marijuana use. However, alcohol is legal and widely available in all 50 states, which explains why there is a greater societal cost of alcohol abuse. If marijuana continues on its legalization track, it is very probably we would see increased consequences and cost from marijuana use as well.

Myth #2: Marijuana is Safer than Cigarettes

Actually, marijuana contains many of the same harmful chemicals found in cigarettes, including tar and carbon monoxide. In fact, marijuana users consume higher levels of these chemicals than cigarette smokers, increasing their risks for lung damage and some types of cancers. In addition, researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, found that smoking marijuana can significantly damage the respiratory system at a fairly young age and that 3-4 joints can do as much damage as up to 20 cigarettes.

Myth #3: Marijuana is Not Addictive

It is true that marijuana may not be as physically addictive as other drugs. However, the drug does meet the following criteria for dependence outlined by the American Psychiatric Association:

Giving up other activities for marijuana use
Needing more of the substance to get the same effects (tolerance)
Using the drug even if it is causing personal or professional problems
Withdrawal symptoms if the drug is stopped

The risk for marijuana addiction increases when the drug is started at a younger age. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, one in six teens that uses marijuana will become dependent on the drug.

Myth #4: No One Dies from Marijuana Use

Deaths from a marijuana overdose are extremely rare. However, that doesn’t mean no one has ever died as a result of marijuana use. Marijuana impacts your judgment and reaction time, which can lead to dangers especially behind the wheel of a vehicle. Marijuana may also lead to risky sexual behavior with potentially deadly consequences. Long-term marijuana smoking can lead to diseases similar to those seen in smokers, which can be deadly in some cases.

Myth #5: Marijuana has Medicinal Benefits

As legalization of “medical” marijuana continues to increase, this myth becomes more prevalent and widespread. However, the facts indicate marijuana is not widely accepted as having medicinal benefits by experts in public health. Most doctors will not “prescribe” medical marijuana due to the health risks of smoking the drug. The FDA also has not approved marijuana for medicinal use, which means the drug does not receive any type of oversight or regulation by the federal government before it gets into the hands of patients.

The staff at Pasadena Recovery Center have seen firsthand the devastating impacts these myths have had on marijuana users. If you are struggling with marijuana abuse, contact us today at 866-663-3030 to get the help you need.

The myths of smoking pot

Pasadena Recovery Center — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 16:01:35 +0000

Ruth Marcus, Opinion Writer, The Washington Post

June 24 at 8:37 PM

From her perch as head of the National Institute on Drug Abuse in Bethesda, Nora Volkow watches anxiously as the country embarks on what she sees as a risky social experiment in legalizing marijuana.

For those who argue that marijuana is no more dangerous than tobacco and alcohol, Volkow has two main answers: We don’t entirely know , and, simultaneously, that is precisely the point .

“Look at the evidence,” Volkow said in an interview on the National Institutes of Health campus, pointing to the harms already inflicted by tobacco and alcohol. “It’s not subtle — it’s huge. Legal drugs are the main problem that we have in our country as it relates to morbidity and mortality. By far. Many more people die of tobacco than all of the drugs together. Many more people die of alcohol than all of the illicit drugs together.

“And it’s not because they are more dangerous or addictive. Not at all — they are less dangerous. It’s because they are legal. . . . The legalization process generates a much greater exposure of people and hence of negative consequences that will emerge. And that’s why I always say, ‘Can we as a country afford to have a third legal drug? Can we?’ We know the costs already on health care, we know the costs on accidents, on lost productivity. I let the numbers speak for themselves.”