Fact or Fiction: Marijuana Addiction
It has traditionally been said that marijuana in merely "habit forming". But anything that makes a person feel as if they need more as soon as they run out is addictive. It is not nearly as addictive as harder drugs like heroin, methamphetamine, or cocaine and crack. Even alcohol and nicotine are more addictive than pot.
Marijuana addicts are more like the person who drives to three separate fast food restaurants, and then sits by the side of the road devouring their super sized junk. Marijuana is more akin to a food addiction. Both of which are serious problems.
Pot damages the area of the brain which controls short term memory. To the person who does not know that they are speaking with an addict, he or she may seem senile -- or just flat out dumb. The effects are different for different addicts. Some get their buzz and read, others perform physical activity such as hiking, most do something docile like play video games, listen to music, or just sit around doing absolutely nothing.
Also notable is the fact that marijuana addicts often alienate themselves. This leads to lost friendships and damaged relations with family members.
Smoking marijuana, like smoking anything, damages the lungs. Not the lung damage caused by a pack of cigarettes a day. Marijuana addiction has been proven safer than addiction to alcohol. Ask any pot addict and this will be one of their arguments. They need to be reminded that along with serious health problems, alcoholism often leads to erratic and violent behavior.
The long-term daily user knows he or she is addicted to marijuana. Whether or not they care is a different question. Most don't.
For the minority who do know they are addicted, a desire to quit using is the biggest step. The the next step is much harder than it sounds. The addict needs to remove themselves from the environment where they are surrounded by other addicts and where marijuana is easily obtainable.
If the addict is serious about quitting and can't get away from their environment there is always Narcotics Anonymous. Most who attend NA are trying to stop using much harder drugs and do not take marijuana addicts seriously.
There are also Internet resources. Type "marijuana addiction" into any search engine and the addict will see websites devoted to the condition. It is not hard to find forums and chat rooms which allow addicts to communicate with other addicts.
Marijuana is addictive. For those who want to stop, their desire should not be taken lightly.
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