The National Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws reports, "marijuana is the third most popular drug in America, behind alcohol and tobacco, and has been used by nearly 100 million Americans." Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, is the...
Marijuana is a drug that comes from the cannabis plant and contains high levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) that creates a euphoric high. While marijuana is not physically addicting, the brain becomes accustomed to the dopamine release provided...
Weed (marijuana) is the common name for plants in the cannabis family. These plants are used medically and non-medically for their physical and psychological effects, including: appetite stimulation, pain control, euphoria and reduction of...
The National Institute of Drug Abuse, or NIDA states that drug addiction is a complex illness with many dimensions, and as a result, treatment is not simple. “Substance Abuse” reports that marijuana is the number one illicit abused...
Quitting marijuana is often treated much like other addictive behaviors such as smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol. Clinicians approach most substance abuse problems with cognitive behavioral therapy, which aims to help patients change their...
Cannabis---more commonly known as marijuana---is a plant with psychoactive properties. It is used largely for its recreational effects, which include altered perception and mood enhancement, though it is sometimes prescribed by doctors to treat...
If you're on a crash diet or are otherwise severely limiting your food intake, being hungry is a natural response. According to Medicine Online, some people naturally have a larger appetite than others, and that shouldn't be a cause for concern....
The debate continues among researchers as to whether marijuana is physically addictive or a psychological habit. Chronic marijuana users may build up a tolerance to the drug's effects. They often need larger and larger amounts of marijuana to...
A person can turn to drugs for various reasons, such as enjoyment of the high a drug produces or to self-medicate a serious problem such as depression. As a person uses more and more of a drug, it becomes abuse which may lead to drug dependence....
Many marijuana users do not become addicted and eventually may discontinue use because of negative consequences, such as lethargy or realizing the wasted time spent on the drug. However, other people develop a dependence on marijuana, leading the...
A debate lingers as to whether marijuana is physically addictive. It's difficult to classify it as a physical addition. But heavy marijuana use has been known to lead to psychological addiction and social dependence, according to the Center for...
Marijuana addiction may follow a similar pattern to addiction to other substances, according to the University of Wisconsin, Madison, Health Services. The person who could once use it periodically has now lost control, despite the problems it is...
Smoking marijuana can be just as unhealthy and addictive as smoking cigarettes, according to DrugAbuse.gov. Once the decision is made to quit smoking weed, you might have no idea where to start and how to do it. Understanding your addiction and...
It is possible for long-term users of marijuana to become addicted, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). The addiction may reveal itself when the marijuana smoker loses control of urges to smoke and seeks the drug regardless...
Marijuana is the most frequently abused illegal drug in America. It's derived from the plant Cannabis sativa and its primary chemical is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). To receive the desired effect, you either smoke or orally ingest marijuana. THC...
Some may consider smoking marijuana a harmless, recreational activity (even though it's illegal). But regular or heavy use can affect work performance and social relationships when the user becomes dependent on marijuana. The person who decides to...
Marijuana is viewed by some people as a harmless drug. Although it can bring on pleasurable feelings and may have medicinal benefits, it can also have bad side effects such as interfering with thinking and perception. Marijuana use may also cause...
About 30 percent of drug-addicted individuals are women, and most of these are of childbearing age, according to laboratory test selection service ArupConsult. Exposure to marijuana in the womb may lead to delayed fetal growth and possible...
Marijuana is one of the most frequently abused illicit drugs in the United States, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse website. Green and leafy, the plant is dried and then rolled in cigarette papers or packed into a pipe for...
Marijuana may have a strong effect on the brain because the main active ingredient, THC, is carried from the bloodstream to the brain and other organs. These reactions produce the immediate high of marijuana use, but may also have long lasting...
Marijuana comes from the cannabis sativa plant, the leaves of which are dried and rolled into cigarettes or placed in a pipe for smoking. It is commonly used in the United States and is an illicit drug. It offers few health benefits, but it can...
Purple Haze is a notably potent form of marijuana. Marijuana is the dried and shredded mix of leaves, flowers and other parts of the Cannabis sativa plant, notes MedlinePlus. Purple haze gets its name due to the purple tint of parts of the...
Marijuana may produce a psychological addiction in some people that can lead to problems. Some marijuana smokers do not believe they are addicted to the drug but feel the need for it regularly. People around them may or may not notice the...
Although there is a debate about how strong is the physical addiction to marijuana, a marijuana smoker may develop a psychological addiction to the drug, the Mayo Clinic says. Smokers may wind up being tempted to use it on a regular basis. The...
Marijuana may seem harmless in the beginning stages, but frequent usage can lead to difficulties with short-term memory, loss of interest in social activities and a lack of motivation that can affect one's career and life. Although marijuana does...
Drug withdrawal in a baby, medically called "neonatal drug withdrawal," occurs when an infant is born to a mother who uses mind-altering substances. The drug withdrawal occurs after the birth of the child because the baby no longer is exposed to...
A mood disorder, depression causes patients to feel helpless or hopeless, and affects their perception of the world. For example, depressed patients can feel worthless even if they live productive lives. Many factors can contribute to the onset of...
Alcohol use can affect a fetus in many ways. According to the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Center for Excellence, it is estimated that over 40,000 babies are born in the United States each year with some type of disorder that is attributed to...
Detoxification is a process by which a drug-addicted patient withdraws from any substance his body has become dependent upon. During detox, which is best done under medical supervision, you will gradually reduce the amount of drugs you take until...
