high vs. drunk

[applepie]

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Addictive Potential

 

Long-term marijuana abuse can lead to addiction for some people; that is, they abuse the drug compulsively even though it interferes with family, school, work, and recreational activities. Drug craving and withdrawal symptoms can make it hard for long-term marijuana smokers to stop abusing the drug. People trying to quit report irritability, sleeplessness, and anxiety32. They also display increased aggression on psychological tests, peaking approximately one week after the last use of the drug33.

 

 

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Animal research and controlled studies of marijuana smokers during inpatient treatment suggest that marijuana dependence, like dependence on other addictive drugs, is associated with withdrawal symptoms -- such as irritability, anger, depressed mood, headaches, restlessness, lack of appetite, and craving -- that can make it difficult to stop using the drug.

 

Now, NIDA-supported research conducted by Dr. Alan Budney and colleagues at the University of Vermont in Burlington has found that marijuana smokers who stop using the drug while in their home environment suffer withdrawal symptoms that appear as severe as those associated with tobacco-smoking.

 

 

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Symptoms of Marijuana Withdrawal

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Physiologic

Nausea

Tremor

Perspiration

Weight loss

Salivation

Increased body temperature

Decreased appetite Sleep

Altered sleep/wake cycles

Insomnia

Behavioral

Restlessness/ agitation

Irritability

Depressed mood

 

 

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Marijuana: Does it cause addiction?

 

Many people believe that marijuana does not cause addiction, and thereforeeee there is no withdrawal. However, six recent studies have produced a list of marijuana withdrawal symptoms. This included such items as irritability (87%), aggression (76%), depression and craving (93%). Additionally, withdrawal from marijuana has similar symptoms to withdrawal from other drugs with symptoms that may include violent outbursts, sweating, shakiness, chills, stuffy nose and diarrhea. The researchers concluded, "The consistency of the specific symptoms reported within this study and accross other studies suggests that a valid marijuana withdrawal syndrome occurs in a substantial number of marijuana abusers who abruptly stop using marijuana." They add that these symptoms are severe enough to make it difficult for those wanting to stop marijuana use to actually do so.

 

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A valid cannabis withdrawal syndrome has been demonstrated in controlled studies with adult marijuana abusers, yet few published reports have examined cannabis withdrawal among adolescents. Adolescents presenting for outpatient substance abuse treatment, whose primary substance of abuse was cannabis, completed a questionnaire reporting the presense and severity of withdrawal symptoms during past periods of cannabis abstinence. Nearly two-thirds of the sample indicated that they had experienced four or more symptoms, and over one-third reported four or more symptoms that occurred at a moderate or greater severity. The magnitude of withdrawal severity was positively correlated with current emotional and behavioral symptoms and self-reported problems with cannabis use. These findings are consistent with previous studies, though the prevalence and magnitude of withdrawal symptoms were lower than that observed in a similar study with adult treatment seekers [budney, A.J., Novy, P., Hughes, J.R., 1999. Marijuana withdrawal among adults seeking treatment for marijuana dependence. Addiction 94, 1311–1322]. Further research is needed to elucidate associations between cannabis withdrawal effects, the initiation of cessation attempts, and relapse.

 

Cannabis

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Wednesday 20 September, 2006

What is cannabis?

Effects of cannabis

Cannabis and psychosis

Medicinal use of cannabis

Tolerance and dependence

Withdrawal

Treatment options

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Reducing the risks

 

Cannabis sativa plant

Australian Drug Foundation © 2005

 

 

 

 

This information has been adapted from the pamphlet How Drugs Affect You: Cannabis, produced by the Australian Drug Foundation. For single copies of this pamphlet phone 1300 85 85 84 or email email removed (Victoria only). Multiple copies are available from the ADF Bookshop.

 

What is cannabis?

Cannabis is a drug that comes from Indian hemp plants such as Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica. The active chemical in cannabis is THC (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol).

 

Cannabis is a depressant drug. Depressants do not necessarily make the person feel depressed. Rather, they affect the central nervous system by slowing down the messages going between the brain and the body.

 

What does it look like?

There are three main forms of cannabis:

 

Marijuana is the most common and least powerful form of cannabis. It is the dried leaves and flowers of the plant. Marijuana looks like chopped grass, and ranges in colour from grey-green to greenish-brown. Marijuana is smoked in hand-rolled cigarettes (joints) or in a pipe (a bong).

Hashish (hash) is dried cannabis resin which comes in small blocks. The blocks range in colour from light brown to nearly black. The concentration of THC in hashish is higher than in marijuana, producing stronger effects. Hash is added to tobacco and smoked, or baked and eaten in foods such as "hash cookies".

Hash oil is a thick, oily liquid, golden-brown to black, that can be extracted from hashish. It is usually spread on the tip or paper of cigarettes and then smoked. Hash oil is more powerful than the other forms of cannabis. This form is rarely found in Australia.

A non-potent form of cannabis (Indian hemp) is used to produce fibres for use in paper, textiles and clothing.

 

More pictures of cannabis

 

THC

THC (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol) is the chemical in cannabis that makes you feel "high". This means you experience a change in mood and may see or feel things in a different way. Some parts of the plant contain a higher level of THC. For example, the flowers, or "heads", have more THC than the stems and leaves.

 

THC is absorbed into the bloodstream through the walls of the lungs (if cannabis is smoked), or through the walls of the stomach and intestines (if eaten). The bloodstream carries the THC to the brain, producing the "high" effects. Drugs that are inhaled get into the bloodstream quicker than those eaten.

 

Street names

"Grass", "pot", "hash", "weed", "reefer", "dope", "herb", "mull", "buddha", "ganja", "joint", "stick", "buckets", "cones", "skunk", "hydro", "yarndi", "smoke", "hooch"

 

Effects of cannabis

The effects of any drug (including cannabis) vary from person to person. It depends on many factors, including an individual’s size, weight and health, how the drug is taken, how much is taken, whether the person is used to taking it and whether other drugs are taken.

 

Immediate effects

Small doses of cannabis can have effects that last 2–4 hours after smoking. These effects include:

 

relaxation and loss of inhibition

increased appetite

affected perception of colour, sound and other sensations

impaired coordination

affected thinking and memory.

Other common immediate effects include increased heart rate, low blood pressure and reddened eyes.

 

In greater quantities

Larger quantities of marijuana make the above effects stronger, and also tend to distort a person’s perceptions.

 

Very large quantities of marijuana can produce:

 

confusion

restlessness

feelings of excitement

hallucinations

anxiety or panic, or detachment from reality

decreased reaction time

paranoia.

Long-term effects

Research shows evidence of some long-term effects in some regular cannabis users.

 

Respiratory illness

Marijuana cigarettes have more tar than tobacco, placing cannabis users at an increased risk of respiratory illness such as lung cancer and chronic bronchitis. Cigarette smokers who also smoke cannabis have an even greater risk of respiratory disease.

Reduced motivation

Many regular users have reported that they have less energy and motivation, so that performance at work or school suffers.

Brain function

Concentration, memory and the ability to learn can all be reduced by regular cannabis use. These effects can last for several months after ceasing cannabis use.

Hormones

Cannabis can affect hormone production. Research shows that some cannabis users have a lower sex drive. Irregular menstrual cycles and lowered sperm counts have also been reported.

Immune system

There is some concern that cannabis smoking may impair the functioning of the immune system.

Cannabis and psychosis

It is believed that cannabis use—especially if heavy and regular—may be linked to a condition known as a drug-induced psychosis, or "cannabis psychosis". This can last up to a few days. The episodes are often characterised by hallucinations, delusions, memory loss and confusion.

 

There is some evidence that regular cannabis use increases the likelihood of psychotic symptoms occurring in an individual who is vulnerable due to a personal or family history of mental illness. Cannabis also appears to make psychotic symptoms worse for those with schizophrenia and lowers the chances of recovery from a psychotic episode.

 

Medicinal use of cannabis

Cannabis has been used medicinally for many centuries. There is evidence to suggest it is useful in providing relief from nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy, wasting and severe weight loss, pain, glaucoma, epilepsy and asthma.

 

Tolerance and dependence

With regular use, people can develop a mild tolerance to cannabis. This means they need to take more and more to get the same effect.

 

Heavy and frequent use of cannabis can cause physical dependence. Physical dependence occurs when a person’s body has adapted to a drug and is used to functioning with the drug present.

 

It is possible to become psychologically dependent on cannabis. This means that using cannabis becomes far more important than other activities in their life. Some people crave the drug and find it very difficult to stop using it.

 

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Withdrawal

Abrupt termination of cannabis use can produce withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms include sleep disturbance, irritability, loss of appetite, nervousness, anxiety, sweating and upset stomach. Sometimes chills, increased body temperature and tremors occur. The withdrawal symptoms usually last for less than a week, although the sleep disturbances may persist for longer.

 

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I'm not going to argue anymore. Take it or leave it.

[applepie]

I'm sorry. It appears that you are jaded due to your ex's overuse and abuse of the substance. I'm sure that was probably hard for you to go through, having to beg him to stop and all. Who knows what else you went through in that relationship.

 

However, that makes it impossible to have a discussion about it since you have all of this "inside information" that I don't have.

 

Don't worry, we don't have to talk about it anymore.

 

Please don't be so condescending.

[rocio]

Anything done in extreme excess for an extended period of time will have physical consequences. That does not mean that the substance contains chemically addictive substances, which marijuana has not been found to have.

 

However, anyone thinking of becoming heavily reliant on marijuana should be aware of the problems it can cause. For example, it helps you sleep and gives you an appetite. Obviously when you quit you will have trouble eating and sleeping.

[unface]

Please don't be so condescending.

 

I'm just trying to be understanding and more sympathetic to your feelings.

 

It's something that I've realized I need to work on.

[applepie]

Anything done in extreme excess for an extended period of time will have physical consequences. That does not mean that the substance contains chemically addictive substances, which marijuana has not been found to have.

 

However, anyone thinking of becoming heavily reliant on marijuana should be aware of the problems it can cause. For example, it helps you sleep and gives you an appetite. Obviously when you quit you will have trouble eating and sleeping.

 

Did you read anything I just wrote?

 

find me a REPUTABLE source for Marijuana's lack of addictive qualities and I may reconsider my stance.

[rocio]

Did you read anything I just wrote?

 

find me a REPUTABLE source for Marijuana's lack of addictive qualities and I may reconsider my stance.

 

Yes, it was in response to your long post.

[shikashika]

depends what you are talking about being high on... everyone here seems to only mention maryjane...

 

other drugs like e, k, coke are all very different.

 

Personally I'd rather be 'e'd up than drunk...i still have my clarity while being drunk I don't... although i do it very very rarely these days

[timlondon]

Did you read anything I just wrote?

 

find me a REPUTABLE source for Marijuana's lack of addictive qualities and I may reconsider my stance.

 

I was sceptical of this so had a look on medline, and it seems you're right. Must say I'm surprised though!

 

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etc

[EvaGina]

I would never call being stoned beign "high"... With weed, I feel thick, gluggy and stupid... It feels horrible and I get paranoid.

 

When I am drunk I lose time, I do a lot of stupid stuff, I dont REALISE Im drunk and I drink more... I love it, to be honest, which is why Im an alcoholic but I dont really touch the stuff becuase I am so dangerous with it. It makes my feet tingle and Im totally happy and I pee a lot

 

E, now, this stuff is awesome, exctasy is briliant, I can have conversations on it, dance, socialise... it sounds amazingly cheesy, but I love everything when I am on it, and I dont get comdowns, as long as your pretty healthy it doesnt really have side=effects if your only taking it occasionally.

it makes me feel happy just thinking about it

 

K: meh... I have never taken pure K, just cheap E's filled with K insead of mdma... it was kinda fun, I had to sit in a dark room and listen to music while the walls were pulsating... but it was kinda cool...very mashy

 

Acid: Brilliant also, but hard to try and control, you can act sober on E if you HAVE to, but not on LSD... Its the kind of drug I would need to be in familiar surroundings when I was on it.. with plenty of stuff to occupy me (pen and paper I cant stop drawing when Im tripping)

 

Crack: dont see the point, it doesnt get you HIGH, just keeps you up... and its WAY too expensive.

 

Speed: havnt done this one in years... I remember having heaps of fun but I was always drunk at the time, so who knows.

 

Datura: Dont go near it, people die or go blind too easily on this stuff.

 

Lastly, those "herbal high" things... I have taken a HUGE amount of stupid risks with drugs, but I have never felt myself dying like I did on these things.. Scariest night of my life... never, ever again.

 

And no, you cant get PHYSICALLY addicted to weed... those drugs they are giving for withdrawls are placebos... mental addictions are the hard things to break... just ask a smoker.

[EvaGina]

Alchohol > Drugs if you look at when it does to your health. Ill try to name a few bad things about drugs that makes it more dangerous then alchohol.

 

Drugs are easier to get addicted to then alchohol

 

It is easier to start taking drugs while alone then drinking, drinking is something most people feel as a social event, so most people would never dream of doing it while they were alone.

 

If you start buying drugs regulary you can get sucked into a very unhealthy circle of friends because of it being illegal.

 

I agree both are bad for you, but if you had to pick one you should pick alchohol. And if you plan on doing both.. Remember not to mix

Sorry, but this is amazingly... blinkered.

Coming from an ex drug-addict and an alcoholic, I know what I am talking about when saying that this post is utterly incorrect.

 

Dont mean to sound like such a cow, but I hate it when people give out such bad information when it comes to things that are important to get right. (like sex and drugs, the information should be clear and correct)

[applepie]

I've got a wikipedia entry for addiction. I know wiki is not the best, but it does seem to give a basic overview.

 

It seem that many people think addiction is just black and white. Supposedly, that was the old-school view. Have a look, you might be surprised at what has been said.

 

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[whyisthatlegal]

I personally think getting high is a lot better than being drunk. Though they do both affect you in the long run. My sister is an alcoholic and drinks everyday all day, taking no matter to whether she is alone or not. It is the worst since she is the mother of a three year old. She is so mean when she's drunk, there are points when she blacks out forgetting everything and she keeps it a secret. She has recently changed up drinking for smoking pot. She is funny as hell. She doesn't forget about her daughter and she doesn't stumble around like an idiot and say things she doesn't mean. The only problem is that she sleeps a lot.

 

I don't think doing either on a regular basis is good but if I had to choose I would choose weed. It isin't as bad for you as getting drunk is. Have you ever seen a person's brain after they've been drinking? It looks like it has holes in it.

 

I don't know I guess everybody reacts different to them and you'll probably just have to figure out how you act while on them.