According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, marijuana is the most commonly abused addictive drug in the U.S. after tobacco and alcohol. In the year 2018, over 11.8 million young adults throughout the country admitted to using marijuana at least once over the course of the past year. The majority of people who smoke (or ingest) marijuana on a regular basis stand by the belief that it is not harmful or addictive.
Many people claim that they use the chemical substances for medicinal purposes; and why this might be true for some, the majority of marijuana users throughout the U.S. use the drug recreationally. It is important to understand that while marijuana is less physically addictive than other drugs, people can still develop a marijuana use disorder – or dependence – over time.
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How Does a Marijuana Work?
When a person smokes marijuana, THC (the psychoactive ingredient in the drug) enters their bloodstream through the lungs. They start to feel a pleasant sense of euphoria along with a sense of relaxation. Unfortunately, these pleasant psychological effects often lead to repetitive use. Of course, positive experiences are not universal; some people who smoke or ingest marijuana have adverse experiences, feeling a sense of paranoia or an increase in anxiety. Because the potency of marijuana has been on the rise, emergency room visits involving marijuana have also been increasing.
If you or someone you love has been struggling with a marijuana use disorder, Garden State Treatment Center is available to help. We understand how difficult it can be to come to terms with a marijuana addiction; we also know how much lives improve when all substance abuse issues and underlying issues are effectively treated in a therapeutic program. To learn more, contact us today.
Marijuana and Increased Appetite
There are many short and long-term effects of long-term marijuana use. Some of the more common short-term effects include feelings of euphoria and relaxation, increased sociability, lack of coordination, slowed reaction times, and increased appetite. Why does marijuana increase your appetite?
According to a recent study published in Innovations in Clinical Neuroscience, smoking or ingesting marijuana stimulates cannabinoid receptors in the brain that release a specific hormone linked to increased food intake. It is common knowledge that people who smoke recreationally often get the “munchies.” This is both because of cannabinoid receptors in the brain and potentially because of a related increase in the circulation of ghrelin, a hormone that stimulates hunger. This might seem like a relatively mild side effect, one that has no serious or lasting effects.
More About Appetite After Marijuana Use
However, chronic marijuana use can easily lead to weight gain, which has the potential to lead to a range of other health-related consequences like increased blood pressure or heart problems. If you have been engaging in chronic marijuana use, you might have noticed that you have started to gain a small amount of weight. It is important to catch problem marijuana use before it develops into a full-blown marijuana use disorder – which is significantly more difficult to treat. Contact us today for more information on our comprehensive program of marijuana use recovery.
Marijuana Use Disorder and Garden State Treatment Center
At Garden State Treatment Center we treat men and women of all ages who have been struggling with a marijuana use disorder of any severity. In many cases, people who struggle with marijuana abuse also abuse other chemical substances like opioids, benzodiazepines, or alcohol.
In addition, we offer effective treatment solutions for polydrug abuse and dual diagnosis treatment options for men and women struggling with substance abuse and an underlying mental health condition. Regardless of which specific treatment services you or your loved one needs, we have you covered.
Begin Your Marijuana Dependence Treatment at Garden State Treatment Center
The moment you make the decision to give us a call or contact us through our website and we will put you in touch with one of our experienced staff members, who will walk you through the admissions process and help you get started on your own personal journey of marijuana addiction recovery as quickly as possible.