Dr. Phariss on marijuana addiction

Revolution Health Group

Bruce Phariss, M.D., a clinical assistant professor of public health and psychiatry at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University in New York, with some important tips and suggestions for people with marijuana addiction:

Recreational use can backfire. Marijuana smokers always want to know whether it’s possible to smoke every now and then and not get addicted.

The truth is that if you’re prone to addiction or have a psychiatric disorder, using pot even occasionally puts you at risk of addiction — which means cravings, withdrawal symptoms, irritability, anxiety and trouble sleeping if and when you stop.

Your age also plays a role in your predisposition to become addicted to pot; because the brain continues to develop into your late teens or early 20s, younger users are far more likely to get hooked.

How pot harms — and the benefits of quitting.

People who smoke pot often ask whether the drug causes permanent brain damage or other physical problems.

There’s no question that using marijuana leads to short-term problems with learning, memory, concentration, perception and coordination.

In addition, research indicates that chronic marijuana use can cause neurological deficits and long-lasting changes in the nerve cells of the brain — especially those involved in motivation and reward — in the long run.

However, quitting can help reverse some of this damage.

In one study, heavy pot users who stopped smoking had trouble recalling words from a list up to a week after quitting, but their recall ability returned to normal within a month after avoiding marijuana use.

This suggests that even for chronic pot smokers, most cognitive abilities may return after a period of abstinence.

Keep in mind that marijuana’s adverse physical effects don’t just influence the brain — they also extend to the heart, lungs, immune system and fetal development.

In addition, smoking marijuana can interfere with work, school and social activities.

Pot and parenting.

Parents of teenagers often want to know how to discuss and discourage marijuana use, especially if they have smoked pot before themselves. In general, it’s best to tell kids the truth about your experience and why you stopped using marijuana.

Try emphasizing why you wish you had quit earlier and the potential consequences of regular pot smoking such as falling behind in school or job performance and problems with depression or anxiety. Such open and honest communication may help prevent your child from trying marijuana and other drugs.

Overcoming marijuana abuse.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, a part of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md., 15% of people entering drug treatment programs report that marijuana is their primary drug of abuse.

In terms of finding help for your own problem, addiction professionals — including psychiatrists, psychologists or licensed clinical social workers — may suggest cognitive-behavioral therapy, group therapy, self-help groups such as Marijuana Anonymous (http://www.marijuana-anonymous.org) or inpatient or outpatient programs available at hospitals or substance abuse treatment centers.

Right now, no medications are available to treat marijuana abuse. But in the future, drugs that block the intoxicating effects of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main chemical in pot, may offer additional help to keep abusers from relapsing.
 
©2007 Revolution Health Group