By now, most people are well aware that long-term and even short-term drug use can have a huge impact on our bodies and minds. The good news is that there is plenty of help for drug addicts available but one of the first stages of entering recovery is understanding exactly what you’re putting your body through.
Below are just a few of the ways that smoking marijuana can have a big and lasting impact on your body.
Irritates the respiratory system
Just like tobacco, marijuana smoke is made up of a variety of toxic chemicals which can irritate the bronchial passages and lungs. If you smoke marijuana on a regular basis, you’re more likely to suffer from wheezing, coughing and producing phlegm. You’re also at increased risk of contracting bronchitis and lung infections and it can also aggravate existing respiratory illnesses such as asthma and cystic fibrosis.
The most effective way to prevent these symptoms from getting worse is to enter marijuana addiction recovery.
Circulatory system
One of the main ingredients in marijuana is the mind-altering chemical, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC moves from your lungs into your bloodstream and through your body. According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA), within just minutes this can cause your heart rate to increase by 20 to 50 beats per minute. This rapid heartbeat can continue for up to three hours and for those with heart disease, this could raise the risk of heart attack.
Central nervous system
THC triggers your brain to release large amounts of dopamine – the naturally occurring ‘feel good’ chemical. Whilst this allows us to feel a pleasant high, when this feeling is caused because of smoking marijuana, it may heighten our sensory perception, as well as our perception of time. It also changes the way we process information so our judgement may be impaired. It can also be difficult to form new memories when you’re high.
Changes also take place in the brain which upset our balance, coordination and reflex response. This is one of the main reasons why it’s not safe to drive when you have consumed marijuana or any other drugs.
Even more worryingly, large doses of marijuana can cause hallucination or delusions. According to the NIDA, there may be a link between marijuana use and some mental health conditions including depression and anxiety. Amongst who suffer from schizophrenia, the drug can make symptoms worse.
When you come down from a high, you may feel tired or a bit depressed or even anxious. If you’re doing this on a regular basis it can be very bad for your mental health.
Furthermore, in young people whose brains aren’t yet fully developed, marijuana can have a lasting impact on thinking and memory skills.
Memory
In a study carried out by scientists at Northwestern University, it was found that former marijuana smokers had developed brain abnormalities in the regions which are associated with short-term memory. Study participants also demonstrated reduced performance on memory-related tasks. What was found to be the most concerning however was the fact that the brains of marijuana smokers were abnormally shaped and looked similar to brains damaged by schizophrenia.
A study from the Netherlands also suggests that smoking marijuana can impact on creativity. Volunteers who were given marijuana with a high THC content were not able to come up with as many solutions to a problem as those who were given a placebo. This is one of the many reasons why it’s important to seek drug addiction help as soon as you can if you think that you or someone else has a problem.
Increases appetite
Smoking marijuana is well-known for increasing our appetite but why exactly is this?
THC binds to special pathways called cannabinoid receptors. When these receptors are activated, they change the function of a certain type of hunger-regulating neuron. Normally, when these neurons are activated, they tell us that we’re not hungry. When the cannabinoid receptors are turned on however, it tells us that we want to eat and therefore increases our appetite.
If you think that you or someone you know may need drug addiction help, please feel free to contact Toronto Trauma & Addiction Counselling in the strictest of confidence and we will be more than happy to advise about the drug addiction therapy that we offer.
