One of the greatest and most damaging myths circulating among the American public is the idea that marijuana use is harmless. Many people think of marijuana as a recreational drug, one that does not have a serious impact on a person’s overall quality of life no matter how frequent the use. The truth of the matter is, however, that marijuana is a drug just like any other and, like all other drugs, can have serious and lasting consequences. In fact, researchers are still discovering the many ways in which long-term marijuana use permanently alters and impacts the brain.
What Happens When a Person Smokes Marijuana?
In order to fully understand the long-term effects that marijuana usage can have on the brain, it’s important to first understand how marijuana functions and what it does to the brain and body in the short-term. Once marijuana enters the body, whether the person ingests it by smoking the drug or eating it, its active ingredient, THC, makes it way to the pleasure center of the brain. There, it causes the person to feel euphoric or high by causing the brain cells to release the feel-good chemical known as dopamine. Individuals come to crave the release of dopamine and will often use marijuana more and more often to experience this effect, thus proving that marijuana can be addictive.
In addition to its addictive properties, however, marijuana also causes some immediate and sometimes serious effects on the brain. While these effects will wear off as the drug does, they are generally a fairly good indicator of the permanent damages that can occur with continued use.
Immediate effects of marijuana on the brain can include:
- Confusion
- Panic attacks
- Increased anxiety
- Impaired coordination
- Impaired reaction time
- Fatigue
- Depression
Continued Use of Marijuana
It is estimated that one in 10 persons who try marijuana will develop a dependence upon the drug. Even those who do not develop a physical addiction but continue to abuse the drug regularly can experience permanent damage to their cognitive function; the more frequently a person smokes, the worse those damages are likely to be.
While research is still being done to understand the long-term or permanent effects of marijuana, there are certain known brain damages caused by regular use of the drug.
Some of these damages include:
- Decreased ability to concentrate or stay focused on one task
- Impaired ability to learn or retain new information
- Memory problems
- Increased risk of mental disorders
- Lack of clear understanding
- Decreased ambition and motivation
- Impaired judgment
- Increased difficulty with making decisions
Other Effects of Marijuana
While marijuana can cause serious brain damage, it can also be damaging to other parts of the body as well. Just as cigarettes affect the lungs and throat, marijuana, when smoked, affects these areas as well and can lead to an increased risk for certain types of cancer.
See more on the effects of marijuana on your body when using.
Marijuana users also tend to suffer from reduced immune system functioning; this means that they tend to get sick more often and have a harder time recovering when they do become ill. Furthermore, marijuana users are at risk of getting into a serious accident if they drive or engage in other risky behaviors while under the influence of marijuana.
The only way to eradicate the risks of these negative effects is to stop using marijuana. Unfortunately, once addiction has set in, treatment will be necessary. If marijuana dependence is an issue affecting your loved one, you can assist them in avoiding potential brain and health problems by contacting us at Black Bear Lodge today at 855-808-6212.