Marijuana Use Disorder in Adolescents
Marijuana is one of the most commonly used drugs among adolescents in the world today. According to research done by the University of Michigan in 2017, it concluded that the majority of teens consumed marijuana compared to cigarettes and alcohol. Notably, the majority of adolescents that are addicted to marijuana are 8th, 10th, and 12th graders whose consumption was 14.5% within a month, 23.9% in a year, and 29.3% in a lifetime( Elkins, 2017). The main chemical that is active in marijuana is THC, which is mind-blowing after being consumed, thus affecting the brains (Anderson, 2018). As a result, when highly taken, it ends up causing panic attacks, anxiety and other health issues, especially to a person who is new to smoking marijuana.
Unfortunately, the majority of adolescents use cannabis to feel happy, and to fit in the generation they are in not putting in mind the kind of health complications they are bringing to themselves. The legalization of marijuana in the US for medical and recreational purposes made it available over the counters, thus fastening its availability to everyone, even the minors. However, its legalization does not make consumption of marijuana legal in Federal Law. Therefore, the use of marijuana is a significant risk factor in the world, and the sooner a solution is found in controlling the teens, the better in preserving the future of tomorrow’s leaders.
Causes of Marijuana Use In Adolescents
The first risk factor that leads to marijuana addiction is peer pressure. Specifically, when a group of teens think that the only way to become popular in a group is through substance use, chances of them indulging in marijuana is high. For instance, in a case scenario where a group leader of a peer platform has to smoke either marijuana, cigarettes or use alcohol to stand out as mature to the group, many leaders are left with no option than using it. Notably, boys indulge in marijuana intake to improve their self-images while girls use it as a form of stress relief (Whitesell, Bachand, Peel, & Brown, 2013). Hence, it is essential for opinion leaders and influencers in society to hold hands in guiding the behavioural changes in adolescents to prevent them from marijuana addiction.
Depression is the second factor that contributes to marijuana addiction. The term depression is related to pain, anger and sadness that disrupt a person’s daily activities, as a result leading to addiction to marijuana use to escape from reality. Notably, many adolescents who use marijuana are caught up in the middle of stressors such as parents divorcing, poverty, maltreatment and many other factors, and the only way to solve such issues is through oneself medication by the use of marijuana ( Whitesell et, al, 2013). Adolescents behaviour has to be monitored, and stressors reduced to curb the enormous consumption of marijuana.
Another cause for marijuana use is social risk factors in society. Consequently, societal behaviour can either build or destroy a character. For instance, if a teen comes from an environment where marijuana use is like daily bread, and there is easy accessibility, there is a high chance of him or her indulging in it. Consequently, irresponsible social activities such as deviant groups, bullying, peer pressure, family influences and popularity are amongst the main reasons why adolescents end up indulging in marijuana intake (Ameth, Bustos, Fregoso, Fleiz, Gutiérrez, Amador, & Medina-Mora, 2017). The law has to ensure that there are rules and regulations set aside to stipulate what is right or wrong in society to curb the use of drug substance as a result of irresponsible social behaviours.
Symptoms and Side Effects of Marijuana Use
The reality of the matter is that however harmful the side effects for marijuana has, the users will always have the urge to continue using it, this means working extra hard to afford pot at all costs to feel high. There are many symptoms associated with the addition of marijuana, and the first one is nervousness and anxiety. People who are addicted to marijuana tend to be nervous. According to research done, 50% of college students suffered paranoia as a result of marijuana intake (Damon, 2020). THC tends to affect the receptors in the brain, thus controlling different emotions in the user such as fear, stress, anxiety and paranoia. Seemingly, age plays a role in the extend of paranoia levels in that research showed that older individuals might be less paranoid compared to younger individuals ( Damon, 2020). Therefore, it is vital to observe the changing characters of adolescents, especially once suspected that they are using marijuana substance.
Secondly, an increase in appetite is another symptom that one is using marijuana. Once an individual has consumed cannabis, he or she will want to eat a large portion of food and sweets. This is a fact that is clinically proven, and it is evident once a person consumes marijuana, one might want to eat more as a result of compounds found in the drug. According to Doctor Hultin, a spokesman for academy Nutrition and Dietetics, many patients suffering from marijuana disorder had a high appetite as a result of THC stimulants in the brain (the Vatican, 2019). This is to mean that once someone has consumed marijuana, THC informs the receptors in mind, which makes the food to smell good, thus increasing the appetite. Generally, young adolescents have desire compared to older individuals in a normal situation, but with the consumption of marijuana, the hunger increases.
Another symptom for marijuana disorder in adolescent is disinterest and lack of motivation. An adolescent who wasn’t using marijuana might lose interest in doing things that he or she used to do before as a result of the effects caused by marijuana. Seemingly, excessive intake of the drug changes the sleeping habits of the user in that one might end sleeping later into the day as a result of insomnia at night. Unfortunately, most of the adolescents who have such visible symptoms do not accept that they have been affected, thus reducing the chances of getting help.
Side Effects of Marijuana Addiction
The side effects of substance use are highly alarming. This is because it causes a long term negative on the mental and physical health of adolescents. Sadly, adolescents who consume varieties of marijuana may end up suffering from short term and long term side effects. For instance, they may incur for the loss of memory, depression, anxiety, lack of essential skills and worst of all, and some may end up dropping out of school. Majority of adolescent end up getting into trouble such as causing accidents, indulging into careless sexual behaviours and reckless driving thud, leading to accidents. Besides, marijuana addicts have to deal with respiratory issues such as daily coughs, high heart rates, chest pains and high chances of lung infections.
Prognosis
Prognosis is a prediction of a medical condition, its development, symptoms and possibility of healing or worsening. The excellent news with drug addiction is that when immediate precautions are placed into action, it can lead to total control of the disease. The first step in detecting marijuana disorder is by understating its usage among adolescents. With this knowledge, getting to know how to control and prevent its spread to the youths will be less of a problem. Marijuana was legalized in the US as medicinal, thus making it even harder to control its availability in the market (Brownstein, 2015). However, the majorities of adolescents who use marijuana are shy and are not free to face their doctors talk about their secret use of marijuana. Therefore, users of marijuana must be free and open to their doctors as ta number one healing process.
Concerning the prognosis and diagnosis, it is vital to do an in-depth assessment of the use. This includes putting into account the time one spends smoking weed, the quantity consumed and the method of administration into the body. Secondly, a general mental and health assessment of the user has to be carried out to figure out trigger factors that may lead to substance disorder. Moreover, a urine test (UDS) has to be carried out to determine what other substances have been added to marijuana as other dealers tend to add other additives for different benefits ( Jafari, 2016). the long run, this kind of assessment guide the doctors in determining the type of treatment needed to every person who uses the drug.
Treatment
It is important to note that there is no cure for marijuana addiction pe se. However, prognosis and diagnosis of marijuana use have been established, treatment measure s and prevention be can easily take place. There are different ways of healing people suffering from marijuana disorder. The first process to treatment of marijuana disorder is by deciding to stop using the drug. Many adolescents find it hard to start therapy due to the fear of letting those around know that they are addicts.
First and foremost is to establish centres that deal with treating marijuana and other substance use addiction. Notably, their many facilities that offer rehabilitation programs and different medicinal process to reduce the intake of marijuana. Preferably, adolescents should be assigned to a professional’s team, which is made up of the medical team, spiritual advisors and other staff who are willing to take a user through the process of healing.
Seemingly, professional counsellors in rehabilitation centres make it easy for addicts to restrain from using the substances through the following patient’s assessment (Addiction treatment models,” n.d.)
- Briefly monitoring the addiction pattern of the adolescent addict
- Self-acceptance and dedication therapy
III. Treatment Aid therapy
- Educational programmes
- Supportive therapies
Drugs will always be a part of our lives, whether we like it or not. As mentioned earlier, the majority of these drugs such as marijuana have been legalized for medicinal purposes, thus making them available over the counters. However, this does not mean that we use it recklessly to harm our lives, especially adolescents. Notably, many adolescents in their early ages are prone to using marijuana for different purposes. Some use it to feel happy and high, while others use it to have self-esteem and create a reputation about them. Sadly, some consume marijuana due to stressors in their lives, such as bullying in school, family issues, among others. Most importantly, influencers in the society must stay alert and strictly follow up their young one’s behaviour to ensure that they do not go astray. On the other hand, the adolescents who are in the process of healing should be immediately out into assessment programs to establish the extent at which they have been involved in drug usage which will appear later on determine the kind of treatment measures to put into action.
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References
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Damon, T. (2020). Pot and paranoia: Why weed can make you anxious. The spokesman-review.Retrieved from: https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2020/feb/24/pot-and-paranoia-why-weed-can-make-you-anxious
Anderson, L. (2018). Marijuana: Effects, medical uses and legalization. Drugs. Com. Recuperado de: https://www. drugs. com/illicit/marijuana. HTML.
Whitesell, M., Bachand, A., Peel, J., & Brown, M. (2013). Familial, Social, and Individual Factors Contributing to Risk for Adolescent Substance Use. Journal of Addiction, 2013, 1-9.
Ameth Villatoro, J., Bustos, M. N., Fregoso, D. A., Fleiz Bautista, C., Gutiérrez López, M. D. L., Amador Buenabad, N. G., & Medina-Mora, M. E. (2017). Contextual factors associated with marijuana use in the school population. Salud Mental, 40(3), 93-102.
Elkins, C. (2017). Teens and Kids Smoking Weed. Drug rehab. Retrieved From: https://www.drugrehab.com/addiction/drugs/marijuana/kids-teens-smoking-weed/
The Vatican, J. (2019). Does Smoking Weed Increase Appetite And Make You Gain Weight.MedicalDaily. Retrieved from: https://www.medicaldaily.com/top-7-dht-blocker-shampoos-stop-hair-loss-442849
Brownstein, H. H. (Ed.). (2015). The handbook of drugs and society. John Wiley & Sons.
Jafari, S. (2016). Diagnosis and Treatment Of Marijuana Dependence. BCMedicaljournal.Retrieved from: https://www.bcmj.org/articles/diagnosis-and-treatment-marijuana-dependence