Marijuana is among the most popular drugs in modern American society. Although many users and proponents of marijuana legalization argue that the drug is harmless, it poses various dangers to the body. Most users overlook marijuana side effects on the body and brain.
Like other powerful drugs, abuse of marijuana exposes users to short- and long-term health effects. Suppose you or your loved ones are addicted to marijuana. The good news is that Midwest Recovery Center is on standby to offer you the necessary substance abuse treatment in OH. This can get you or your loved one the treatment necessary to prevent any marijuana side effects from derailing one’s life and goals.
Marijuana Side Effects on the Brain
Several studies concur that continual excessive use of marijuana has long-term and sometimes permanent adverse impacts on the brain.
The substance can impair the functioning of an individual’s cognitive ability depending on several factors, including:
- The age when the person started using the drug
- The duration the individual has been using marijuana
- The quantity of the drug the user ingests
- The frequency of use
- The method of ingestion
Marijuana affects an individual’s verbal memory, but the brain’s processing speed and task execution remain the same. Statistics show that the side effects of marijuana are significant even after an individual stops using the drug.
Marijuana causes a decline in the intelligence quotient (IQ) for individuals who begin using during adolescence and continue into adulthood. Marijuana users lose between six and eight IQ points by the time they reach their mid-adulthood. Although other factors, such as family history, environment, and genetics, play a crucial role in impacting an individual’s IQ, marijuana is another factor.
The substance affects the user’s memory because its active ingredient, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), alters the working of the hippocampus, which is the brain region responsible for the coordination of body activities and the formation of memories. The change in the brain’s structural functioning results in memory loss.
Researchers also observe that regular marijuana consumers are more likely to develop false memories and experience hallucinations.
How Marijuana Use Affects the Body
Despite gaining acceptance in many states in the US for medicinal value, marijuana side effects are serious, and users should not ignore their consequences. The substance’s two ingredients, THC and cannabidiol (CBD), are the primary causes of dependence and addiction.
The side effects of marijuana on your body impact the respiratory system. Since regular marijuana users are smokers, they are more prone to coughing, wheezing, and producing phlegm. The result is an increase in the risk of bronchitis and other lung infections.
Smoking marijuana may also increase the symptoms of underlying respiratory conditions, such as cystic fibrosis and asthma. Chronic smokers of marijuana are also more vulnerable to lung cancer.
The effects of THC spread to all parts of the body within minutes after using marijuana, increasing the heartbeat by over 20 beats per minute. The fast-paced heartbeat can last for three hours, thus affecting the circulatory system. Marijuana users with underlying heart conditions risk developing a heart attack.
Manage the Effects of Marijuana Abuse at Rehab
Rehab centers offer evidence-based substance abuse treatment programs that can help individuals addicted to marijuana regain their sobriety. For a holistic approach, therapists combine several programs, including:
- Partial hospitalization program (PHP)
- Heroin addiction treatment program
- Intensive outpatient program (IOP)
- Painkiller addiction treatment program
- Group therapy program
- Community housing
Contact Midwest Recovery Center to Start Treatment
Reach out to our rehab center for more guidelines on the path to permanent recovery and dealing with marijuana side effects. Our therapists will first evaluate your condition before recommending an ideal treatment program. Contact Midwest Recovery Center at 833.627.0039 to get started on your journey to recovery.
