Marijuana Rehab Center

The effects of being high on cannabis can sometimes be easier to mask than those of some other drugs and alcohol. There are some characteristic signs, though, that indicate someone is using marijuana or is considered to be intoxicated because of use:

• Problems with short-term memory
• Dry mouth
• Red, bloodshot eyes
• Impaired coordination and motor control
• Altered perceptions
• Delayed reaction times
• Increased heart rate and blood pressure
• Anxiety or paranoia
• Food cravings

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, there have been no reports of marijuana overdose fatalities in the U.S. However, when the source of the marijuana is not known there is always the possibility that it has been cut with another substance that could cause harm or an overdose. If in doubt that someone is suffering from a drug overdose of any kind, always call 911 or get the person to the emergency room immediately.

It is not uncommon for someone with a marijuana use disorder to have co-occurring disorders. Two that are common include other substance use disorders and mental illnesses. All of these illnesses have risk factors in common, which is one important reason they co-occur. The phenomenon may also be explained by the fact that many people with mental illnesses, like depression, turn to substances, like alcohol, as a form of self-medication.

Long-term marijuana use can also trigger or contribute to physical health conditions. These include respiratory conditions similar to those caused by cigarette smoking: chronic bronchitis or emphysema. Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome is a condition that long-term users may develop and that causes severe cycles of nausea and vomiting that can lead to dangerous dehydration.

Dabbing is one of the methods for using cannabis—in particular, cannabis concentrates. People who dab discuss this method’s perceived benefits as creating a more intense high and providing a healthier method of using marijuana than smoking it. However, researchers warn that dabbing may come with health risks, including the potential for cancer.

A dab refers to a single portion of concentrated cannabis, and dabbing is the act of using dabs through vaporization. Dabbing has generally used extracted tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) resin but has increasingly been including other components such as cannabidiol (CBD) and terpenes. The resin can come in different forms, including:

• Oil
• A wax-like soft solid
• A hard solid

The marijuana drug is the dried material—flowers, leaves, stems—of the cannabis plant. It can be used for medical purposes but is primarily used recreationally, to get high. Marijuana is most often smoked, but it can also be mixed into foods, which are called edibles, or vaporized. The compounds in the cannabis plant that are psychoactive are called cannabinoids and the most prominent of these is called THC.

• About half of American adults have tried marijuana at least once. Almost 50 million people, or 18% of Americans, used cannabis at least once in 2019
• Marijuana is the most commonly used substance after alcohol across all age groups.
• People who begin using marijuana before the age of 18 are at a greater risk of developing a use disorder.
• About nine percent of people who use marijuana will become dependent on it. The number is closer to 17 percent in those who first started using the drug in their teens.