People use marijuana for several reasons, such as chronic pain relief, cancer treatments, or to help them relax. While it may be legal in many states now, smoking marijuana every day does not come without consequences. To avoid experiencing the negative effects of marijuana addiction, it is essential to seek treatment options as soon as you can.
Mood and Memory Changes
Daily marijuana use can lead to feelings of fatigue, anxiety, paranoia, and temporary hallucinations. You may be staying away from activities you used to enjoy in favor of smoking marijuana and experience impaired memory. When marijuana hits the hippocampus, it can temporarily prevent the brain from developing new memories and learning new things. You can also develop false memories even if you have gone months without marijuana.
Respiratory Risk Disease
Marijuana can cause chronically inflamed airways, resulting in chronic cough, sore throat, or a runny nose. Marijuana smoke has been shown to harm the cell linings of the large airways, which explains why marijuana smokers have symptoms like chronic cough, wheezing, and bronchitis. Marijuana also contains chemicals and tar similar to tobacco smoke which raises concerns over cancer and lung diseases. There have been cases of air pockets between the lungs and the chest wall and large air bubbles in the lungs of heavy marijuana smokers. Marijuana smokers tend to inhale more deeply and hold their breath longer than cigarette smokers, leading to greater exposure to tar.
Marijuana Use Disorder
Everyday smoking of marijuana carries the risk of developing an addiction. The National Institute on Drug Abuse states that 30% of those who use marijuana have some degree of marijuana use disorder. Your marijuana use may be an addiction if negative consequences occur due to marijuana use, but you cannot stop using the drug. Habitual use of marijuana can mean low academic performance, job loss, legal consequences, depression, anxiety, and even hospitalization if your mental health symptoms worsen. Withdrawal can lead to symptoms of irritability, anxiety, trouble sleeping, depression, and more. Having all of these consequences occur and still not being able to stop due to withdrawal symptoms shows the importance of treatment. Doing something about your daily marijuana use can lower your chances of having marijuana affect your health and the rest of your life.
With the legalization of marijuana in many states and its use for medicinal purposes, the negative consequences have not been taken seriously. Those who smoke marijuana every day are more likely to experience lung issues, changes in mood and memory, an increased risk of addiction, and more. At Alta Loma, we understand how daily marijuana use can affect your life, and we are here to help you. Our transformative treatment center in Georgetown, Texas, can provide you with individualized treatment, 12-Step programs, coping skills education, and more. Call (866) 457-3843 for more information about our services.