While some people can use marijuana without consequences, people with unresolved trauma and particular life circumstances cannot use marijuana without moving on to more dangerous drugs as their tolerance builds. Marijuana is a trigger for people who are addicted to cocaine, methamphetamine, alcohol, and many other drugs. Marijuana makes people more likely to relapse into harder drugs if they used those drugs together in the past. It is illegal in most states and affects memory, productivity, and sleep habits.
Marijuana abuse in young adults is a conversation to take seriously. If you or a young person you love struggles with marijuana abuse, don’t simply search the term “marijuana addiction treatment near me” online. Instead, call 833.999.1941 to speak with someone from Solution Based Treatment & Detox (SBT) about the connection between marijuana and young adults and how our caring and compassionate team can help you or your loved one overcome addiction.
Marijuana in California
Few drugs have generated the dedicated following that marijuana has in the United States or the number of staunch defenders. Marijuana has fewer side effects than many other drugs but can cause social, occupational, and relationship problems.
Nearly half of U.S. seniors have tried marijuana, and over half of 18- to 25-year-olds have used it recreationally. As more states legalize marijuana recreationally, that number goes up. Many of these young adults stop using marijuana as they get older. But studies show that marijuana and young adults don’t mix.
The Impact of Heavy Marijuana Use on Young Adults
It’s no wonder that those who heavily use marijuana as young adults are more likely to:
- Drop out of school
- Live below or just above the poverty line
- Struggle with advancing in their careers
- Have trouble in their social lives and relationships
- Experience physical and mental health problems
- Have more severe and frequent work accidents
Marijuana can cause trouble remembering, learning, and changes how the brain processes emotions. For these reasons, repeated studies have shown that marijuana can significantly decrease life quality as young adults age, even if they stop in their 30s.
Marijuana and the Young Adult’s Brain
The primary psychoactive compound in marijuana is a chemical called THC. This substance interacts with the endocannabinoid system in the brain. The endocannabinoid system helps regulate several functions in the body, keeping them in balance. It does so by speeding up or slowing down the messages sent between cells.
But what happens when you introduce an outside cannabinoid called THC? THC attaches to cannabinoid receptors. Then it disrupts the messages being sent between the cells, causing highness and other short-term symptoms:
- Lack of motivation
- Increased appetite
- Pain reduction
- Mood alteration
- Poor motor skills
- Paranoia
All of this is happening while the brain is still developing. So the impact seems temporary. But with repeated, heavy, or prolonged use, the brain begins to function differently. As a result, you may struggle to manage your mood, chronic pain, lack of appetite, or trouble getting motivated with age. To make matters worse, because marijuana is legal in many places, those licensed can grow it freely. This has allowed for more significant investment in research and development. The amount of THC found in modern marijuana is four to five times higher than 25 years ago.
Find Marijuana Abuse and Addiction Treatment in California at SBT
If you continue to abuse marijuana despite its damage to your life, that usage has likely reached the level of marijuana addiction. And it’s time to rethink how harmless you believe marijuana is to your brain. Is it stealing your happiness, your health, and your future?
Solution Based Treatment & Detox in Murrieta, CA, can help you overcome your addiction and emerge into a happier, healthier, more fulfilling life in recovery. Contact SBT today at 833.999.1941 to explore your options.