Side Effects can be a Barrier to Quitting Pot
Cessation Can Cause Physical and Psychological Symptoms
Jun 5, 2009
While not physically addictive like tobacco, marijuana can become psychologically addictive over time, which may lead to more frequent and excessive use.
Not only does this escalation make quitting more difficult, it also can cause a loss in cognition and learning. The long-term effects of smoking can also damage critical body organs like the lungs, heart and brain.
Pot a Popular Substance
Despite decades of efforts to eradicate it, marijuana remains a widely-used recreational drug popular among both youth and adults. It is also sometimes used in connection with certain religious and spiritual celebrations.
Estimates indicate that each year about 162 million people, or 4% of the world's adult population, use the drug. More than 22 million use it on a daily basis.
Therapeutic Value of Marijuana Gaining Credibility
Long considered an illegal controlled substance by law enforcement, marijuana is slowly gaining acceptance in the medical community for the treatment of cancer, glaucoma and muscular dystrophy.
Some states have recently passed legislation that allows it to be prescribed medicinally. In these cases, it can be purchased legally by patients who have been issued medical marijuana licenses after undergoing evaluations by state-approved physicians.
Side Effects From Quitting Pot
Many marijuana users eventually recognize the cumulative effects from years of smoking and make a decision to quit. When they do, research has shown it is not unusual for them to experience a number of side effects, both physically and psychologically.
The physical effects can include:
- Insomnia
- Vivid dreams
- Irritability and agitation
- Loss of appetite
- Loss of libido
- Sore throat
- Dry mouth
- Nausea
Psychological effects can include:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Anti-social behavior
Anti-depressants Carry Own Side-Effects
In some cases, attempts to counteract the psychological effects of smoking cessation can include the use of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs), otherwise known as anti-depressants. SSRIs can carry an assortment of side effects all their own.
Among these effects are:
- decreased sex drive
- drowsiness and fatigue
- headaches
- bruxism or grinding the teeth
- weight loss or gain
- suicidal thoughts
Because the active ingredient in marijuana, tetrahydrocanabinol (THC), is stored by the body in fat tissue, it can take up to 30 days or more for it to break down and exit. During this period, and even beyond, some of these side effects may be experienced.
Reducing Side Effects of Quitting Pot
According to kick-addiction.com, marijuana users who are serious about quitting in the safest and most effective manner may be able to reduce some of the physical and psychological effects by following a few simple guidelines:
- Do a thorough detox to your body, including exercise and lots of water, to flush outyour system.
- Identify the time of day when you smoke and why, to increase consciousness of your habit.
- Plan alternative activities to take the place of smoking.
- Find a new hobby or interest.
- Don’t substitute one new vice for another.
- Avoid using the physical and psychological symptoms you’re experiencing when quitting as an excuse to continue smoking.
Additional tools and resources like self-help books, audio tapes and CDs, and even hypnosis can be effective in users’ efforts to quit. In the end, determination, will, patience and time are the critical elements to achieving success.
