Effects-of-Heavy-Marijuana-Use-on-Social-Behavior

Effects of Heavy Marijuana Use on Social Behavior

Heavy marijuana abuse may show low achievement in important life measures including mental and physical health, and career. Marijuana affects memory, judgment and perception. Learning and attention skills are impaired among people who use it heavily. Longitudinal research on marijuana use among young people below college age indicates those who use marijuana have lower achievement than the non-users, more acceptance of deviant behavior, more delinquent behavior and aggression, greater rebelliousness, poorer relationships with parents, and more associations with delinquent and drug-using friends.

Smoking marijuana can make driving dangerous. The cerebellum is the section of our brain that controls balance and coordination. When THC affects the cerebellum’s function it can cause disaster on the road. Research shows that drivers have slower reaction times, impaired judgment, and problems responding to signals and sounds if driving while under the influence of THC.

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The Have I Got A Problem website is a free online resource to help people better understand any issues or concerns they may have about mental health or addiction. The website includes resources specifically focused to; general Mental Health, Depression, Stress, Anxiety, Insecurities, Self-harm Schizophrenia, Bipolar, Anger Management, Eating Disorders, Coping, general Addiction, Alcohol, Smoking, Gambling, Drugs, Cocaine, Heroin, Marijuana (Cannabis) Ecstasy, PCP, Mephedrone, Ketamine & Crystal Meth.

The site was created to give the public information to help them understand mental health and addiction issues and to assist people in making better informed decisions about their life and personal choices.

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Quotes

"I ended up homeless and on the streets, living and sleeping in a cardboard box, begging and struggling to find ways to get my next meal."

Ben

"I don't miss the fact that now when my lips move it is more than likely I am actually telling the truth."

Jane S

"I don't miss the fear that arose when I'm driving my car every time a police car hovers into view."

Steven

"My lowest point was when I realised I was stealing money from my daughters Christmas presents to fund my habit."

P. Gomez

"That's what made me think of stopping my drug habits - My Blood pressure spiked at 200/110 last week during a Panic Attack."

Maria

"Anyone being faced with the reality that their addiction needs to be conquered and their life will change is going to be scared."

Fatima

"You need to realize that the little voice in your head telling you to use is your own."

Maya

"Find out why you use, find out your triggers, and take it day by day. Any day clean is better than any day you’ve been high."

Ivan

"My goal in life wasn't living...it was getting high. I was falling in a downward spiral towards a point of no return"

John

"Now I see how important it is for me to be in control of every part of me. Today my body is being controlled by me. I am in the driver’s seat, and I’m driving with happiness."

Nathan

"Little did I know that my mom was upstairs crying every night that I came home late, crying because she was scared for my survival."

Nick

"I only saw the upside of taking marijuana. My friends saw the forgetful, slow talker they had not known years before."

Yamashita

"I'm more graceful in social situations without that paranoia, and I just got a great job that I could only have by passing a drug test."

Anonymous

"Before I became a mother I saw no reason to quit smoking weed, but now I have every reason to quit."

Anonymous

"Just constantly stoned whether I'm working or at university or at home."

Erin

"For the past eight years I have relied on pot to relieve my depression. It makes me feel worse."

Janet

"I've continued to smoke every day for the past 5 years to avoid depressive thoughts and emotions i did not want to deal with, but I now know that this is not a way to live."

Parker

"My love affair with weed started about 2 years ago after grade 11. I was serious in school and motivated but to be honest I can't remember how I was before I started smoking."

Joe

"I have been feeding, clothing and subsidising my son all his adult life, paying for flats and contents which he then systematically sells for drugs. Cannabis has ruined an otherwise, funny, intelligent, good looking human being."

Alec

"I was arrested for burgling my parents' house and for several drug offences. Thankfully, my mum stood up in court and pleaded with the judge to send me to rehab. I was sent to a prison with a good drugs unit. If I hadn't been, I would probably be dead by "

Darren

"Depression and marijuana feed on each other."

John

"I had extremly bad anxiety for the first week when I quit, it lead to irritability and problems falling asleep, it was tough, but you learn new coping techniques along with them, it gets easier."

Josh

"After quitting weed, my memory has come back somewhat, but It's nowhere near as good as what it was."

Ben

"The clean life is a wonderful life, and I wouldn’t hand it back for anything."

Jay

"Weed just makes time go by fast, where you don't even get a chance to enjoy the present time."

Simma

"Is there a familiar aroma emanating from your kid's room? Do you shake your head and ignore it thinking, "Hey, I got high when I was a teen and I turned out OK, right?" Well, think again"

Doreen Smith

"It's much more potent marijuana, which may explain why we've seen a pretty dramatic increase in admission to emergency rooms and treatment programs for marijuana"

Dr Nora D Volkow

"An 8 point drop in IQ was found among the 38 year olds who had started regularly smoking pot by 18, with declines that persisted even if after they quit using a year later"

Madeline Meier PhD

"When I smoked a lot, I didn’t accomplish a thing. It took me forever to do simple tasks that didn’t used to cause me any trouble at all. Where are my keys? Even getting dressed becomes a pain. Believe me. Sometimes I woudn’t even have the motivation to le"

John

"I've basically done nothing over the last 10 years without smoking, and everything just seems boring and worthless. I've forced myself to go out and at least do SOMETHING outside every day."

Adilah

"Pot smokers don't dream, so once you have your first dream after giving up, you're on the road to success."

Nick

"After one day of not smoking habitually for a couple years, my dreams became immensely more vivid. I’ve come to look forward to these experiences which has inspired me to log my dreams in a book. It’s awesome. Dreams can be some of the most exciting highs"

Mike

"Today, and I noticed that a channel is running a marathon of my favorite tv show. Immediately I wondered why I wasn't excited, and I realized why. I was sad because I know that I don't have any weed to enjoy the marathon."

Walter

More Send us your Quotes

Tips & Hints

Decide to make a change
For many people struggling with addiction, the biggest and toughest step toward recovery is deciding to make a change. It’s normal to...
For many people struggling with addiction, the biggest and toughest step toward recovery is deciding to make a change. It’s normal to feel conflicted about giving up your drug of choice, even when you realize it’s causing problems in your life. Committing to sobriety involves changing many things, including the way you deal with stress, who you allow in your life, what you do in your free time and how you think about yourself.
More
Keep triggers and cravings in check
While getting sober from drugs is an important first step, it’s only the beginning of the recovery process. Once sober, the brain nee...
While getting sober from drugs is an important first step, it’s only the beginning of the recovery process. Once sober, the brain needs time to recover and rebuild connections that have changed while addicted. During this time, drug cravings can be intense. You can support your continued sobriety by making a conscious effort to avoid people, places, and situations that trigger the urge to use.
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Don’t let relapse keep you down
Relapse is a common part of the recovery process from drug addiction. While relapse is understandably frustrating and discouraging, it ...
Relapse is a common part of the recovery process from drug addiction. While relapse is understandably frustrating and discouraging, it can also be an opportunity to learn from your mistakes and correct your treatment course.
More
Make a life change
The first step to fighting addiction is to make a decision that it is time to make a life change. That life change will reflect your de...
The first step to fighting addiction is to make a decision that it is time to make a life change. That life change will reflect your desire to quit your addiction. Your life change may require one or many changes be made to accomplish your goal.
More
No more secrets
It’s time to clean out the closet and take inventory. No hiding because of shame. No hiding because of fear. You are not alone in you...
It’s time to clean out the closet and take inventory. No hiding because of shame. No hiding because of fear. You are not alone in your addiction. Thousands of others have fought the same battle. Now is the time to list your good qualities, the things you like about yourself, and want to keep. It is also the time to list your bad qualities, your habits and addictions you wish to overcome. Writing is a powerful tool for the brain. Writing the inventory list will help your brain to help you overcome your addiction. You will be more attune to your strengths and weaknesses and better able to use your strengths to overcome your weakness.
More

A Good Attitude Helps

Having a good attitude or at least being open minded about what you may or may not learn while in treatment can significantly improve b...

Drink Lots of Water

It sounds facile, but lots of water will help you to flush the toxins out of your system and make you feel better after you stop smokin...

Packing for Rehab

Don’t waste your time or the time of others trying to smuggle in contraband items. Instead, pay attention to what is allowed and maxi...

Your Rehab Journal

Rehab is a huge time for you. You are completely changing your life. Keeping a journal will help you work through some of the (often co...

Prepare Your Family and Friends

Before you go to rehab, you should let a few key people in on where you are headed and how long you will be gone. You don’t need to g...

Be Honest

Be honest with yourself, with your therapist, with your counsellors, with your doctors. If you hate rehab and just want to go home, tel...

Ask Questions

Marijuana rehab is not a passive experience. You are not expected to clone yourself and simply absorb the dictates of the rehab regime....

Choose Aftercare Services

Whether you attend 12 step meetings, go to therapy or continue on in a sober living facility, the most effective marijuana rehab treatm...

Have a Plan

You need to follow a plan. We've all heard it before but, "those who fail to plan...plan to fail". This is true when trying to break fr...

Keep Busy

It sounds simple and do you know what? It is. Do something. Anything. Focus on hobbies or projects, build a dog house, organize all you...

Hang Out With Non-Smokers

I'm sure we all have friends that don't smoke marijuana. So, why not try hanging with your friends that don't smoke? If you must contin...

Reward Yourself

Potheads get high as a reward for accomplishing normal everyday tasks. Try rewarding yourself with something nice once in awhile. Order...

Find something to replace your addiction

This does not mean find another drug! It does however mean that while you try to quit pot you need to develop some coping mechanisms wh...

Understand your addiction

The first thing you must do is realize what your addiction actually is. You see, unlike cigarettes which contain nicotine which causes ...

Develop your will to quit

As was said, Marijuana is not chemically addictive so quitting comes down to willpower. Now this does not mean that if you feel the nee...

Write down your reasons to quit

Write down the reasons for quitting marijuana in a piece of paper and read the reasons whenever you have time to read them....

Throw it out

Get rid of all your weed. Flush it down the toilet so you can’t just pull it out of the bin later, and destroy all your supplies. The...

Tell people

Tell your friends and your family that you’re giving up. If they have no idea about your plans then they may just continue to smoke i...

Withdrawal – it’ll happen

Withdrawal is temporary but still not particularly pleasant. When quitting cold turkey, it normally starts a day after you last smoked ...

Withdrawal

you’ll likely have trouble sleeping, so avoid caffeine where possible. Your mood will probably be all over the place too, so make all...

Persist

Just stick with it! Within three weeks your habit should be well and truly broken, and you should be able to carry on with a healthy an...

Diet and Exercise

Stay fit and healthy, and you’ll feel better without the need for weed. Exercising also means you have less empty time to fill by smo...

Understand your psychological need

Once you can accept that your addiction stems from a psychological need you can move to understand that need. Is smoking an escape from...

Get Rid of Some Stuff

Always remove all the addiction-inducing products such as cigarettes and alcohol around you; that will remind you of using marijuana....

Breathing Exercises

You can start practicing deep breathing and you can do some breathing workouts such as pranayama and kriya....

Maintain a Good Diet and Exercise

It is super important to maintain a good diet and exercise while trying to quit. This will make you feel good, keep you motivated, and ...

Distract Your Mind with a New Hobby

You are going to crave weed. You’re going to want it, desire it, feel like you even need it. But this is untrue, and you know it. The...

Do NOT Replace One Bad Habit with Another

A piece of advice I have heard from smokers to other smokers who want to quit is to replace weed with cigarettes. This is a terrible id...

More Tips & Hints