Effects of Long-Term Marijuana Use
Although marijuana is not associated with the acute physical addiction experienced by users of drugs like crack and methamphetamine, prolonged use is linked to serious physical and psychological consequences. Many of the lasting effects of extensive use are not fully understood, but long-term exposure to marijuana has been linked to increased social, mental, and physical problems, as well as decreased quality of life.
Physical symptoms that have appeared in some heavy users include appetite disruption, restlessness, and shaky hands. Psychological symptoms appear to be more severe, with many long-time users discovering that the drug interferes with employment, education, relationships, hygiene, health, nutrition, and financial responsibility.
Recent studies have also correlated marijuana use with increased accidents rates, absences from school and work, workers’ compensation claims, and job turnover.
RESPIRATORY DAMAGE
Individuals who use marijuana over a long period of time usually suffer respiratory damage. One reason for this is the way that the drug is usually used.
Marijuana smokers typically inhale deeply and attempt to hold the unfiltered smoke in their lungs for as long as possible. This prolongs the smoke’s direct contact with the lungs, increasing exposure to toxins and, over time, ravaging the delicate lung tissue.
In addition, marijuana is known to contain some of the same chemicals as tobacco (many in greater concentrations than in tobacco), which have been linked to emphysema and cancer. Regular pot smokers often develop the same respiratory symptoms as cigarette smokers, including a persistent cough, excess phlegm, and more frequent chest colds and lung infections.
CARDIOVASCULAR PROBLEMS
Marijuana can also cause cardiovascular problems. Immediate effects of use include elevated heart rate and decreased blood pressure. Over time, users may develop chronic low blood pressure.
Since marijuana also impairs the delivery of oxygen to the body (by binding to hemoglobin in the same manner as tobacco smoke), it can promote breathlessness and increase the risk of heart attack.
MENTAL ILLNESS
Prolonged use of marijuana has also been correlated with certain symptoms of mental illness, but it is not yet understood whether use of the drug actually causes mental disorders, as it is difficult to disentangle effects of use from other factors which may predispose an individual to mental problems.
Individuals who suffer from schizophrenia have shown increased psychosis (disturbed perceptions and thoughts) after using marijuana. In addition, marijuana use often coincides with symptoms of anxiety and depression, including suicidal ideation. However, a cause-effect relationship between marijuana and these symptoms has not been established.
Some anxious and depressed individuals may choose to use marijuana for its reputed ability to calm and mellow the user – though, ironically, many frequent marijuana users experience paranoia and panic.
MEMORY LOSS
Some short- and long-term marijuana users have experienced impaired attention, memory problems, and diminished learning capacity. For young people, these effects can have especially serious consequences – as chemicals found in marijuana can interfere with the formation of memories and the ability to retain knowledge.
In addition, some frequent users display what is called “amotivational syndrome” or “burnout,” which is characterized by a general apathy toward life events. After prolonged use, heavy users often appear dull, distracted, and lethargic – and some can even become unaware of their surroundings. Burned-out users may also suffer from poor coordination, decreased sex drive, diminished interpersonal skills, and poor judgment.
Young users may suffer long-term consequences after a relatively short-term experience with marijuana. Academic delinquency, involvement with law enforcement, and substance-related car accidents represent some of the serious threats to the personal, social, and physical development of young people who use marijuana.
References
Fact Sheet: As a matter of fact…Marijuana. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). 1984.
Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know (Revised). National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), 2002.
Gruber AJ, Pope HG, Hudson JI, Yurgelun-Todd D. Attributes of long-term heavy cannabis users: A case control study. Psychological Med 33(8):1415–1422, 2003.
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