What Is Marijuana Addiction?: Marijuana is the most commonly used drug in the United States. Considered less potent then most other drugs, people often smoke marijuana to get high. The marijuana smoked today is not that of yesteryear. One study found that it was three times more powerful. Marijuana can be mixed with other drugs to get an even more powerful high.

Signs of Marijuana Addiction: Those addicted to marijuana may become lethargic, unmotivated and forgetful. Persistent thoughts and plans to get high, spending loads of money on marijuana and developing a dependency on the drug that requires higher amounts to feel the effects are all signs of addiction.

Cause of Marijuana Addiction: Marijuana is addicting because of the drugs affect on the brain. The part of this organ that affects pleasure is altered. Overtime and with consistent use, an individual will start to become more forgetful, may have a difficult time learning, become depressed, anxious and may even exhibit signs of schizophrenia. Drug use experts do have some questions about whether or not schizophrenia and other mental disorders associated with marijuana use is due to the drug or if a user likely already has these issues and the drug only exacerbates them.

Effects of Marijuana Addiction: Though some people believe that marijuana use is benign, science proves otherwise. Individuals who abuse marijuana for long periods of time will likely suffer from memory loss, depression and even schizophrenia.

Complications of Marijuana Addiction: Marijuana addiction can cause many mental problems. If laced with stronger drugs, marijuana can become a gateway to harder, even more dangerous drugs. Users may also suffer from lung cancer due to the carcinogens found in marijuana smoke, which can be as concentrated as what is found in cigarette smoke.

Treatment of Marijuana Addiction: A marijuana addiction can be treated through drug rehabilitation. Counseling may also be necessary so that users can determine why they are using and then begin to develop behavior modification strategies.