Marijuanaabuseandaddiction1
Introduction
Substance abuse and addiction has been an ongoing concern in our society for years. This paper is written to discuss the topic of addiction to the substance of marijuana. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) 2014 reports that marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States. Marijuana is the dried leaves, seeds, stems, and flowers of the hemp plant referred to as Cannabis sativa. The plant contains an addictive, mind-altering chemical known as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (Drug Facts: Marijuana, 2015). According to Drug Facts: Marijuana, 2015, the amount of THC in marijuana has been steadily increasing, which creates more harmful effects for users. This paper will address possible causes of marijuana addiction, the prevalence of marijuana addiction, and potential treatments for marijuana addiction.
Possible Causes of Marijuana Addiction
According to Greydanus et. al. (2014), factors shown to suggest a higher risk for marijuana use included genetic factors, family history, minimal parental supervision, drug availability, high-risk peer group, and those with a need for higher thrill-seeking activities. Individuals vary greatly in respect to genetics, environment, behavioral traits, and cultural norms. When considering behavioral traits and personality, marijuana users are typically characterized by apathy, negative mood states, and loss of goal motivated behavior (Hurd et. al., 2014). When considering heritable genetic factors, Hurd et.al. stated that a growing number of family, twin, and adoption studies have shown that marijuana use disorder is strongly heritable, yielding a percentage of 30-80%. The author found that multiple factors can interact with one another and can contribute to vulnerability. Siegal et. al. (2015) claimed that being presented with an opportunity to use drugs is the first step of drug involvement. The authors further claimed that being around others who are
Substance abuse and addiction has been an ongoing concern in our society for years. This paper is written to discuss the topic of addiction to the substance of marijuana. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) 2014 reports that marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States. Marijuana is the dried leaves, seeds, stems, and flowers of the hemp plant referred to as Cannabis sativa. The plant contains an addictive, mind-altering chemical known as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (Drug Facts: Marijuana, 2015). According to Drug Facts: Marijuana, 2015, the amount of THC in marijuana has been steadily increasing, which creates more harmful effects for users. This paper will address possible causes of marijuana addiction, the prevalence of marijuana addiction, and potential treatments for marijuana addiction.
Possible Causes of Marijuana Addiction
According to Greydanus et. al. (2014), factors shown to suggest a higher risk for marijuana use included genetic factors, family history, minimal parental supervision, drug availability, high-risk peer group, and those with a need for higher thrill-seeking activities. Individuals vary greatly in respect to genetics, environment, behavioral traits, and cultural norms. When considering behavioral traits and personality, marijuana users are typically characterized by apathy, negative mood states, and loss of goal motivated behavior (Hurd et. al., 2014). When considering heritable genetic factors, Hurd et.al. stated that a growing number of family, twin, and adoption studies have shown that marijuana use disorder is strongly heritable, yielding a percentage of 30-80%. The author found that multiple factors can interact with one another and can contribute to vulnerability. Siegal et. al. (2015) claimed that being presented with an opportunity to use drugs is the first step of drug involvement. The authors further claimed that being around others who are
References: Drug Facts: Marijuana. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana Greydanus, Donald E, MD,Dr H.C., Hawver, E. K., L.M.S.W., Greydanus, M. M., & Merrick, Joav, MD,M.MedSci, D.M.Sc. (2014). Substance abuse and marijuana. International Journal of Child and Adolescent Health, 7(4), 293-317. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1655270010?accountid=12085 Hurd, Y. L., Michaelides, M., Miller, M. L., & Jutras-Aswad, D. (2014). Trajectory of adolescent cannabis use on addiction vulnerability. Neuropharmacology, 76, 416-424. doi:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2013.07.028 Johnston, L. D., O’Malley, P. M., Miech, R. A., Bachman, J. G., & Schulenberg, J. E. (2015). Monitoring the Future national survey results on drug use: 1975-2014: Overview, key findings on adolescent drug use. Ann Arbor: Institute for Social Research, The University of Michigan. Lamb, C. S., & Crano, W. D. (2014). Parents ' beliefs and children 's marijuana use: Evidence for a self-fulfilling prophecy effect. Addictive Behaviors, 39(1), 127. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1468460778?accountid=12085 Lynne-Landsman, S. D., Livingston, M. D., & Wagenaar, A. C. (2013). Effects of State Medical Marijuana Laws on Adolescent Marijuana Use. American Journal of Public Health, 103(8), 1500-1506. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2012.301117 Marijuana. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana/how-does-marijuana-use-affect-school-work-social-life McCaffrey, D. F., Pacula, R. L., Han, B., & Ellickson, P. (2010). Marijuana use and high school dropout: The influence of unobservables. Health Economics, 19(11), 1281-1299. doi: 10.1002/hec.1561 Siegel, J. T., Tan, C. N., Navarro, M. A., Alvaro, E. M., & Crano, W. D. (2015). The power of the proposition: Frequency of marijuana offers, parental knowledge, and adolescent marijuana use. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 148, 34-39. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2014.11.035 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Results from the 2011 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Summary of National Findings, NSDUH Series H-44, HHS Publication No. (SMA) 12-4713. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2012.