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NIDA Marijuana InfoFacts
NIDA - Facts about Marijuana Abuse
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Marijuana Withdrawal
According to animal research and controlled studies of marijuana smokers during inpatient treatment findings suggest that marijuana addiction, just like with other drugs of addiction, experience withdrawal symptoms. These marijuana withdrawal symptoms include such manifestations as irritability, anger, depressed mood, headaches, restlessness, lack of appetite, and cravings for marijuana. These symptom of withdrawal can make it hard for a habitual user of marijuana to stop. "These studies suggest that in real-world situations abstinence from daily marijuana smoking creates withdrawal symptoms similar to those of other drugs of abuse," says Dr. Jag Khalsa of NIDA's Center on AIDS and Other Medical Consequences of Drug Abuse. "Marijuana smokers may continue to use the drug to prevent the irritability and discomfort they experience when they stop."
Research performed by Dr. Alan Budney and his colleagues found that those who quit using marijuana in their home environment experience the same level of withdrawal symptoms as those associated with quitting smoking cigarette."These findings represent a significant step toward general acceptance of withdrawal as a key aspect of chronic marijuana use," says Dr. Jag Khalsa of NIDA.
During one study, individuals during their abstinence period from marijuana reported "increases in the severity of cravings and sleep difficulty, decreased appetite, and increased aggression, anger, and irritability." Marijuana withdrawal does not typically create dramatic physical withdrawal symptoms such as the pain, nausea, heavy sweating, and cramps associated with opiate withdrawal. The withdrawal from marijuana is identifiable by behavioral and emotional distress.
Symptoms of marijuana withdrawal first appear in habitual users within 24 hours and are the most noticeable during the first 10 days, but withdrawal symptoms may last as long as 28 days.
The symptoms of marijuana withdrawal include but are not limited to:
- irritability
- anxiety
- physical tension
- decreases in appetite and mood
- stomach pain
- physical tension
- restlessness
- anorexia
- insomnia
- increased aggression / anger
- strange dreams
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Generally, traces of THC found in marijuana can be detected by standard urine testing methods several days after a smoking session. However, in chronic heavy users, traces can sometimes be detected for weeks after they have stopped using marijuana.
Long-term marijuana use can lead to addiction in some people. That is, they cannot control their urges to seek out and use marijuana, even though it negatively affects their family relationships, school performance, and recreational activities.
Smoking marijuana causes some changes in the brain that are like those caused by cocaine, heroin, and alcohol. Some researchers believe that these changes may put a person more at risk of becoming addicted to other drugs, such as cocaine or heroin.
Marijuana’s effects on the user depend on its strength or potency, which is related to the amount of THC it contains. The THC content of marijuana has been increasing since the 1970s.
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March 23, 2004
