Michael Phelps

So Michael Phelps, Olympic gold medalist eight times over, recently had his picture taken smoking marijuana from a bong. Not that it matters that it was from a bong as opposed to any other smoking device, just that it was undeniable what he was smoking based on the fact that he was smoking out of a bong. And on a college campus, the University of South Carolina to be exact. Yeah, it really didn’t look good for him, especially since he was one of 12 Olympic athletes who signed the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency “My Victory” initiative last year with the goal and intent of keeping competitive sports clean.

Proof of Marijuana Abuse is Not Yet In

There’s the picture, yes, but a sheriff’s office in South Carolina is looking into the allegations, making an actual criminal investigation into the matter. There is talk of criminal charges being filed against Phelps if it is in fact found to be true.

Sheriff Leon Lott said: “If someone breaks the law in Richland County, we have an obligation as law enforcement to investigate and to bring charges. The Richland County Sheriff’s Department is making an effort to determine if Mr. Phelps broke the law. If he did, he will be charged in the same manner as anyone else. The sheriff has a responsibility to be fair, to enforce the law and to not turn a blind eye because someone is a celebrity.”

However, both the Columbia, South Carolina police and the university police say they won’t press charges.

What Phelps Says About the Marijuana Abuse

I’m not sure what exactly the investigation is about, since Phelps seems to admit that he was smoking weed. Why else would he apologize and call his behavior “regrettable”? Phelps says:

“I engaged in behavior which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment. I’m 23 years old, and despite the successes I have had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner that people have come to expect from me. For this, I am sorry. I promise my fans and the public — it will not happen again.”

The U.S. Olympic Committee also issued a statement that said, “Michael has acknowledged that he made a mistake and apologized for his actions. We are confident that, going forward, Michael will consistently set the kind of example we all expect from a great Olympic champion.”

Marijuana Abuse Versus Marijuana Addiction

The difference between the two issues can be very clearly shown by this example. Once or twice having used marijuana is not marijuana addiction. It is bad judgment, maybe, but it is not a medical issue that requires treatment. However, if one is using marijuana daily, multiples times a day, choosing to get high despite the pain it causes others who are close to them, the problems it causes at work or the threat to their own physical and mental health and safety as well as the safety of others, than that is marijuana addiction and it requires medical treatment.

Marijuana Addiction

It’s all very sciency-schmiency but I’ll lay it out for you. According to Medical News Today and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, changes that occur in a molecular pathway in the brain when you smoke marijuana have been linked to symptoms of schizophrenia.

In Layman’s Terms: Marijuana is No Good For Your Head

Neurotransmitters necessary for memory and other cognitive processes are diminished when you smoke pot. For those who have schizophrenia, this neurotransmitter is already inhibited and smoking weed makes it even worse. But it’s not just a danger for those who already have schizophrenia.

David A. Lewis, M.D. is a corresponding author of a recent study on the connection between schizophrenia and marijuana abuse and a UPMC Endowed Professor in Translational Neuroscience, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He says, “Heavy marijuana use, particularly in adolescence, appears to be associated with an increased risk for the later development of schizophrenia, and the course of illness is worse for people with schizophrenia who use marijuana.”

Marijuana Addiction: No Such Thing as Innocent Experimentation

The problem with marijuana is that few people take it seriously. Those who experimented with it back in the ‘60s and ‘70s lived through it just fine, most without developing schizophrenia or addictions to other drugs often feel that there’s no harm in a little flirting when it comes to the green stuff. Unfortunately, the weed that was in circulation back then was far less potent than what is on the streets today. Whether it’s from Canada, Mexico or homegrown, today’s marijuana is exceedingly strong with higher levels of THC, which makes its effects that much more harmful. It’s also easier to find. More and more people are learning how to grow it themselves and with the advent of medical marijuana, more pharmaceutical grade product is making its way to the street.

Finding Marijuana Addiction Treatment

Few drug rehab facilities cater to the needs of those who suffer from marijuana addiction. It’s a sad commentary on the state of drug addiction treatment in the United States and the weight of the problem with addiction in general that so little has been developed in the way of specific marijuana addiction treatment.

At The Canyon, every person who comes to stay with us enjoys a highly unique drug rehab experience. Contact us today for more information on the marijuana rehab program that we can provide you or someone you love struggling with marijuana addiction.

Medical Marijuana Rehab

You’d think that medical marijuana would—by virtue of being medication—be inherently, if not healthy, at least safe, right? Well, apparently, the results of research focused on whether or not marijuana is good for your health or another problem needing treatment are mixed.

According to the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) and Medical News Today, a review of studies done on medical marijuana over the last 40 years was recently published and found that “short-term use appeared to increase the risk of non-serious adverse events.”

More research is definitely needed on the topic, especially on the effects of long-term use of the drug. But here’s what we know:

Smoke is Smoke is Smoke

Smoke it for a physical health issue or smoke it for recreation: the fact remains that you are still smoking. Like cigarettes, it’s not just the toxins associated with tobacco or marijuana that are dangerous but the smoke itself. Marijuana smoke is just as harmful to your lungs, throat and mouth, opening you up for breathing problems and cancer risk just like cigarettes.

Marijuana Use and Psychological Health Issues

Your body doesn’t know the purpose of marijuana use. Whether you use the drug to help you relax after work or with the hopes that it will help ease a physical health symptom, marijuana is still linked to the development of certain mental illnesses.

Weighing the Risks

Like all medical measures, there are residual effects and side effects associated with marijuana use when used to treat a medical problem, just like there are with a number of drugs. Maybe your nausea will be eased, but now you’re too tired to get out of bed.

And then there’s the matter of dosing. Most who have a medical marijuana card are not prescribed a certain amount of the drug each day. The variances in different kinds of marijuana make this almost impossible. Patients are left to figure out how much they need and when on their own. Addiction is almost a guarantee under these circumstances. And when there is addiction present, a new medical need for marijuana addiction treatment arises.

Medical Treatment for Medical Marijuana Addiction

Are you addicted to marijuana? If you need help treating your addiction to the drug, even if you also need treatment for mental illness associated or not with your marijuana use, you can find that help at The Canyon.

Have you used medical marijuana to treat an illness? What was your experience? How did you feel? What facts did you use to weigh the risks and what did you eventually discover in your personal experience?

Avid pot smokers don’t want to hear it, but more and more studies are coming out lately that say that marijuana abuse affects more than just your motivation; it affects your brain and, specifically, parts of your brain that control your psychological behavior. Summed up, it’s not just one study but many that are pinpointing marijuana abuse as part of the problem in cases of psychosis, schizophrenia and brain abnormalities.

What the Experts Say About Marijuana Abuse and Mental Illness

* One study put out by Cygnet Health Care, a British provider of psychiatric care for patients with psychological, emotional and addiction problems, and published in the British Journalo of Psychiatry and Medical News Today states that, “Teenage cannabis users are more likely to suffer psychotic symptoms that raise the risk of full-blown mental illness in later life.” The significance of this study is that psychosis was linked to the very earliest stages of marijuana usage. This means that no experimentation with the drug is harmless.
* Another study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, and Medical News Today found that long-term use of marijuana can lead to structural abnormalities in the hippocampus and amygdala. These areas are smaller in marijuana smokers, areas that regulate things like emotions, memory, fear and aggression. This translated into more symptoms of psychosis among marijuana users than those who did not use the drug.

Are You Experiencing Symptoms of Psychosis Due to Marijuana Abuse?

There are a number of different things that you may experience when you are addicted to or abuse marijuana, but the following symptoms of psychosis occur even when the “high” has worn off. Look for feelings of:

* Suspicion of being followed or that someone is trying to influence you
* Strange things are happening around you or to you
* Uncontrollable thoughts or speedy thoughts

Dr Zerrin Atakan is a consultant for Cygnet Health Care and has researched and written on the effects of marijuana. He says there is hope: “The provision of appropriate knowledge delivery on the subject and early intervention are both important to prevent the development of a psychotic illness.”

What Do You Think?

There are a number of studies that link long-term marijuana abuse to health problems and yet people are still pushing for legalization. These studies show that short-term use, too, can have an effect on people and further prove that among the long-term health consequences are psychological problems.

But what do you think? Marijuana: health risk or restorative drug?

Marijuana is one of those drugs that knows no bounds as far as gender, age, class, race, ethnicity or geographical region. A new study done in Canada was done recently to prove that a little bit more concretely, according to Medical News Today. It seems that the Canadian middle class, much like their American counterparts, are consciously choosing to “enhance” their leisure time with marijuana rather than just alcohol.

The Marijuana Use Study

Says MNT, “there is no such thing as a ‘typical’ marijuana user.” They point out that “people of all ages are selectively lighting up the drug as a way to enhance activities ranging from watching television and playing sports to having sex, painting or writing.”

Geraint Osborne is a professor of sociology at the University of Alberta’s Augustana Campus in Camrose, and one of the study’s authors. He says, “For some of the participants, marijuana enhanced their ability to relax by taking their minds off daily stresses and pressures. Others found it helpful in focusing on the activity at hand.”

When Drug Use Becomes Drug Abuse

Well, that’s the problem, isn’t it? For many, drug addiction starts with occasional drug use to unwind. At the end of stressful day, it’s common for people to turn to drugs and alcohol to relax. For many, it stops there. But for some, this is followed by drug abuse as opposed to drug use, characterized by using despite negative consequences including poor performance at work and an inability to keep up with responsibilities to work in family. Soon drug use is no longer a way to enjoy yourself but the cause of even more problems.

Treating Drug Addiction

If marijuana use is a problem for you or someone you love, you can find marijuana addiction treatment at The Canyon. If you’re ultimately looking for relaxation, there’s no better place to find it than in a healing environment on a private ranch in the Santa Monica Mountains. Contact us today.

For more information about the study mentioned in this post, check out the University of Alberta website.

The first step in recovery is recognizing whether or not you have a problem with a drug, alcohol or a combination of substances. Sometimes, though, it’s difficult to be objective when gauging your own drug use or that of someone you love. To help you determine whether or not you are addicted or in the beginning abusive stages of drug use, follow along over the next few days as we look at different drugs and their signs of addiction.

Today, we start with 10 signs of marijuana addiction.

Marijuana tolerance. Just like any drug, regular use of marijuana leads to the development of a tolerance for it. This means that you need more and more of the drug in order to achieve the same high. If you need more and more of the drug to get high, you are physically addicted to marijuana.

Using more marijuana than intended. If you start out thinking, “I’m just going to take a couple hits,” but end up smoking the whole joint—and this happens regularly—then you are addicted to marijuana.

Unable to cut down or stop marijuana use. If you try to stop smoking marijuana, but you just can’t or find yourself justifying why you can get high when you’re trying to quit, then you’re addicted.

Lots of time spent getting high. If you take an objective look at how you spend your time and see that the bulk of it is spent either getting high, waiting to get high, or looking for marijuana so that you can get high, then you’re psychologically addicted to the drug.

Reduced activities. If your schedule has slowly been depleted of all physical or recreational activities and replaced with hanging out and getting high, then you are addicted to marijuana.

Continuing to get high despite the problems it causes. For example, if you have been warned that you will be fired if you are late to work or show up high again and yet you to continue to smoke marijuana before heading into work, then you are exhibiting behavior that is akin to self sabotage and that is a sign of addiction.

Using marijuana to escape from problems. If you feel like the only way you can handle bad grades, problems at work, and escape with relationship issues is to get high, then you are addicted to marijuana.

Depending on marijuana to be creative or to relax or enjoy yourself. If you need to get high before you feel comfortable being creative or before you can truly relax, then you are addicted to marijuana.

Choosing relationships and activities based on whether or not you will be able to get high. If you decide which events to attend and who to hang out with based on whether or not you can do so stoned, then you are addicted to marijuana.

Marijuana is a serious addiction whether or not it is combined with alcoholism or use of other drugs. A marijuana detox after long-term use can mean withdrawal symptoms that are none too pleasant. Recovery from marijuana addiction requires drug rehabilitation. Contact The Canyon for more information.

When did you realize that you or someone you loved was addicted to marijuana and needed marijuana addiction treatment?