heroin than marijuana. But could weed be addictive?

Hey everyone, Laci Green here for DNews. Nearly half the country has legalized medical marijuana,

and with more people using it, there are more concerns about potential health effects. Amongst

those health effects is...addiction. A scary word, but a public health problem that comes

with many drugs and mind-altering substances. A new study released in the Journal of Addiction

Medicine has found that yes, marijuana can be addicting. The study included 127 adolescents

who were undergoing outpatient treatment for substance abuse - and for most of them, marijuana

was their drug of choice.

Out of those who used marijuana, 84% of them qualified as having “marijuana dependence”,

which the researchers defined as increased use of marijuana, increased tolerance of marijuana,

and unsuccessful attempts to stop using it. 40% also experienced symptoms of withdrawal

when they stopped, and were more likely to have problems at school, work, or home. Those

symptoms looked much like other drugs in a state of withdrawal: anxiety, irritability,

trouble sleeping, and depression. Interestingly, this group experiencing symptoms were also

more likely to have symptoms of mood disorders. They evaluated all the data based on self

reports right away and at 3, 6, and 12 months later.

It’s an interesting study, but some of the data from the report has me confused. For

instance, while increased usage of marijuana could mean addiction, that isn’t necessarily

a defining characteristic. And if those experiencing withdrawal have symptoms of mood disorders,

where does the possibility of an previously existing disorder come into play? Fortunately

this isn’t the only data we have -- there are other studies this is building on. A 1999

report from the Institute of Medicine also found signs of marijuana dependence in about

9% of users. Past studies have also demonstrated physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms

in both people and animals.

Firing back at the new release, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws

has stated that while a small percentage may suffer drug dependence at some point in their

lifetime, it’s the context of a person’s life that matters. They also said that withdrawal

from marijuana is relatively short-lived, and that it should not be regulated as a Schedule

I drug on par with heroin.

Health advocates at Brown University state that no one would argue that marijuana is

as addictive as alcohol or cocaine...but we’re finding marijuana has addictive properties

for some people. And the idea that marijuana can’t be addictive makes it harder for those

who are affected to get help and support.

Let me know what you think about the addiction debate down below and we’ll see you next

time here on DNews.