Many people may dismiss the idea of marijuana addiction being real, but experts are saying it is very possible. For any addiction there are key characteristics such as the inability to abstain from using the substance, behavioral impairment, cravings and diminished recognition of chronic, increasing problems because of abusing the substance. Ben Levenson, co-founder of Origins Recovery Center, says he has not only seen marijuana addicts fit into each of these categories but in severe cases patients who have come in to the center for treatment had destroyed their family and social relationships, are in serious financial trouble, show signs of memory impairment and have emotional issues due to abusing too much marijuana. He said like any other drug he sees, core things that other drug dependencies cause; spending all their time obtaining marijuana, smoking and recovering from it.

The dependence from this drug could potentially affect a great deal of Americans because it is the most commonly abused drug in the country. There are many traditional arguments of whether this drug is physically addicting like heroin and opioid drugs but, psychiatrists no longer make a distinction between biological and psychological addition because they are both creating the same detrimental effects. New research has also shows that the active ingredient in marijuana, THC, damages the areas of brain cells that affect development and functioning. These receptors are activated by naturally occurring chemicals in the body. Cannabinoid receptors are found in the pleasure, memory, thinking, concentration, sensory, time perception and movement coordination centers of the brain, which is why smoking affects these abilities. Whether or not you believe the information provided or not, there is an extensive amount of research to back up the fact the marijuana does present an addictive behavior in people. At Seabrook we help people of various substance dependencies discover the path of healing. We utilize holistic approaches to better our patient’s futures. For more information please call: (888) 223-0298