Question

Marijuana- is typically smoked in cigarettes or pipes, although it can be cooked and eaten. The effects of marijuana vary from person to person, but they typically consist of feelings of euphoria and general well-being. Sensory experiences seem more vivid and intense, and a person’s sense of self-importance seems to grow. Memory may be impaired, causing users to feel pleasantly “spaced out.” Marijuana does not seem to produce addiction except for a small number of heavy users. Furthermore, there is little scientific evidence for the popular belief that users “graduate” from marijuana to more dangerous drugs. On the other hand, some research suggests that there are similarities in the way marijuana and drugs such as cocaine and heroin affect the brain, as well as evidence that heavy use may impact negatively on cognitive ability in the long run.

Many people with drug and alcohol problems deny that they have them, and even close friends and family members may fail to realize when occasional social use of drugs or alcohol has turned into abuse.

Certain signs, however, indicate when use becomes abuse (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2000). Among them are the following: Pick 5 and give your opinion. Example what is your opinion of someone who drives while they are high and was involved in a motor vehicle

accident?

• Always getting high to have a good time
• Being high more often than not
• Getting high to get oneself going
• Going to work or class while high
• Missing or being unprepared for class or work because you were high
• Feeling badly later about something you said or did while high
• Driving a car while high
• Coming in conflict with the law because of drugs
• Doing something while high that you would not do otherwise
• Being high in nonsocial, solitary situations
• Being unable to stop getting high
• Failing at school or on the job
• Thinking about liquor or drugs all the time
• Avoiding family or friends while using drugs

Answer 1

When you use any substance and involve in potentially dangerous behaviour, Or when you use any substance extensively even after it causes persistent social, psychological, occupational or health problems, you are said to be in a state of abuse of that substance. It is the same in the case of marijuana use.

• Missing or being unprepared for class or work because you were high. Missing classes and work would result in social and occupational problems. When a person continues to use marijuana despite of losing classes or works, then he is under the control of the drug. The person is moved from a state of use to abuse.
• Feeling badly later about something you said or did while high. In this situation, the person has given more importance to marijuana than his relationships. He would experience social distress as a result of being high and if he continues to be high inspire of this problem he would be in the state of abuse.
• Driving a car while high. Driving a car while being high is a potentially hazardous behaviour such a behaviour indicates the abuse of marijuana. When the person uses a drug while driving he is more dependant on the drug despite of the knowledge that it might cause him an injury.
• Being unable to stop getting high. In this situation the person feels withdrawal symptoms when he tries to stop using marijuana. Thus he has become dependant on the substance. He is in a more severe form of substance abuse disorders.
• Failure at school or on the job. Failure at school or job indicates persistent loss of concentration in both the above. Thus the person has experienced severe occupational problems, despite which he still continues to be high. Thus he is in a state of substance abuse.   

Substance abuse should be treated well with help of a professional psychologist in order to bring the person out of the sorrowful situation. Substance dependence is a more severe form of substance abuse in which a person experiences severe tolerance and withdrawal symptoms. Careful treatment is necessary to bring the person back to normal physical and psychological state.