Notes

Why Marijuana Addiction Is Bad?

You may have wondered why marijuana is so addictive. Well, addiction is different from casual drug use. It alters how the brain works, perpetuates itself, and becomes the focus of an addict's life. It affects the part of the brain that helps us deal with problems, and the addiction can make someone rotten without it. In other words, the marijuana addict cannot see any problems if they are not intoxicated. If you need help, please reach out to Denovo Recovery .

Dopamine regulates reward
Research suggests that dopamine is a key factor in marijuana addiction, but how does it work? We have previously found that dopamine is a key chemical in the reward circuitry of the brain. But dopamine plays a more subtle role in addiction than many people think. During the binge-intoxication stage of the addiction, individuals exhibit excessive impulsivity and compulsive drug-using behaviors. In addition, dopamine is released in the brain when a drug-associated cue is triggered, leading to increased reward and decreased disinhibitive relapse rates.

In mice, chronic marijuana use causes a blunting of dopamine release, leading to an abnormally drawn-out reward. This, in turn, leads to the development of addiction. As a result, people suffering from marijuana addiction may be at high risk for developing addiction. It may be beneficial to study how dopamine regulates reward in marijuana addiction to see whether there are any potential treatments for the condition.

Dopamine regulates self-control
Dopamine regulates motivation, self-control and reward. A new study by Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), has found that marijuana users' brains lack the response to dopamine, a chemical involved in motivation. The results of the study found that those who started using marijuana at an early age and smoked more cannabis had lower levels of the chemical. This blunted response to dopamine results in the user experiencing negative emotions.

Studies have linked dopamine levels in human striatum to emotionality and the severity of cannabis addiction. In fact, cannabis users' dopamine levels show an inverse relationship with negative emotionality. In addition, large doses of D9-THC increase dopamine release and inhibit VTA GABAergic activity, which may increase the fear response of cannabis users. Repeated administration of D9-THC induced depressive-like symptoms, prolonged anhedonia and impaired CB1 receptors.

Dopamine regulates inhibition
Recent research has identified a possible biological reason for how dopamine affects drug addiction. Researchers at Brigham Young University studied the ventral tegmental area, a region of the brain rich in dopamine and serotonin receptors, which constitute the reward system. Drugs of abuse work by activating these receptors, triggering a flood of pleasurable chemicals. Marijuana and other drugs trigger this release of dopamine, causing the brain to respond with pleasure and reward.

Dopamine is released into the brain's reward circuit, where it regulates the activity of nearby neurons. Inhibitory GABA neurons are responsible for inhibiting dopaminergic neurons, so removing this inhibition allows the brain to experience more pleasure. Dopamine is also reduced in a cannabis user's brain if the dopamine receptors are destroyed. Inhibitory GABA signals change with local brain activity, decreasing the amount of dopamine released by dopamine neurons.

Cannabis addiction causes disruptions in psychosocial functioning
Research has shown that chronic cannabis use leads to changes in the brain structure associated with reward processing and cognitive function. Specifically, participants who became addicted to cannabis exhibited smaller putamen volumes and more activation of the ventral striatum, a region involved in habit formation. Interestingly, these findings are similar to those seen in alcohol addicts and tobacco smokers. While the exact mechanisms that underlie these changes are unclear, cannabis addiction has been linked with a range of behavioural and social problems, including decreased self-esteem and impulsivity.

The effects of cannabis on the brain are likely to be due in part to changes in glutamate signaling. In humans, this signaling increases during both drug self-administration and relapse. The effects of glutamate receptor antagonists on these brain areas have been found to decrease relapse rates in nonhuman primates and rodents. However, these effects are not consistent across regions of the brain.

Cannabis addiction causes mental illness
If you or a loved one is battling cannabis addiction, you should learn about the signs and treatment options. Then, you should encourage them to seek help. Ultimately, access to high-quality treatment is crucial to overcoming mental illnesses associated with cannabis use. Make sure you have a non-judgmental conversation with them and let them know that you are there to support them through the process. Then, be prepared for some setbacks and challenges.

Some studies have even linked cannabis use to schizophrenia. Cannabis use has long been associated with the onset of psychosis. In a recent study, nearly 7,000 cannabis users were converted to schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Despite this link, symptoms improve with time and treatment. Nonetheless, this evidence is not conclusive. Cannabis users should be aware that the symptoms of CIPD may deteriorate and can even worsen with time.
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