Marijuana Use Can Affect Mental Health and Stability

 

There are two very strong minds of thinking, when it comes to the health effects of recreational marijuana use: those that consider the drug to be harmless, and those that believe that it is dangerous. The true effects of marijuana use are not widely known, do to a skewing of data and studies that were caused with the "War on Drugs." With so much propaganda being spread about this drug, it became very difficult to separate the truths from the myths. 

Today, the War on Drugs is beginning to slow down, when it comes to marijuana, as more and more States are allowing its usage for medical purposes, and some States actually DE-criminalizing and legalizing its possession. This shift in the policy of marijuana has allowed for its use to be studied more carefully and without bias in recent times. While there is no red flag that has been discovered that marijuana use increases health risks, there has been a definite link discovered between its usage and mental health.

The Positives of Marijuana Use and Mental Health

There actually have been some positive mental health effects from the use of marijuana, particularly those suffering from depression and anxiety. The drug also has seen great results in its use for those with eating disorders, and those that are suffering malnutrition from other diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and more.

The Negatives of Marijuana Use and Mental Health

There are -- of course -- negative effects that marijuana can have on a person's mental health. The good news is that marijuana has not been shown to CAUSE any mental health issues, but has been shown to exacerbate existing mental health issues in some individuals. This is especially the case in those suffering from schizophrenia, where the mild hallucinatory effects of marijuana can severely increase paranoia and psychotic episodes that are already present.

Those suffering from bi-polar disorders also seem to get an increase in the severity of their disease when using marijuana. For a sufferer of bi-polar disorder, the extremes between emotional states becomes increasingly wider and more erratic.

In-short, marijuana use is not going to make you go crazy, but it is a psycho-active drug that will affect existing mental issues in different ways, and may also cause side effects with any medications that you are taking for mental health. Use of marijuana, illicit or in one of its many legal manners, does comes with the risk of affecting existing mental health issues.

Mental Health Issues and Drug Abuse Are Best Treated at the Same Time Through Dual-Diagnosis Treatment

Summit Behavioral Health:

Outpatient Treatment Center – Princeton Junction, New Jersey
4065 Quakerbridge Road
Princeton Junction, NJ 08550
Office: 609-651-4001
Toll-Free: 855-855-9199