The Addiction Help .com

What is the addiction rate and the recovery potential for marijuana??
Please answers this question as fast as possible!!
Thank You

Marijuana is not physically addictive. Psychological dependency is common: this means that a user will want to use MJ again, because they like the way it makes them feel, although there is no persistent chemical change in the brain.

The recovery potential should be looked at as part of improving the whole life and surroundings of the user.

Treat the circumstances that make the user want to get stoned, and you might break the user's habit. Finally, though, the choice is with the person using the MJ, and unless the user is a minor or otherwise under guardianship, that choice can't be made on their behalf.

2006-11-13 19:17:03 by ~$^*:DaMaN:*^$~

up large debts, damage relationships with family and friends, and commit suicide at rates alarmingly higher than the rest of society. Gambling is ...

I would like to know how alcohol addiction compares to other drugs? I don't drink or do drugs, but I am writing this report and need to know as much as I can.
First of all, do you guys think alcohol is addicting (I wouldn't know because I never tried and never will)?
Second, how addicting is it compared to drugs like cocaine, meth, heroin, amephetamines, ecstacy, and marijuana?
Please rate in order if you have to.
Thanks.

I'm not an expert or anything, but I do know that alcohol can become just as addicting as other drugs. An alcoholic's mind, just like a drug addict's, make them believe that they NEED that substance in their body.

2009-07-25 20:05:37 by Jimmy L

Before you read the following data understand that I feel it is our constitutional right to do as we wish, as long as we do NOT violate the constitutional
rights of others. I respect your rights, you respect mine. I feel as if I am being religously and socially discriminated against for my beliefs, since the issue is
"controversial." Driving impaired is already illegal (and wrong), smoking publicly is a LOCAL issue, but private use of cannabis should remain constitutionally protected.
Whether the government can tax it or not is moot, what matters is that you retain the right to choose for yourself, not have someone choose for you. Drug imports/exports are a federal matter.

Addiction rates:
Nicotine - 35%
Cocaine - 19%
Marijuana - 9%

Death rates:
Tobacco - 435,000 /yr
Alcohol - 85,000 /yr
All illicit drugs - 17,000/yr
Marijuana - 0 (can not overdose)
* center for disease control

Effects:
*Tobacco
Very mild calming feeling, Yellow teeth/nails/skin, emphysema, lung cancer, etc.
*Marijuana
Obvious acute effects, bronchitis (long term) -- notice I did NOT list cancer.

** A california study observing heavy marijuana users over the course of 8 years found that marijuana smokers were no more prone to cancer than non-smokers.

The U.S. federal government spent over $19 billion dollars in 2003 on the War on Drugs, at a rate of about $600 per second. The budget has since been increased by over a billion dollars.
* Office of National Drug Control Policy
**

Just this year 540,658 arrests have been made for cannibis. FBI statistics reported 829,625 arrests in 2006 for cannibis, the highest ever in one year, and of those arrests 738,915 (89%) were for possession alone. An American is now arrested for violating cannabis laws every 38 seconds.
*Uniform Crime Reports, Federal Bureau of Investigation

"Both Australian studies suggest cannabis may actually reduce the responsibility rate and lower crash risk. Put another way, cannabis consumption either increases driving ability or, more likely, drivers who use cannabis make adjustments in driving style to compensate for any loss of skill (Drummer, 1995). This is consistent with simulator and road studies that show drivers who consumed cannabis slowed down and drove more cautiously (see Ward & Dye, 1999; Smiley, 1999. "
* many sources, taken from #30 at http://www.drugwarfacts.org/marijuan.htm

"Since 1969, government-appointed commissions in the United States, Canada, England, Australia, and the Netherlands concluded, after reviewing the scientific evidence, that marijuana's dangers had previously been greatly exaggerated, and urged lawmakers to drastically reduce or eliminate penalties for marijuana possession."
*#32

"...It criminalizes large numbers of otherwise law-abiding, mainly young, people to the detriment of their futures. It has become a proxy for the control of public order; and it inhibits accurate education about the relative risks of different drugs including the risks of cannabis itself."
* #37

"Statements in the popular media that the potency of cannabis has increased by ten times or more in recent decades are not support by the data from either the USA or Europe."
* #39

Other reasons why marijuana is still illegal:

** Local and state police make ENORMOUS amounts of money from drug busts. If they can prove that the money was tied to criminal activity they are allowed to confiscate it. Federally we are losing approximately 19 billion dollars annually on the War on Drugs.

** Tobacco lobbyists obviously oppose the legalization of marijuana. Legalization would put an item on the market that can compete with tobacco, and it will be extremely cheap when current marijuana smokers start growing in their backyards. This could mean huge losses.

** Marijuana is commonly used to treat physical and psychological symptoms. Legalization would make it much more difficult for drug companies to obtain the consumer base they have today.

** International treaties make it difficult for individual countries to change their laws. If they were to legalize marijuana, they would violate the treaty, and that would cost them certain benefits.

** Marijauna pacifies the person, making them less "gun ho." War, one of the most profitible engagements ever, would not start very easy if much of the american body were more prudent with their decisions. Ignorance and blind rage is the "bread and butter" of the federal government, allowing legislation and wars we do not even want to go into effect.

** The larger religions oppose marijuana, because of their personal beliefs, and refuse to allow others (that don't share their beliefs) to make that choice for themselves. It must be "god's will."

Final notes:

The effects drug use (of any kind) has on your body is a concern for doctors, but that doesn't mean they can push to make it illegal. They can recommend to you not to do it, and they can ask for the public use of d
If i'm not dead in ten years? What part of not being able to overdose do you not understand? The only thing i'm addicted to is nicotine, because cunts like yourself keep weed illegal. The only reason i'd be serving a prison sentence is if assholes (such as yourself) refuse to loosen the vice around my balls.

Legalize it.

2008-08-24 21:38:04 by tylanbo

Looking to see if anyone has an opinion on the matter. Take a quick look at the following observations and conclusions, thanks.

Ever wonder why marijuana is illegal? Some yes, some no, but let me assure you it isn’t why the government says it is.

Addiction rates:
Nicotine - 35%
Cocaine - 19%
Marijuana - 9%

Death rates:
Tobacco - 435,000 /yr
Alcohol - 85,000 /yr
All illicit drugs - 17,000/yr
Marijuana - 0, in all of history
* center for disease control

Effects:
*Tobacco
Yellow teeth/nails/skin, emphysema, lung cancer, etc.
*Marijuana
Obvious acute effects, bronchitis (long term) -- notice I did NOT list cancer.

** A california study observing heavy marijuana users over the course of 8 years found that marijuana smokers were no more prone to cancer than non-smokers.

Nicotine withdraw symptoms:
-Physical
* Tingling in the hands and feet
* Sweating
* Intestinal disorders (cramps, nausea)
* Headache
* Cold symptoms as the lungs begin to clear (sore throats, coughing, and other signs of colds and respiratory problem)
-Mental/emotional
* Feelings of being an infant: temper tantrums, intense needs, feelings of dependency, a state of near paralysis.
* Insomnia
* Mental confusion
* Vagueness
* Irritability
* Anxiety
* Depression is common in the short and long term. In the short term it may mimic the feelings of grief felt when a loved one is lost. As foolish as it sounds, a smoker should plan on a period of actual mourning in order to get through the early withdrawal depression.

Marijuana withdraw symptoms:
*** Scientists disagree whether there is significant withdrawal symptoms or not. A 1997 report by the Institute of Medicine stated that average users, due to the long half-life of marijuana, experience little or no withdrawal symptoms. However, they can include any/all of the following:
irritability
anxiety
physical tension
decreases in appetite and mood
stomach pain
physical tension
restlessness
anorexia
insomnia
increased aggression / anger
strange dreams

Other reasons why marijuana is still illegal:

** Police make ENORMOUS amounts of money from drug busts. If they can prove that the money was tied to criminal activity they are allowed to confiscate it. Legalization of marijuana would mean huge losses for:

Police
Courts (from fines)

** Tobacco lobbyists obviously oppose the legalization of marijuana. This would introduce competition into the market, or allow current tobacco smokers to quit and replace their habit with marijuana. Either way, the tobacco industry loses, meaning a big "hell no" from them.

** The drug industry would be absolutely crushed by the legalization of marijuana. Currently, the only way to obtain substances legally is by visiting a doctor (paying a fee), getting a FDA-approved prescription, and getting a couple more to counteract the side-effects of the first drug. Marijuana is used worldwide as an alternative medicine for many health issues.

** International treaties make it difficult for individual countries to change their laws. If they were to legalize marijuana, they would violate the treaty, and that would cost them certain benefits.

** Consumer items would see a drop in demand, as the necessity to have more and more entertainment would decline with the introduction of marijuana. With a reduction in demand, that would mean one of two things:
-- Production would have to slow down, meaning less profits since less volume is moved through the stores.
-- Reduction in sale price, as the supply will be the same (for a while) and the demand will decrease.
It may seem ridiculous, but trust me many consumer items would see a decrease in sales.

** Pacifism would overtake america, at least in the smoking body, and would make it much more difficult to engage in conflicts with other countries, on any scale. War is the single most lucrative engagement, and a loss of money would certainly be against the interests of those currently benefiting. Not only that, but it will become much more difficult to get the american people rallied behind government-driven bills and actions. Keeping the american people gun-ho and ignorant is key for them to get their desired results. Pacifism would help reduce the "gun-ho" aspect of their success formula, and the resulting tact in their approach to political issues would likely result in many becoming educated with the fine-details of the matter. Educated decisions will collapse government corruption, which is very lucrative itself.

** Right-wing conservatives, armed with bible-in-hand (though from personal experience I can assure you they do not read, or at least interpret without distortion), will down-right refuse the legalization of marijauna.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Final notes:

Now, for my personal opinion on the matter (drum roll ... )....

Despite whatever the health effects may be, it is my belief that it is the constitutional right of o
It does not matter what it does or does not do to your body friends, it only matters what rights are unwillingly be taken away from you. It is your right to choose for yourself, is it not? Doctors have the right to recommend what you should do, but not legislate it. I'm not convincing you of safety, just trying to open your eyes to reality. Americans today give too much choice to the government, as if they are scared to choose for themselves. I pity you, I really do, and it breaks my heart.

I understand a huge drop in consumer demand is relative to it's total consumer base, but they WILL see a large drop in business. When I started smoking I spent more time with the people I cared about instead of working to buy big televisions and expensive cars. It is the memories I have with other people that keep me going, televisions will eventually break down and need to be replaced.

Big tobacco will not start growing and selling. Why? Well obviously EVERYONE ELSE WOULD TOO.

Awwww I think I love you for posting this.

2008-08-21 18:41:22 by tylanbo

Sources from http://www.drugwarfacts.org/marijuan.htm will be cited by the number corresponding to where it was found.

Understand that I believe that possession and the private use of marijuana should always be legal. Driving while intoxicated should not (and already is illegal). Smoking in public should be a local issue, as it is the preference of the people living there that should decide whether marijuana can be used publicly. Trafficking of drugs is the only thing that should be federally regulated, as it is an international issue and directly falls under their jurisdiction. Also understand that whether or not you use (or would use) marijauna is your choice, having marijuana legalized only means you can legally make the choice for yourself. At all times you can decide not to use it, but those millions of americans who do are facing excessive criminal penalties for behavior that affects only them, NOT YOU. You have the constitutional right to not use marijuana, but I believe that it should also be your right to choose for yourself.

The long half-life of THC prevents "crashing" after using the drug and greatly reduces the chance of dependency. Little to no withdraw symptoms were found with average marijuana use.
* paraphrased from the IOM report "Marijuana and Medicine"

There is no scientific evidence that marijuana use leads to 'harder' drugs.
* need citation

Addiction rates:
Nicotine - 35% * almost twice as addictive as cocaine and kills 25 times more people per year (if all 17000 deaths from all illicit substances were contributed to cocaine).
Cocaine - 19%
Marijuana - 9%

Death rates:
Tobacco - 435,000 /yr
Alcohol - 85,000 /yr
All illicit drugs - 17,000/yr
Marijuana - 0 (can not overdose)
* center for disease control
** Alcohol related deaths kill 5 times more people per year than ALL illicit drugs

Effects:
*Tobacco
Very mild calming feeling, Yellow teeth/nails/skin, emphysema, lung cancer, etc.
*Marijuana
Obvious acute effects, bronchitis (long term) -- notice I did NOT list cancer.

** A california study observing heavy marijuana users over the course of 8 years found that marijuana smokers were no more prone to cancer than non-smokers.

"Since 1969, government-appointed commissions in the United States, Canada, England, Australia, and the Netherlands concluded, after reviewing the scientific evidence, that marijuana's dangers had previously been greatly exaggerated, and urged lawmakers to drastically reduce or eliminate penalties for marijuana possession."
*#32

"...It criminalizes large numbers of otherwise law-abiding, mainly young, people to the detriment of their futures. It has become a proxy for the control of public order; and it inhibits accurate education about the relative risks of different drugs including the risks of cannabis itself."
* #37

"Statements in the popular media that the potency of cannabis has increased by ten times or more in recent decades are not support by the data from either the USA or Europe."
* #39

The U.S. federal government spent over $19 billion dollars in 2003 on the War on Drugs, at a rate of about $600 per second. The budget has since been increased by over a billion dollars.
* Office of National Drug Control Policy
** Don't you think this could go to more important expenditures?

Just this year 540,658 arrests have been made for cannibis. FBI statistics reported 829,625 arrests in 2006 for cannibis, the highest ever in one year, and of those arrests 738,915 (89%) were for possession alone. An American is now arrested for violating cannabis laws every 38 seconds.
*Uniform Crime Reports, Federal Bureau of Investigation

Nope.

The laws are way too lenient.

We should bar anybody with any kind of a drug conviction from any job where judgment is required.

2008-08-25 12:29:11 by tylanbo