long term health probs and addiction?

[ramjet]

On a slightly more serious note from my last thread: as I've said on
one of the threads about sleeping, I've been smoking a spliff before
bed now for over a year and I've been smoking what I'd call regularly
for several years now. I feel that I have got into a bit of a habit and
to certain extent I'm psychologically addicted. Whenever I am forced to
stop, for whatever reason, I find that the "withdrawals" (if you can
call it that - irritability, serious de-motivation, depressed mood,
sometimes sleeplessness) last for a few days tops and then I feel fine,
even better for being clear headed. And yet I ALWAYS seem to find more.
Anyone else think they're psychologically dependent on weed? Am I, or
do you think it's all in my head?



Secondly, I've looked around but can't find anything concrete so I
thought I'd post the question here: does smoking cannabis regularly
cause any long term damage to your health other than the obvious
problems with smoking? What I'm most concerned about is whether it has
any long term effects on your intellignece, natural levels of serotonin
and motivation, even after you stop smoking the stuff. I'm 23 by the
way, have been smoking weed since the age of 14 and smoking weed
regularly since the age of about 18/19. I'm in the UK so I don't care
if the US authorities are monitoring this. Our authorities are far more
lax and have much bigger things to worry about.

[Nature Boy]

You sound as though you're psychologically dependant somewhat but I wouldn't worry about it. If you feel de-motivated when you're off it, maybe it's a good thing smoke it to stay focused.

You don't need to worry about the long term effects to your intelligence. Most recent studies disprove any of the old myths that marijuana makes you dumb. All the damage to the brain cells and the brain damage myths are now completely discredited. Marijuana does not kill brain cells in the way alcohol abuse would by poisoning your receptors through toxins. However it can impair your short term memory if you happen to smoke a lot of it. This is not scientifically proven but even I can realise that it happens to an extent and I'm only 19.

There's no cause for concern about the de-motivation if you quit. This wears off after about a week if you stay off it completely. No long term damage to serotonin levels can be done. In fact, only alcohol, cocaine, ecstacy (to a lesser extent) and speed do this.

This is a good site I've found that have decent, unbiased info. I find it a lot better than www.erowid.org
It's not half as one-sided

http://www.lycaeum.org/

[sterling77]

I agree with ramjet on the fact that I "always seem to find more". No matter how many promises you've made that you'll take a break after this one bag, you always come across more very quickly and before you know what you're doing it's been smoked.

But to answer your question, you probably are psychologically addicted to some extent (I know I am). And is it all in your head? Well yes, that is the nature of a pyschological addiction. Some people might pass it off as not being something "concrete", so it's really nothing, but it is.

Although I think I'm slightly addicted pschologically, I believe the social factor plays an even bigger role. If it weren't for all my friends smoking weed I probably wouldn't smoke half as much- when they're all smoking of course I'm going to smoke.