Understanding Synthetic Marijuana Addiction

Learn About Synthetic Marijuana Abuse & Addiction

Contrary to false statements implying that it is a safe alternative to natural marijuana, synthetic marijuana is actually a dangerous substance that can produce a range of negative outcomes. This drug interacts with the same areas of a user’s brain that are impacted by THC, which is the primary psychoactive component of natural marijuana. However, the effects of abusing synthetic marijuana, which is also known as spice or K2, can be more intense, can last longer, and can inflict more damage than what usually results from abusing natural marijuana.

Because the chemicals in synthetic marijuana can vary from batch to batch, it is impossible to predict how a person’s body will react to any given dose. As a result, synthetic marijuana abuse has led to increasing numbers of overdoses, hospitalizations, and even deaths.

In addition to putting themselves in danger of the immediate damage that can result from one experience with synthetic marijuana, individuals who use this unpredictable substance also risk the onset of a wide range of potential long-term effects that the relative newness of this drug has thus far prevented researchers from fully understanding. However, treatment can provide the skills necessary to live a life free of an addiction to synthetic marijuana.

Statistics

Statistics for Synthetic Marijuana Abuse

Experts estimate that more than one in 10 high school seniors in the United States have abused synthetic marijuana at least once in the past 12 months, with male students abusing this substance at a higher rate than female students.

From 2011 to 2014, the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) documented 18,548 cases involving synthetic marijuana abuse, an average of 4,637 cases per year. In just the first four months of 2015, the AAPCC had already recorded 2,413 cases related to synthetic marijuana.

According to the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN), synthetic marijuana is a contributing factor in more than 11,000 visits to emergency rooms each year. More than 75 percent of these ER visits involved male patients between the ages of 12 and 29.

Causes & Risks

Causes & Risk Factors of Synthetic Marijuana Addiction

Considerable research into substance abuse and substance use disorders indicates that most cases are the result of a combination of genetic and environmental influences, as are described in the following:

Genetic: People whose parents or siblings have struggled with a substance use disorder are more likely to have similar problems than are people whose family history does not include drug abuse or addiction. Also, advances in DNA research have allowed scientists to identify several individual genes and gene clusters that appear to be influential in determining whether or not a person will develop a substance use disorder.

Environmental: People who grow up in homes or neighborhoods where substance abuse is common are more likely to abuse drugs than are people who were raised in drug-free environments. Other environmental factors that can lead to substance abuse include abuse, neglect, stress, and associating with friends or colleagues who engage in recreational drug abuse.

Risk Factors:

Being between the ages of 12 and 29
Being male
Having a family history of substance use disorders and/or mental illness
Exposure to substance abuse at a young age
Lacking effective parental involvement during childhood
Experiencing trauma
Having poor stress-management skills
Living in poverty
Living or working in a high-stress environment

Signs and Symptoms

Signs & Symptoms of Synthetic Marijuana Addiction

The following signs may indicate the presence of synthetic marijuana abuse:

Behavioral symptoms:

Declining performance at work or in school
Frequent unexplained absences from work or school
No longer grooming and attending to personal hygiene
Secrecy, lying, and/or other deceptions regarding one’s actions and whereabouts
No longer participating in events, activities, or issues that were once important
Abandonment of friends for new peer group

Physical symptoms:

Increased heart rate and/or blood pressure
Numbness in extremities
Watery or bloodshot eyes
Muscle spasms
Excessive sweating
Nausea

Cognitive symptoms:

Confusion and disorientation
Psychosis
Depersonalization
Hallucinations
Paranoia

Psychosocial symptoms:

Mood swings and changes in demeanor
Agitation and irritability
Profound sense of anxiety and/or depression

Effects

Effects of Synthetic Marijuana Abuse

The following are known to be among the potential effects of synthetic marijuana abuse:

Brain damage
Cardiac arrest
Stroke
Diminished performance in school or at work
Legal and financial problems
Family dysfunction
Damaged interpersonal relationships
Suicidal ideation and attempts
Death

Co-Occurring Disorders

Synthetic Marijuana Addiction and Co-Occurring Disorders

The following are among the conditions that have been known to afflict individuals who are also struggling with the compulsion to use synthetic marijuana:

Anxiety disorders
Bipolar disorder
Depressive disorders
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)
Other substance use disorders

Withdrawal & Overdose Effects

Effects & Symptoms of Withdrawal from Synthetic Marijuana

Effects of synthetic marijuana withdrawal: When a person has become dependent on synthetic marijuana, abruptly stopping or drastically reducing the use of that drug will likely result in the onset of various unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, including the following:

Strong cravings for drugs
Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
Anxiety and agitation
Fatigue
Hot and cold flashes
Insomnia
Suicidal ideation

Effects of synthetic marijuana overdose: Anyone who exhibits the following symptoms after abusing synthetic marijuana may be in great danger and should be provided with immediate medical attention: