Cannabis addiction

Cannabis, like weed (marijuana) and hashes, are substances that influence consciousness and have a narcotic effect. Cannabis use is most common among young adults, but teens also experiment with it. This can have serious consequences.

When is someone addicted to marijuana?

You are addicted to smoking marijuana and cannabis when you are physically and/or mentally dependent on it, when your life revolves around it, and when you are unable to stop or cut down. You are obsessed with knowing when you can smoke again, and this obsession overrides and obscures essential things. This has profound consequences.

Many young people smoke a joint once or a few times without immediately getting the urge to do it more often. This makes cannabis an underestimated drug. Unconsciously, smoking cannabis can lead to problematic use or addiction. Factors such as not feeling comfortable in your skin, being restless and experiencing setbacks can be a trigger to start or continue smoking. Due to its anaesthetic effect, young users can escape reality for a brief time.

Causes of cannabis addiction

Cannabis addiction can have several causes. For example, the young person may have experienced an adverse event in the past (such as sexual abuse or abuse) or adverse social events (such as bullying or being neglected). Both can result in trauma. Such a cause is often the underlying problem, and the use of drugs such as cannabis is, in many cases, a way to escape reality. It is also common for young people to take 'self-medication' by smoking cannabis. This often occurs when they suffer from conditions like ADHD or ADD. Smoking weed makes them feel at ease, more relaxed. It gives them peace of mind. Sometimes, however, it can also be the case that a young person is "simply addicted" without any identifiable cause.

Effects of cannabis

Cannabis has a profound effect on both the mind and the body. It can make young people feel relaxed, happy and cheerful. They can laugh at the most ordinary things. Their senses are also heightened, but they have fewer feelings. Some studies show that cannabis use stimulates imagination and creativity. At the same time, young users can become suspicious and often have difficulty concentrating. The latter can be dangerous in traffic situations. 

But what we also often see is that young people become suspicious after using cannabis. They usually have trouble focusing on (school) work and concentrating. The latter can be dangerous in traffic situations. It has also been shown that there is a relationship between smoking cannabis and mental health issues such as depression and schizophrenia. There are even cases where young people have ended up in acute psychosis after (excessive) use of cannabis.

The following physical effects can occur: a dry mouth, red eyes, palpitations, dizziness, and cravings (so-called 'binge eating'). With long-term and regular use, binge eating becomes less common because the brain has become used to the effect of THC ( Tetrahydrocannabinol), the substance responsible for the enormous appetite.    

The effects of smoking cannabis are felt after just two minutes and last for two to four hours.

Contact us

Yes We Can Youth Clinics can effectively treat teenagers and young adults who are suffering from a wide variety of mental health issues. If you have any questions at all, you can always contact us. We cannot stress enough that we are always there for you, whether you sign up for treatment in our clinic or not. 

You can reach us by phone from Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (GMT +1) via phone number: +31 (0)85 02 01 222. Your call will be forwarded after business hours, on weekdays after 6:00 p.m. and on the weekends. Please note that it might take longer than usual to answer your call. If we cannot reply to the call right away, please leave a message, and we will call you back as soon as possible. You can also fill out our contact form.