Hight on Marijuana

HIGH ON MARIJUANA

CANNABIS INTOXICATION

Topics in Mental Health

By Shlomo Y. Radcliffe

What is Cannabis Intoxication?

Cannabis (marijuana/weed/hemp/pot/grass and other slang names) often brings relaxation and elevation of mood for users. Appreciation for art and music may be enhanced. Ideas can flow rapidly and the user may become quite talkative as well. In fact, the effects of cannabis are wide and varied, including becoming hungry, having the giggles, experiencing hallucinations, increasing anxiety, affecting motor coordination, increased fatigue and lower motivation. Usually a user will appear more or less normal, even when highly intoxicated. Intoxication often begins with symptoms of anxiety which later progresses to panic and also includes distortions in time perception, impaired judgment, euphoria, social withdrawal and motor impairment. The most common untoward reaction to cannabis the development of an anxiety disorder, but use of the drug can also lead to psychotic disorders in those who are susceptible.

Symptoms of Cannabis Intoxication (DSM-IV Criteria)

Symptoms of Cannabis Intoxication include:

•    The person has recently used cannabis.
•    During or soon after its use, the person develops significant behavioral or psychological maladaptive changes. These may include anxiety, euphoria, motor performance deficits, social withdrawal, impaired judgment, and the sensation that time has slowed down.
•    Within two hours of use, at least two of these occur:

dry mouth
rapid heart rate
red eyes
increased appetite

• These symptoms are not the result of a general medical condition nor better explained by a different mental disorder.

Treatment for Cannabis Intoxication

The goal of treatment is abstinence from the drug. Treatment can range from in-patient hospitalization, drug and alcohol rehabilitation facilities, to various outpatient programs. Narcotics Anonymous and other such programs are also helpful treatment options.