Is Marijuana More Addictive Than Alcohol?

originally posted by: abecedarian

originally posted by: hopenotfeariswhatweneed...it is habit forming...but there can be some physical side effects from giving up after long term everyday use...like loss of appetite and trouble sleeping,sweating,but these things do not last long and everyone is affected differently...the biggest battle is in ones head

What's the difference between habitual use of product and addiction?
If I may ask...

good question ...i will have to refer that to a psychologist or someone whom is qualified to answer

a reply to: hopenotfeariswhatweneed

Im no psych but a habit is more action related and addiction is reaction related I think. A habit would be like having something in your mouth and the motion of smoking; while an addiction would be the dependence on smoking for how it makes them feel and the effects it has on the brain. Habit is drinking with every meal because it goes with the meal; addiction is drinking to get through the day around each meal. Habit is repeating patterns and addiction is feeding a need. Make sense?

a reply to: hopenotfeariswhatweneed

Habitual use is where you use something regularly. Addiction is where cessation of that regular use causes mental and / or physical problems, perceived or real. I'm no doctor though. I just know some freaks can drink their hearts out and stop with no problems, and others wind up in AA for what you or I may call lightweight drinking. Or smoking. Or injecting. And so on.

Genetics, ya know?

originally posted by: abecedarian
Another strange though that just occurred to me....

If THC affects short term memory, can a user remember a commitment to not use it any more?

Ever know that you have to do laundry, and then you forget because you did the dishes instead? Its a bit like that. Not completely, but this is short term memory. A pot smoker may become side-tracked easily, but chronic marijuana use does not cause Alzheimer's.

a reply to: Aperture

I think if someone even if they can stop its considered addiction if they dont stop and causes big problems. Or is that just an alcohol problem rather than addiction?

originally posted by: Aperture
a reply to: hopenotfeariswhatweneed

Habitual use is where you use something regularly. Addiction is where cessation of that regular use causes mental and / or physical problems, perceived or real. I'm no doctor though. I just know some freaks can drink their hearts out and stop with no problems, and others wind up in AA for what you or I may call lightweight drinking. Or smoking. Or injecting. And so on.

Genetics, ya know?

yes i have seem many different reactions to drug and alcohol abuse...it really does depend on the person...

i didnt answer the question about the difference between habit and addiction for this reason...so i was steering away for a person whom has intimate knowledge of how the brain works

a reply to: Aural

Well, if they don't stop, they are mentally addicted. If they continue, that can lead to physical addiction. If you are physically addicted, there is still mental addiction as well. Alcohol addiction increases anxiety, which in turn makes the symptoms worse. If you are merely mentally addicted to something, and extremely anxious, you may experience physical symptoms, but unless you are actually drinking 15 a day for a years, you won't actually get something like the DTs. You might have higher blood pressure and a higher heart rate, but I talking about alcohol withdrawal killing an otherwise healthy person. Again, I'm not a doctor, and you could get the DTs from 10 or 20 a day for years or months, conceivably even after a few weeks.

This applies to everything, I think. There are different kinds of addictions, physical or mental. Being an an addict doesn't mean you are a bad person, it is just that some people have life threatening addictions, and some don't. Are we not all addicted to at least 1 thing?

I know if my parents didn't have TV, in their old age, they would probably freak out to the point of psychosomatic illness. On a more sober note, my neighbor just died of Alcoholic Hepatitis and pretty much just sat on his porch drinking all the time.

a reply to: hopenotfeariswhatweneed

Gotcha. I'm drinking what you're pouring, know what I mean?

a reply to: Aural

Of course you don't need to write a research paper, and the things you say might be true but without a source are just speculation. I'm just interested in reading further, particularly what propaganda is around (I have read the cannabis cures cancer thread, which is one such example).

On the difference between addiction and habits:

Both habits and addictions are rewarding behaviours that are performed regularly, but addiction involves the build up of tolerance and the presence of withdrawal symptoms. Physical addiction also occurs when a behaviour/substance has altered the reward pathways in the brain, and therefore how the body reacts to the substance. Cannabis doesn't do this which is why cannabis isn't physically addictive.

One difference relates to how that behaviour is affecting the well-being of the person, whether physically, socially, psychologically etc. A person can form the habit of going for a run every morning, but exercise addiction would be when that person is running in excess despite knowing that it is doing harm to them, perhaps their need to exercise is not only causing known physical problems, but relationships may have failed and problems with mental health may have developed around it. It generally has to be harmful or irrational for it to be labelled addiction.

Addiction for alcohol and cannabis should be seen differently. Unlike cannabis, alcohol use damages the brain, and by the fourth stage of alcohol addiction an individual has generally lost their job, their family and all their friends. With cannabis it is more complicated because people do generally maintain relationships and jobs, however chronic use may still be seen as irrational because of health, social or financial implications. So whilst cannabis addiction is definitely possible, I don't think it is as damaging (to individual, family, and society) as alcohol.

originally posted by: Aperture
a reply to: hopenotfeariswhatweneed

Gotcha. I'm drinking what your pouring, know what I mean?

i am hoping it means it is your shout

They are probably equally addictive, if you've been a long time user of either.
I think alcohol is a lot harder to give up though.

So its not which is more addictive, but which is more addictive in the sense its harder to give up.

a reply to: violet

Also i think its about which one can also kill you and i think alcohol kills ppl rather regular pace and theres allot more negative sides on alcohol than ganja but still alcohol is accepted but ganja that cannot kill ppl are banned, i guess it makes sense at least on business side of it....

Is Marijuana Addictive?

Contrary to common belief, marijuana is addictive. Estimates from research suggest that about 9 percent of users become addicted to marijuana; this number increases among those who start young (to about 17 percent, or 1 in 6) and among people who use marijuana daily (to 25-50 percent).

Long-term marijuana users trying to quit report withdrawal symptoms including irritability, sleeplessness, decreased appetite, anxiety, and drug craving, all of which can make it difficult to abstain. Behavioral interventions, including cognitive-behavioral therapy and motivational incentives (i.e., providing vouchers for goods or services to patients who remain abstinent) have proven to be effective in treating marijuana addiction. Although no medications are currently available, recent discoveries about the workings of the endocannabinoid system offer promise for the development of medications to ease withdrawal, block the intoxicating effects of marijuana, and prevent relapse.

Drug Facts: Marijuana

My input: Looks just as addicting as alcohol, if not more if it was not regulated. We will have to wait a few years to see more evidence. Any time you alter the chemicals in the brain, you need that drug to continue to feel NORMAL.

If pot wasn't addictive, you would get no high from it as it wouldn't alter your feelings via chemical reactions or replacements in the body. Once your body feels the need it doesn't have to produce the chemicals pot provides, you become addicted.

originally posted by: romilo
a reply to: violet

Also i think its about which one can also kill you and i think alcohol kills ppl rather regular pace and theres allot more negative sides on alcohol than ganja but still alcohol is accepted but ganja that cannot kill ppl are banned, i guess it makes sense at least on business side of it....

Just because the drug doesn't kill you directly, it still kills because of drug dealers and murders related to it. So, yes, it does kill, but not directly. If you want to argue "well, just legalize it", then you will see the deaths from accidents while on pot rise because people won't have to worry about hiding while using it.

All drugs kill some way or the other. Just because it doesn't kill you if you take too much, it still has the potential to kill.

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a reply to: twfau

Its not speculation its facts of research. If you want sources look it up yourself just google. I really cant be bothered now to re gather every article ive read in the past because I will just be clicking mostly the first links I see that fit what I recall reading anyway. A bit off subject anyway.

Actually I think i heard the whole alcohol kills brain cells thing is a myth on an exaggeration. It would only kill brain cells if youre passed out really drunk or have been a long term heavy drinker and develop some medical issues from the heavy drinking. Its hard finding a good source for the myth or against it otherwise id at least post that much. Either way its still unrelated to addictiveness. I mean cause wise.