Introduction
The smoking of parts of the female hemp plant is called smoking pot. This plant, scientifically called cannabis, is consumed as a drug in addition to its importance as a crop. Either the flowers (marijuana) or the resin (hashish) are used.
Smoking is therefore the inhalation of cannabis, which is the more common of the two forms of consumption. Cannabis products can also be eaten. Smoking weed has a relaxing and euphoric effect on most people, but can also cause nausea, palpitations or anxiety. Long-term cannabis use may not only cause changes in the brain, but may also increase the otherwise low dependency potential. Scientific studies have also suggested that excessive smoking can cause permanent damage to the psyche, especially in adolescence, and can promote certain mental illnesses.
Psychological dependence
As a result of regular smoking, a psychological dependence or addiction can develop. The body gets used to the drug by the intensified consumption behaviour. On the one hand, the dose must be increased to achieve a constant effect, on the other hand, the potential for dependence increases individually.
The development of dependence problems is strongly influenced by the regularity and intensity of consumption. Whether a person is prone to psychological dependence depends on many different factors. For example, an early entry age (under 16 years) is an enormous risk factor.
Unstable social conditions or existing mental illnesses (e.g. depression) can also accelerate the development of mental dependence. In the case of an illness, for example, smoking pot is unknowingly used as self-medication. Mental dependence is characterized by a constant craving for the addictive substance.
If consumption is then discontinued at some point, withdrawal symptoms may occur. The areas of the brain that are normally stimulated by the drug then lapse into a kind of sub-function. For example, the user is very irritable, restless, gets anxious or becomes aggressive.
Depressive symptoms, loss of appetite and sleep disorders can also be signs of mental dependence if the substance has not been used for a while. Psychological dependence is much more common with smoking than physical dependence. Approximately one in ten smokers shows symptoms of mental dependence.
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