CANNABIS
Cannabis is a drug that causes controversy because it is unclear just how harmful it is. It is highly normalised and many people smoke it without ever having thought about why they, or even if they like it.
The most obvious problem people have with cannabis is that it dampens motivation. Most people lead happier lives when socially engaged, occupied, motivated and moving forward with our lives and working toward our goals.
Many people come to Antidote because they find that smoking cannabis kills their motivation. Others find it ends up distracting them from all the things they would like to be doing, but don't know how to shift things. A keyworker at Antidote would help you address your goals and motivate you towards achieving them.
People who suffer from depression or mental health disorders can find their condition exacerbated by cannabis, and it can even bring on psychotic episodes. Others can get "twitchy" or paranoid, isolated, inappropriately giggly, or gain weight from the "munchies".
Some research suggests that people who smoke regularly from a young age are prone to developing mental health problems later in life.
CANNABIS HARM REDUCTION TIPS
Don't inhale too deeply, and avoid holding smoke in your lungs. This only increases the intake of tar without getting you any more stoned, as well as increasing the deposition of waste in your lungs.
Marijuana can have detrimental effects on your mental functioning. It can affect learning, memory, and performance. There is no point in lying to yourself—keep a check on your mental functioning, and if you think it is slipping, ease off the marijuana for a while. You will be surprised how mentally alert you can feel after a few weeks of abstinence.
Marijuana can cause long-term problems with motivation, but these problems can creep up without you noticing. Chronic users of marijuana will often vehemently deny they are addicted to marijuana and that it affects their motivation only to show up in treatment 10 or 15 years later, complaining that they have achieved nothing. Set goals for yourself, whether to improve your education, your job prospects, or achieve something significant.
If you have to smoke and are worried about cancer or lung disease try a vaporiser which avoids combustion and reduces the release and deposition of tar and carcinogens.
If you wish to have a friendly chat with one of our workers about your smoking, please get in touch.
You can access a list of our services or contact us by email to discuss your needs: antidote@londonfriend.org.uk.
Antidote helpline: Contact us to discuss your drug or alcohol issues on 020 7833 1674 (10am-6pm, Monday to Friday). Ask for someone from the Antidote Team.
