People who are suffering from alcohol addiction, medical marijuana can be beneficial as an alcohol substitute. Researchers are now seeing amazing success with cannabis treating alcoholism.
Alcoholism- A serious problem
Alcohol addiction is a huge problem affecting 2.5 million people a year, a study suggests. Millions suffer from alcoholism and alcohol related health issues such as alcohol dependency syndrome and alcohol use disorder. Alcohol addiction is a serious health problem that affects not only the addicted drinkers, but many others who are related to the drinker whether, your life partner, family members, co-workers, or friends.
Also Read: Stop ‘Neknomination’ before it’s too late
It is normal to hit the bottle a few days a week for a relaxing evening. But for people who are addicted to it, alcohol dependency is a serious issue, and it ruins lives. Alcoholism is defined as when an individual needs to consume alcohol to be able to function. When these people are forced to quit, they go through alcohol withdrawal, which is life threatening. Alcoholics need to consume more amounts of drinks to get into a normal state. Mild symptoms alcohol withdrawal include shakiness, anxiety. On the other hand, in extreme cases, individuals can go through tremors, fever, hallucinations, seizures, confusion, and cognitive difficulty. Most of the people are unaware of how common and serious alcohol abuse is. According to research, it is one of the third leading cause of preventable death. Alcoholism has a direct impact on society, relationships, career, families, and personal lives.
Marijuana for alcoholism
A study suggests that using medical marijuana could help some people with alcoholism. Medical marijuana is also called as medical cannabis, which is clinically approved for the treatment of alcoholism. It has been found that cannabis can be used as a substitute because it has less adverse effects than other prescription medicines.
Cannabinoids found in cannabis acts as a neuroprotective shield, which allows the substance to enter the parts of the brain damaged by the withdrawal process. The action reduces the cravings and gives a chance of recovery. Cannabis is a safe medication when compared to other prescription pharmaceutical drugs. It does not result in an overdose death. Cannabis is socially acceptable and available. This approach has proven to have a high success rate in reducing alcoholism. The medicinal drug is considered as a psychoactive substitute. Cannabis does not affect the liver, damage, organs, or brain cells. It is significantly less dangerous substance as compared to alcohol, a study suggests.
Cannabis dosage for alcoholism
It is recommended to take one or two puffs in the morning or the evening. If you are not a smoker, then use a vaporizer or any other way to consume cannabis such as make a cannabis tea. The most important thing is to consult your health care specialist before starting the treatment for alcoholism.
Safety considerations
Medical cannabis should be stored in a secure place away from children to minimize the risk of children consuming them.
Those people who use medicinal cannabis are not allowed to drive or operate machinery immediately after consuming cannabis.
The use of cannabis can be dangerous for people with respiratory tract problems, kidney disorders, cardiopulmonary disease, or liver insufficiency.
Individuals with a medical history of psychiatric disorders who consume cannabis are at high risk of developing or aggravating an already present psychiatric disorder.
Cannabis May also harm your developing baby during pregnancy. Therefore, it should not be used by pregnant ladies or nursing mothers.
Also Read: Protect your teenage child from binge drinking
To avoid all these issues, make sure that you consult with your health care specialist about your health history. Cannabis may help your alcoholism, but you should be aware of the potential risks carefully.
