The Effects of Cannabis Addiction among 16-24 Years and Its Health Consequences - Case Study Example

The Effects of Cannabis Addiction among 16-24 Years and Its Health Consequences Introduction Cannabis or Marijuana is one of the most abused drugs in the world. There have been consistent efforts to reduce cannabis dependence in the world. Moreover, the prevalence of cannabis use and addiction is on the rise among the young adults aged between 16 and 24 years especially in U.S and U.K (Budney et al 2007, p. 1). Furthermore, many addicts do not seek medical attention. There have been various studies on marijuana use among 16-24 years in the world. The continued use of cannabis leads to adverse short term and long term cardiopulmonary and mental health effects (National Institute on Drug Abuse 2012, p. 1). I chose to address cannabis as a topic because cannabis dependence limits the attainment of school, work, and home goals. Moreover, a lot of time elapses while acquiring cannabis, using cannabis and recovering from the adverse effects of cannabis dependence. Statistics confirm that about 14.4 million people in US smoke cannabis and about 10 % of them will advance to cannabis dependence (Melemis 2013, p. 1). Moreover, about 13.3% of users aged 16-24 years are cannabis dependent in US while about 17.1% of British 16-24 year old is cannabis dependence (Addiction Today 2013, p. 1). Nevertheless, various addiction theories like the Prime theory (West 2013, p. 1) and the Transtheoretical Model (Grizzell 2003, p. 1) may help us in addressing cannabis dependence among young adults aged between 16-24 years. The prime theory seeks to improve our capacity to predict, explain, and influence human behavior (West 2013, p. 1). On the other hand, Transtheoretical Model addresses behavior change in a five-stage process (Grizzell 2003, p. 1). Discussion Various studies show that drug abuse is most dominant in UK (Department of Health 2007, p. 1) and that people of different races, ages, and economic backgrounds are prone to drug use. Specifically, cannabis addiction is the main drug problem among the minorities (Department of Health 2007, p. 1). In most cases, the criminal justice system forces drug addicts to seek medical treatment. Indeed, all drug users should seek medical treatment since drug addiction leads to various adverse effects. The drug addicts should access equal sources of treatment. Moreover, health providers should enquire about the patient’s history on drug use if they have symptoms that suggest the likelihood of drug misuse (NICE Guidelines 2007, p. 1). Additionally, the government and relevant organizations should create awareness and inform the public about drug abuse. Specifically, cannabis addiction derives various psychological, social, and health problems. However, medical professionals are yet to establish any medications to treat cannabis addiction. Consequently, medical professionals use various measures to reduce the effects of drug misuse, which may include behavioral therapies. These measures have been effective in reducing cannabis addiction among young adults aged between 16-24 years (Department of Health 2007, p. 1). Nevertheless, the prevalence of cannabis addiction in this group is on the rise across the world especially in UK and USA. A study on Marijuana Dependence and its Treatment by Alan J. Budney and others confirms that drug dependence for cannabis is lower than that of other illicit drugs (Budney et al 2007, p. 1). The increasing incidence for cannabis use is because of the availability of cannabis and the introduction of young adults to cannabis use at an earlier age (Budney et al 2007, p. 1). Specifically, cannabis addiction is dominant among the minorities because of the deleterious effects of acculturation on the youth, environmental and economic factors, and the increasing numbers of college students who are mostly youths with cannabis exposure (Budney et al 2007, p. 1). For example, stringent governmental policies and high prices may limit the access to acceptable psychoactive substances like alcohol and tobacco thus forcing the young adults to use cannabis. This fosters cannabis dependence among the young adults. Furthermore, the study reckons that cannabis addiction may lead to adverse health and psychosocial effects like reduced academic and occupational performance, mental problems, legal problems, unwanted pregnancies, social disorder, and sexually transmitted diseases (Budney et al 2007, p. 1). Moreover, the study reckons that there are few researches on controlling cannabis addiction but notes that behavioral treatments can effectively control this behavior. This relates to the central idea of the PRIME theory of motivation, which claims that wants and needs at each moment drives our behaviour (West 2013, p. 1). In this case, we can see that the need for cheaper and available psychoactive substances leads the youth to cannabis abuse where governmental policies and high prices limits access to such psychoactive substances like alcohol. The study on Cannabis in the UK by Kathy Gyngell questions whether a persistent culture of denial is a public health time bomb (Gyngell 2013, p. 1). The study establishes that cannabis is more prominent among the youth in UK where 17.1 per cent of British 16 - 24 year olds used cannabis in 2012 (Gyngell 2013, p. 2). It also claims that young adults highly depend on cannabis where 13.3 per cent of cannabis users are between 16 and 24 years old (Gyngell 2013, p. 3). Indeed, cannabis dependency has been consistent since 2000. Nevertheless, the study notes that very few cannabis addicts seek treatment in UK (Gyngell 2013, p. 3). Conversely, more young people continue to introduce themselves to cannabis use. The study discusses the culture of denial that persists in UK where most people continue to call for the legalization of cannabis use (Gyngell 2013, p. 2). Cannabis attracts more controversy as well as long-term public health implications like psychosis, increased relapse and problems, mental health problems, and poor emotional development (Gyngell 2013, p. 1). The study observes that despite the adverse effects and the serious public health risk that cannabis poses, the UK government continues to exempt marijuana from the hazardous reputation drugs (Gyngell 2013, p. 1). Indeed, the study establishes that many policy makers, scholars, and advisors consider cannabis as a benign drug and an antidote to other harmful drugs like alcohol (Gyngell 2013, p. 1). For example, where scholars and other policy makers continue to claim that cannabis use is less harmful than tobacco or alcohol, young adults will consider cannabis as a non-problematic drug and advance to cannabis addiction. This relates to the central idea of the PRIME theory of motivation, which claims that our intentions and beliefs about what is good or bad only influence our actions if they create sufficiently strong wants and needs at the relevant moment (West 2013, p. 1). In this case, the beliefs of the youth about what is good between cannabis and other illicit drugs create a sufficiently strong want thus influencing their actions at the point of introduction. The study by Shoshana Goldberg and others addresses the risk of substance abuse and dependence among sexual minority groups using a multidimensional measure of sexual orientation (Goldberg et al 2013, p. 144). The study reckons that drug abuse and dependence are fundamental problems among the young adults in USA. Indeed, the study quotes the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health data, which established that about 19.8% of emerging adults aged 18–25 years and 7.0% of young adults aged 26 years or older abused or depended on illicit drugs or alcohol in 2009 (Goldberg et al 2013, p. 145). Furthermore, the study claims that there is increased cannabis use or binge drinking among the sexual minority groups across all ages (Goldberg et al 2013, p. 145). Indeed, the study established that young sexual minority women are more likely to abuse and develop a dependence on any drug than the exclusively heterosexual women are (Goldberg et al 2013, p. 144). For example, lesbians or bisexual women can use and develop cannabis dependence due to the stigma they experience from the society. This relates to the central idea of the PRIME theory of motivation, which claims that our image or our identity is a potentially very strong source of wants and needs. In this case, the identity of the sexual minority women acts as a very strong source of wants and needs for cannabis. The study by P. G. Erickson, M. van der Maas, and A. D. Hathaway revisits deterrence with reference to perception for cannabis (Erickson et al 2013, p. 427). The study appreciates the deterrence research on the widespread cannabis use among mainstream populations. However, the study asserts that recent research found no evidence of deterrence on cannabis use because of the low perceived risk of arrest and changes in public attitudes (Erickson et al 2013, p. 427). Indeed, the study claims that the users did not have accurate knowledge about the current law and penalties on cannabis use and believed that they would avoid arrest where necessary (Erickson et al 2013, p. 427). Nevertheless, the users knew that the police can intervene anytime and thus took precaution by carrying small amounts of cannabis and avoiding public use (Erickson et al 2013, p. 427). As such, the study establishes that restrictive deterrence defined the users’ choices of when, where, and how to use cannabis (Erickson et al 2013, p. 427). For example, where strict rules on cannabis use exist, users will reduce their consumption thus minimizing cannabis addiction. This relates to the Transtheoretical model, which conceptualizes behavior change in a stepwise process (Grizzell 2003, p. 1). Indeed, we can help users who are not ready to quit cannabis use to change their behavior by encouraging them to adopt a systematic movement that may start by reducing consumption. The study by Hans Olav Melberg, Andrew M. Jones, and Anne Line Bretteville-Jensen explores whether cannabis is a gateway to hard drugs. The study claims that there has been a common notion that cannabis is a gateway drug that directly increases the risk of consuming other hard drugs (Melberg, Jones & Bretteville-jensen 2010, p. 583). The study notes that this hypothesis has great effects on drug policy and legislation in many countries since it forms fundamental arguments about legalization of cannabis. Indeed, some government officials oppose the gateway argument saying that criminalizing cannabis will only drive people into the illegal world where they must acquire their supplies from people who may also push heroin, cocaine, and other hard drugs (Melberg, Jones & Bretteville-jensen 2010, p. 583). Additionally, the study notes that liberalizing cannabis laws may increase the number of cannabis users (Melberg, Jones & Bretteville-jensen 2010, p. 583). For example, where the government lowers the restrictions to the access and use of cannabis, the users will find a leeway to consume it and consequently advance to cannabis dependence. This relates to the central idea of the PRIME theory of motivation, which claims that our intentions and beliefs about what is good or bad only influence our actions if they create sufficiently strong wants and needs at the relevant moment (West 2013, p. 1). In this case, lowering the restrictions will make the users believe that cannabis is good and hence create strong needs for cannabis thus influencing the user’s actions. Conclusion Cannabis is one of the most abused drugs among the young adults aged between 16 and 24 years in Europe. Notably, cannabis use leads to adverse psychological, social, and mental health problems. However, certain addiction and behavioral theories like the Prime theory and the Transtheoretical Model may help us in addressing cannabis dependence. Moreover, strict governmental policies and high prices may limit the youth access to acceptable psychoactive substances and force the young adults to cannabis use. Additionally, more youth will consider cannabis as an acceptable drug if scholars and other policy makers continue to claim that cannabis use is less harmful. Moreover, sexual minority status and lowering the restrictions will equally lead to increased cannabis dependence. Nevertheless, restrictive deterrence lowers cannabis dependence. Therefore, I recommend that the federal government should continue to apply strict restrictions on cannabis users, create more awareness on its effects, encourage users to seek treatment, and criminalize cannabis use in all states. 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