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Cannabis is one of the most commonly used drugs in the UK. This Class B drug is typically smoked, but it can be boiled in tea or baked in cakes as well. Cannabis is often used by teenagers and young people, although the numbers have been dropping in recent times.
There are varying effects of cannabis, with many people feeling relaxed and happy after taking it. It is also commonly associated with laughter and giggles, and many who smoke cannabis will get the ‘munchies’, which is the name given to the feelings of hunger they experience.
Cannabis comes from the cannabis plant, and because it is naturally occurring, many people believe it to be safe. However, cannabis contains a chemical called tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, and, while this chemical induces feelings of relaxation and happiness, it can also create a sense of paranoia and can produce hallucinations as well.
Severe Vomiting Syndrome
The drug can also make users feel ill, with some even experience a condition known as cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, or CHS. UK doctors have recently reported a rise in the number of patients suffering from CHS.
Heavy users of the drug are more likely to develop CHS, which can make them feel seriously ill with nausea, stomach pains, and vomiting.
It has been reported that those suffering CHS need to have up to five hot baths a day to ease the pain and suffering. Dr Sauid Ishaq, a professor of gastroenterology at Birmingham City University, said, “This is a highly unrecognised condition, resulting in numerous unnecessary admissions. There is an urgent need to highlight this.”
Dr Ishaq spoke of a patient who had been smoking cannabis since the age of fourteen and who had been treated for CHS eight times in the previous year after complaining of stomach pains, fever, dehydration, and vomiting. He was tested for a number of conditions but when he stopped smoking cannabis, his symptoms would cease – he was then diagnosed with CHS.
Global Increase
It is not just in the UK where there has been an increase in cases of CHS. After cannabis was made legal in Colorado in 2014, researchers there found that suspected CHS cases had also increased. According to Boston University’s Dr Kim Howard, “As the number of new and chronic marijuana users grows annually, it is important to measure its effect on public health, the rate of cyclic vomiting seems to have increased acutely.”
Cannabis Addiction
Many people wrongly believed for a long time that cannabis was not addictive. Nevertheless, those using cannabis for a long time are at risk of addiction. In addition, it is thought that the stronger cannabis that is available on the streets these days is much more addictive than it was around ten years ago.
It is possible to develop a tolerance to cannabis in the same way that users of other drugs can become tolerant. This means having to smoke more to experience the same effects as before. Moreover, those who have become dependent may experience withdrawal symptoms if they stop using. Some of these symptoms include irritability, insomnia, mood swings, restlessness, and cravings.
Help for Addiction
As with all addictions, help is available for those affected by cannabis addiction. Rehab Helper is a free service from where addicts and their families can get help for addiction. Our team of expert advisors and counsellors can offer information on addiction and the treatments available and can provide you with a referral to a suitable provider.
Call us today for more information on how we can help.
Source:
- https://www.rt.com/uk/314008-cannabis-vomiting-nausea-symptoms/
