Can you get Addicted to Hash?

Hash, also called hashish, is a drug that is derived from a plant called hemp or cannabis sativa. The active ingredient in marijuana is THC, which is short for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. This chemical and other ingredients are found in the plant’s leaves and flowering parts. Hash is taken from the top of female marijuana plants, where the largest amount of THC is found.

Hash addiction symptoms occur when you use hash in any form on a regular basis. THC builds up in your body fat. It is slowly metabolized in these tissues and turns into inactive metabolites, one of which is THC. Metabolites of THC can be found in the urine for up to 10 weeks after you have stopped using hash. This slow elimination of THC is believed to be the origin of hash’s addictive properties.

Hash THC Content – Did You Know?

According to a report by the Drug Addiction Treatment Centre at Lund University Hospital, marijuana may contain from 0.35 to 30 percent THC content. Hashish typically contains about 4 to 10 percent THC, although this may be higher in some cases. Hash oil may consist of up to 60 percent THC content.

An addiction to any substance is difficult to struggle with alone, but we can help.

Is Hash Addictive?

Hash is addictive, but not in the same way that cocaine or heroin is addictive. When a person ingests hash, he or she feels a mild euphoria and relaxation. This effect is pleasant, and the person is likely to use hash to experience that feeling again. After repeated use, you may find it difficult to feel good without using hash, which is one of the main hash addiction symptoms, and using the drug may become a regular part of your life as a result. Hash is not thought to be physically addictive. It produces a psychological dependency because of the effects of THC on your brain.

Did You Know?

Cannabis products like hash are a controlled substance in the United States. It is illegal to grow, possess, or sell this substance.

What are the Effects of Using?

Hash is used in the form of oil, balls, cakes, or sheets, and it is commonly smoked or cooked into foods. Hash acts on your central nervous system. Even small amounts of the drug can cause symptoms, particularly when it is used long-term and a hash addiction has formed. These include:

• Increased appetite
• Euphoria
• Relaxation
• Increased visual, hearing and taste perception
• Panic
• Paranoia
• Impaired coordination
• Decreased focus
• Delirium
• Hallucinations
• Increased heart rate and blood pressure
• Infections like asthma, sinusitis, and bronchitis
• Sore throat
• Difficulty focusing or paying attention

Did You Know?

The Middle East is the primary source of hashish worldwide.

How Hash Addiction Develops

As with most mind-altering substances, over time you will feel the need to use hash more often or in higher doses than you did initially in order to achieve the same effects. Once you begin to build a tolerance, you may find that when you don’t use hash, you experience withdrawal symptoms, and you may use more of the drug to ease or eliminate these symptoms.

Did You Know?

You can become psychologically addicted to cannabis compounds such as tetrahydrocannabinol. One of the most common psychological marijuana addiction symptoms is the need or compulsion to use marijuana on a daily basis. While you may not have formed a chemical dependence on the drug, you can still feel helpless to avoid using it regularly.

Starting the Detoxing Process

The first step toward treating hash addiction symptoms is to stop using hash entirely. This is accomplished through a process called detox. During hash detox, you stop all use of the drug. Detox is often carried out in a medically supervised environment, so that medical personnel can monitor and assist you as you experience potential side effects. These hash withdrawal symptoms may vary in severity and typically fade over time as you continue to abstain from using hash. These withdrawal symptoms may include the following:

• Nightmares
• Insomnia
• Vivid dreams
• Irritability
• Anxiety
• Mood changes
• Depression
• Loss of concentration
• Eye or vision problems
• Headaches
• Sweats
• Coughing
• Loss of appetite
• Digestive issues
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Tremors
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Kidney problems
• Sexual dysfunction

Marijuana and Hash Treatment Options Available

Many drug addiction treatment facilities combine therapies such as counseling, rehab therapy, behavioral modification, and support groups to help you overcome your hash addiction. Hash addiction treatment programs focus on getting you sober and avoiding a return to marijuana use. Counseling may take many forms but usually includes:

• Family counseling
• Individual counseling
• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Self-help groups

Treatment and recovery will usually take place in a residential or inpatient setting or through an outpatient program. Inpatient hash addiction treatment is often the most successful over the long-term, because patients are given care and support 24 hours a day through the most intense or difficult phases of hash addiction recovery.

Did You Know?

• When hash is used over a long period, several chronic, long-term effects can result. Lack of motivation and difficulty concentrating are common effects, as they are with marijuana use, and the development of schizophrenia is also possible.
• Using hash on a regular basis can lead to many physical and emotional problems. For most people, professional medical help is necessary in order to stop using the drug and to address the hash withdrawal symptoms that may result. Call to discuss your treatment options today.