Although marijuana is still considered illegal in all fifty states it is almost as easily available to the public as any over-the-counter drug. A vague diagnosis of anxiety or/and depression can provide anyone with an unlimited amount of medical marijuana, not to mention unofficial “volunteers” who spread it in almost any high school or college campus. Moreover, for some unknown reason, marijuana has a very unjust reputation of a harmless weak substance and is mostly known under friendly nickname of “weed”. This common delusion may be also caused by the fact that many young people don’t really know how to properly inhale while smoking and that’s why the drug in a popular form of a joint has very little or no effect on them. Marijuana cookies are, however, a different story – they penetrate the blood stream through the digestive system and the body is affected about 10 times more intensely.
Monster Cookie
Marijuana’s active ingredient is a very powerful drug known as THS. It affects the brain cells known as cannabinoid receptors that influence memory, thinking abilities, sensory and time perception as well as concentration. So it will come as no surprise that the large amount of marijuana although presented in an innocent form of a cookie can seriously impair coordination, perception of reality and cause extreme difficulty in concentration. Those sensations in spite of what the user might have expected are pretty unpleasant and alarming, which can trigger a panic attack.
If the whole cookie is eaten on an empty stomach by someone who only used to smoke marijuana, it is very likely to cause feelings of paranoia and extreme terror, nausea and vomiting, increased heart rates, hallucination and complete disorientation. For many people who expected to get “high” or very relaxed, the bouquet of those extremely unpleasant sensations is enough to cause a panic attack. In many cases at that point the concept of “drug overdose” immediately comes to an agonizing mind to make things even worse.
Symptoms of Marijuana-Caused Panic Attack
The symptoms of marijuana-caused panic attack may include:
- Numbness in hands, legs and sometimes the whole body.
- Unexplained overwhelming terror accompanied by the desperate need to escape
- Racing heartbeat that sometimes feels like pounding through the whole body
- Nausea and vomiting
- Horrifying hallucinations that feel like a nightmare although the person is awake.
- Shortness of breath, feeling of being suffocated and smothered
- Fear of death
Treatment
Fortunately, marijuana overdose is extremely rarely fatal. It can only cause death when mixed with other heavier drugs. If you are experiencing a panic attack there are several ways to ease an unpleasant experience:
- Drink lots of water or milk – it will help wash the excessive amount of the drug out of your body
- Take a cold shower
- Try to divert your attention by concentrating on one single object
- If you’re indoors – step outside and get some fresh air
- Breathe deeply and slowly
- If you are in a crowded room try to get away
The good news is that marijuana overdose is almost never lethal – overdoing the drug is fortunately a mistake that the overwhelming majority of people can afford to make.
Anna Inger - My name is Anna Inger. I was born and raised in Moscow, Russia, spent most of my life in Israel and for the last few years I've been ...
