Lingering Effects Of Smoking Marijuana

On Saturday 08/23/11 I was drinking heavily, beer all day and night.  I then proceeded to take two hits from a bong with a neighbor.  I felt like someone was squashing my head and I was brain dead after the two puffs.  I then went to sleep.  When I woke up the next day, i still felt like I was high.  I drank all Sunday as well, felt sick and didn't even work on Monday. I'm 35 and a family man and only drink.  The last time I smoked was 4 years ago.  I had a similar result but went away in about 3 days.  Kind of wierd. This time it's been more than a week and although it has gotten better, I stil feel dizzy and out of focus.  Kind of like I'm still high.  I do have stress and anxiety and don't know if this will go away.  Have I permanantely damaged myself?  

[J T Junig, MD PhD]

You are not going to do permanent damage to your brain from a couple nights of drinking and smoking pot.  I don't mean to encourage doing things that have some risk of creating dependency, but the actions of cannabis are temporary-- as are most of the effects of alcohol-- provided you aren't drinking to the point of alcohol toxicity (for example, drinking so much that you pass out, repeatedly).

'Flashbacks' were described after use of hallucinogens in the 1960's;  the phenomenon is essentially a memory of a subjective experience that comes back at inconvenient times.  I suspect that your experience is something along that line.

Over time, I would expect the memories to fade, and for you to feel like things are back to normal-- provided that you don't keep reinforcing the 'stoned' state of mind by repeating the behavior.  I suggest you worry less about what happened-- and put your efforts into making changes so that you don't keep doing it to yourself.

[footballer]

I forgot to add that I spoke to my 18 year old neighbor and asked him what it was we smoked.  He mentioned that it wasn't laced with anything, showed me his medical marijuana card, and said that it was some stuff on the stronger side but nothing that I should be worried about.

[footballer]

I also wanted to mention that I had a bad lsd overdose when I was 18 and never have been the same since then.  My vision got distorted, I suffer from afterimages, anxiety, stress.  I've learned to cope and was doing good until this incident.  I've taking hits like I did 4 years ago but this time it feels different like it won't go away.  Kind of like I'm on lsd or still high.  Will it go away? Should I see my Dr. or see a Psychiatrist?  Some advice please?

[footballer]

Correction.  I meant Saturday 07/23/2011 not 08/23/2011.  

[footballer]

Great advice Dr.  I'm already starting to feel a lot better and normalizing.  I realize that I am 35 years old now and need to take control of my life.  My plan is to never do any type of drug again and to quit drinking since I do feel that I have a drinking problem.  I want to live a healthy lifestyle and go back to the gym since I used to be a gym rat.  I feel that I will lose a lot of weight this way, become healthier, think better, be happier, and with the money I save on not drinking by myself a new wardrobe at the end of the year as a reward.  Thanks a gain for the great work and great advice!