Dabbing refers to smoking butane hash oil, which is a form of cannabis that has extremely high concentrations of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, which is the active ingredient in marijuana. Compared to the relatively small amount of THC in regular marijuana, which can range from 3% to 25%, hash oil, or dabs, can have as much as 80% THC, which makes them popular for people that want to experience a high level of intoxication.
Other names for dabs include “oil”, “wax”, and “shatter. Use of hash oil has become increasingly popular due to its high THC content, and many seasoned stoners smoke hash oil almost exclusively, as their tolerance for THC has increased over the years of getting stoned.
Generally, hash oil is smoked out of what is commonly referred to as a “dab rig”, or just “rig”, which is composed of a traditional water pipe, or bong, with an iron apparatus, or “nail” taking the place of where a bowl of marijuana would go. The hash oil is placed on the nail, which has been heated by a torch, and is vaporized. It is also possible to smoke hash oil off of foil in the same way that heroin or meth is smoked off of foil, and it has become increasingly popular to smoke dabs out of a vaporizer pen.
What Do Dabs Do?
Just like traditional marijuana forms, hash oil activates the pleasure centers in the survival area of the brain when consumed, giving the user a sedative and euphoric effect. Because of this, abuse is very common, and psychological addiction to marijuana and marijuana concentrates, such as hash oil, is possible.
It all depends on whether the user has an addictive personality. There are people that exist who have only tried marijuana once and that was it; on the flip side, there are people who cannot put the drug down and are compelled to seek the feeling of sedation and euphoria that smoking marijuana and marijuana concentrates has. These marijuana users use every day, if they can, and will suffer consequences of abusing the drug while continuing to use it.
That is the difference between a casual user and an addict. A casual user may experience consequences as a result of using marijuana, and are able to make a change in their lifestyle to address them, and avoid further consequences. Someone who is addicted may suffer the same kinds of consequences, and yet will continue to get high at the same rate, regardless of the outcome. Someone who is casually smoking weed may not encounter financial struggles as a result of trying to acquire marijuana. An addict, on the other hand, will use any means necessary to get marijuana, even if that means spending the last few dollars in their bank account on some hash oil.
Wait, Can You Get Addicted to Marijuana?
Marijuana addiction is a surprisingly hot topic; many people have differing viewpoints on the subject. This is because the answer to whether or not marijuana is addictive is complicated.
We do know that users commonly develop a dependence on marijuana, rather than an addiction. In these cases, users may report feeling irritable, low, restlessness, or other mild withdrawal symptoms when they go too long without using. This dependence becomes addiction when the user isn’t able to stop using, no matter how much they want to. This is rare with marijuana. Traditional marijuana isn’t physically or chemically addictive, like cocaine or opioids are, but it can easily become habitually addictive.
When it comes to dabs, though, we’re looking at a much higher THC content. THC still isn’t as strong as many other addictive chemicals, but it does have the potential for addiction when consumed in such high quantities, as one would do with dabs.
What to Do if Your Loved One is Addicted to Dabs
Abuse of marijuana can lead to the use of other, more serious drugs, and it is important to address any addiction as soon as possible.
If your loved one is addicted to dabs, talk to them about it as soon as you can, and encourage them to find help to stop using. Many recovery programs, such as Any Length, exist to help men with substance addiction and abuse. Give us a call today at (512) 598-9968. We want to help!