Marijuana is gaining popularity in our culture today as its legality spreads across multiple states. Consequently, other marijuana-related products or alternatives are on the rise as well. Among those, Delta 8 THC is leading the pack. You may have seen it at vape shops, gas stations, or available to purchase online. Even though more people are using this newfound substance, Delta 8 carries with it some significant concerns. So what kind of delta 8 dangers are we talking about?
Delta 8 Dangers: What is Delta 8 THC?
Delta 8 THC (also known as Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol) is a psychoactive cannabinoid that naturally occurs in the cannabis plant. Among cannabinoids out there, both THC and cannabidiol (CBD) are most common.
Within THC, you may have heard of both delta 8 and delta 9. In comparing delta 8 vs. delta 9, delta 9 is more widely known, as it occurs in higher concentrations in the cannabis plant. As the main ingredient of marijuana, delta 9 is also responsible for the psychoactive effects in the drug, shares Forbes. On the other hand, delta 8 occurs in lower quantities within the cannabis plant. While it also produces psychoactive effects, they’re naturally less potent. Because of this, delta-8 products you’d find in retail environments are often synthetically developed to increase their potency.
Delta 8 THC is one of the main gas station drugs you can purchase in everyday retail establishments, including gas stations, convenience stores, smoke shops, and vape shops. According to NPR, delta 8 is especially popular among young people. A national survey of 2,000 high school seniors found that more than 11% used delta-8 in the past year, for example. The percentage of teens using the drug is higher in 19 states with no delta-8 regulations, as well as states where marijuana is still illegal.
Because natural delta 8 is milder compared to delta 9, it can appeal to people wanting some of the effects of marijuana, but not as intensely. However, the synthetic delta-8 you can buy retail may expose you to higher levels delta-8 than you’d normally get naturally. Add in the fact that sales of delta 8 are largely unregulated, and more and more people are starting to realize the dangers of delta 8 products.
Known Delta 8 Dangers Today
Is delta 8 dangerous? Though much still needs to be learned about this drug, concerns, dangers, and red flags are becoming evident. Among the delta 8 dangers, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning in 2022 explaining that cannabis products containing delta 8 posed serious health risks to consumers. The FDA has also stated that delta 8 has not been evaluated or approved for safe use in any context, explains UCLA Health.
According to CNN, the FDA received more than 100 adverse event reports related to delta 8 by 2022. More than half of those events required hospital or emergency services help. These adverse events included:
- Hallucinations
- Vomiting
- Anxiety
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Loss of consciousness
Because delta 8 has not been proven safe and effective, the FDA also has concerns about how the drug is marketed. Though delta 8 products may make therapeutic or medical claims, they’re unsubstantiated and lacking in approval. Due to the unregulated nature of delta 8, many delta 8 products you can buy on shelves may be manufactured unsafely in different ways, including:
- Using potentially dangerous household chemicals to make delta-8 THC
- Containing harmful byproducts or contaminants in product ingredients
- Making delta-8 in unsanitary or uncontrolled settings, leading to the presence of unsafe or potentially harmful substance exposure in the final product
- Packaging and labeling products to appeal to children (such as gummies, candies, chocolates, cookies, etc.)
- Having varying strength levels of delta 8 without the consumer’s knowledge
Is Delta 8 Addictive?
In addition to the delta 8 dangers above, there is also growing worry about delta 8 addiction and further substance abuse. For starters, using delta 8 can naturally lead to marijuana usage. And marijuana is still considered a gateway drug, shares Psychology Today. As you use more concentrated forms of marijuana, you can develop cannabis use disorder and get addicted to weed. This makes you more susceptible to using harder drugs in the future as well.
However, one of the dangers of delta 8 is that it has its own potential for addiction, too. Delta-8 interacts with the same areas of your brain that marijuana does, which means it can interfere with your brain’s pleasure and reward system. Like other substances, delta 8 can release dopamine in your brain, signaling a “feel good” experience, so you want to take it again. Over time, your brain develops a tolerance for this dopamine release, so you need to take more delta 8 at greater frequencies to get the same effects. Eventually, you can develop a delta 8 addiction as a result.
Get Treatment for Delta 8 Addiction in New England
If you feel like delta 8 is controlling your life, it’s important to get professional help. At Sana at Stowe in Stowe, Vermont, our holistic, personalized drug addiction treatment program can help you overcome delta 8 and reclaim your life. Offering a full spectrum of care, we’re here for you at every step of your recovery journey. Call us today to find out if we’re the right substance abuse treatment center for you.
