Former addict shares what changed when he stopped smoking weed as study shows impact on brain

Warning: This article contains discussion of drug addiction which some readers may find distressing.

A former drug addict has shared how his health improved after giving up weed, as a brain study reveals the huge impact it has on the brain.

Although cannabis has often be considered one of the safer drugs, especially compared to more severe Class A substances, it doesn't come without its risks.

While many states in the US have moved to legalise marijuana, particularly as it becomes more commonly used for medical purposes, studies have shown that those who regularly use it from a young age can see their IQ drop, albeit by just 1.3 points on average.

A later study found that those who had worse immediate recall and showed a tendency towards worse delayed recall were those who used cannabis, while brain fog and shorter attention spans have also been linked with the drug in the past.

The former addict noticed a lot of benefits after quitting (Getty Stock)

And mental clarity was just one of the things that YouTuber Dorian Develops noticed after ditching the drug for six months, having become addicted to it as a teenager.

In a YouTube video, he explained: “I felt like I would have to read the same thing over and over because I couldn’t process it,” he noted, as things often felt ‘harder’ to do.

“It’s so much easier to be motivated to go to the gym when you don’t wake up and smoke,” Dorian continued.

“[You] have more energy and you just have more mental clarity and focus. It’s a lot easier for you to want to set goals and be ambitious and do bigger things when you’re not in that weed brain fog state all the time.

“Being able to be organised and be productive is something that has improved so much in the last six months, especially in the last three.”

It's estimated that 178 million people around the world consume cannabis (Getty Stock)

His brain was definitely appreciating the break, as he also saw an improvement in his mental health after stopping.

He added: "After being sober for a while, I’m noticing that my anxiety and depression was definitely elevated by smoking weed every day, it wasn’t reduced,” as he noted ‘how much better’ it is now that he’s stopped.

There was also a physical benefit as he was able to breathe a lot better, something those who have given up smoking have talked about before, particularly with those who have stopped vaping.

He concluded: “Now I don’t feel as winded anymore, I feel like I have way more endurance in my lungs, I feel like I can breathe easier, I don’t wheeze anymore,” he said, as he believes he’s starting to ‘repair a lot of that damage’.

So, while weed might not be as threatening as other drugs in terms of potential health issues, this just goes to show how much you can benefit by fighting an addiction and giving it up.

If you want friendly, confidential advice about drugs, you can talk to FRANK. You can call 0300 123 6600, text 82111 or contact through their website 24/7, or livechat from 2pm-6pm any day of the week.