Marijuana Addiction: 5 Signs Someone Is Addicted to Weed

Weed addiction, also known as cannabis use disorder, is a condition characterized by an inability to control or stop cannabis use despite is marijuana addictive negative consequences. It’s not just about smoking a joint at a party anymore; it’s about needing that hit to function, to feel normal, to escape the clutches of anxiety or depression that creep in when the high wears off. While many perceive it as a harmless recreational substance, the reality is more complex. Marijuana can lead to a condition known as marijuana use disorder, which, in severe cases, takes the form of addiction.

Coping with cannabis withdrawal

You may have a marijuana addiction if you use more marijuana than you intend. Having a high-functioning marijuana addiction is dangerous because it can gradually decrease an individual’s brain function and quality of life. Knowing how to recognize addiction and when to seek help is essential.

• But like any mind-altering substance, there’s always a chance that it can become problematic.
• “When people talk about marijuana, they’re not distinguishing between the different components of cannabis,” says Dr. Ranganathan.
• Treatment for a cannabis use disorder may include various levels of care, including inpatient addiction treatment, and outpatient drug and marijuana rehab programs.
• A growing body of scientific evidence shows that even a one-year delay in drug use during adolescence can lower future trajectories of use for years to come.
• Timmen L. Cermak, MD, is a psychiatrist who specializes in addiction medicine.

Get Professional Help for Substance Abuse

An addiction to marijuana (weed) is not common, but it is possible. Approximately 1 in 10 people who use marijuana will develop cannabis use disorder. Beyond medication, many people pursue therapy to stay sober while going through withdrawal. For one, there is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to help marijuana users recognize unhelpful triggers, thoughts, and behaviors. Another therapy is motivational enhancement therapy (MET) MET helps boost motivation to stay sober.

• Relapse continues to be one of the most trying aspects of addiction, made all the worse by cravings.
• If you’re an adult, you’re allowed to buy it from a licensed source.
• Solitary marijuana use is a sign of addiction, and it separates you from important people in your life.

Symptoms of Cannabis Use Disorder

• Marijuana samples had a THC content of around 4% in the 1990s, but its content exceeded 15% in 2018, making it much stronger.
• But, if the tolerance break leads to withdrawal symptoms like anger, depression, insomnia, nervousness, and restlessness, it’s a sign you have become dependent.
• About half the sample had used cannabis daily, while 80 percent used it once a week in the previous year.
• Also, using any one substance (alcohol, nicotine, marijuana) significantly increases the likelihood of using the other two.
• The final sample consisted of 634 individuals (18 years; 58 percent women; 68 percent White, 17 percent Asian, and 6 percent Hispanic).

The Marijuana Addiction Quiz is a valuable tool designed to help individuals assess their relationship with marijuana. The “Am I addicted to weed quiz” is designed to make you think about your relationship with marijuana and whether you need to watch out for any signs of dependency. Animal studies show that a daily dose of THC downregulates CB1 receptors 20-60% in different areas of the brain. People who use cannabis regularly have 20% fewer receptors in their brain’s cortex. A month of total abstinence is required to upregulate to normal levels.

• If you talk to someone who uses weed often, they’ll probably have opinions about the strains they like the most.
• Marijuana addiction is more prevalent than many people realize.
• The goal is to slowly allow a person’s body to become used to lower levels of the substance while minimizing drug withdrawal symptoms.
• A renowned neuroscientist explains the unique challenges of quitting marijuana for good.
• They may encourage completely stopping cannabis use if someone has CUD.
• Many people can use marijuana safely without becoming addicted or abusing it.

Treatment and remedies for cannabis addiction

The point is that some teenage marijuana users do drive under the influence. A 2017 study found that nearly half of adolescent drivers had driven a vehicle after using marijuana, and 1 in 8 (12.5%) reported driving under the influence of marijuana in the past month. Like environmental factors, the strain of pot you smoke can have a major impact on anxiety levels, too. When humans consume weed, it stimulates their endocannabinoid system (ECS), which plays a key role in regulating our response to reward, stress and emotions. “What the ECS does is it optimizes our brain between excitation and inhibition,” says Dr. Baler. The problem is it can become the psychological focus of your day.