Some people will develop Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD), which is the clinical name for marijuana addiction. The use of marijuana before the age of 18 is especially worrisome as teens are 4 to 7 times more likely to develop CUD than adults. It’s the primary reason young people enter substance use treatment. Additionally, research indicates that almost 30% of people who use marijuana may have a mild, moderate or severe form of CUD.
What we know and don’t know about pot
There’s evidence that it was used in Central Asia and Western China to treat health issues such as arthritis, asthma, pain, and depression. Right now, medical marijuana is legal in 39 states, while recreational cannabis is legal in 24 states and Washington, D.C. Whether you use weed recreationally or medically, it can affect how your anesthesia works.
Treatment & Support You Can Trust
People who use marijuana frequently can experience psychological dependence and mental side effects that make it challenging to quit. Marijuana use disorder is a growing problem, but fortunately, addiction treatment can be effective in addressing marijuana addiction. Like other drug abuse treatments, the treatment programs for marijuana use disorder are tailored to the individual and their unique use patterns, history, and possible co-occurring disorders. Though these symptoms can be unpleasant, they’re not usually life-threatening like the withdrawal symptoms from alcohol or opioids.
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Typically, people harvest the buds of the marijuana plant, dry them, and consume them by smoking, vaporizing, or incorporating them into edible products. The resinous trichomes (small, hair-like structures) found on the flowers and leaves contain cannabinoids, which are the active compounds responsible for the psychoactive and medicinal effects of marijuana. Additionally, the cannabinoids in the plant interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system, influencing various physiological processes in the body.
- People are up to seven times as likely to experience marijuana use disorder when they start using before the age of 18.
- Marijuana is a part of the cannabis plant or product that contains tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which can make you feel high.
- Are there studies comparing THC content of 1970 pot with 2010 pot?
- Substance dependence, also called chemical dependence, is when a person experiences physical dependence on a substance but is not addicted to it.
- This study will provide critical insights into risk and resilience factors for cannabis and other substance use to inform future prevention interventions.
They also try to modify the thoughts that contribute to a person’s addiction. Two faster treatments are motivational interviewing and the closely related motivational-enhancement therapy. The goal of these methods is to boost a person’s drive to stop or reduce their use of pot. Treatment for CUD and addiction is similar to treatment for other substance use disorders. The right strategy depends on the person’s lifestyle and the severity of CUD. Many addictive substances affect how the brain responds to dopamine.
Having 4 or 5 symptoms is diagnosed as moderate CUD while 6 or more is diagnosed as severe CUD. Healthcare professionals will recommend the kind of care that is needed depending on the severity of the disorder. Short-term use of these substances may heighten dopamine activation, increasing feelings of happiness and pleasure. Cannabis use may alter brain processes, although researchers are continuing to investigate its exact effects. THC is primarily responsible for cannabis’s addictive properties. CUD is a type of substance use disorder that may occur when someone frequently uses cannabis.
This is ideal for people struggling to quit independently and benefit from an intensive program’s accountability and structure. If you answered “yes” to several of these questions, you may have cannabis use disorder. Another concern with modern marijuana is that it’s far more potent than in past decades. Based on testing of confiscated samples, marijuana potency has been steadily increasing over the past few decades. Marijuana addiction can be challenging both for the person experiencing the addiction and for those around them.
In addition, it has been found that marijuana dependence may affect your ability to respond to the neurotransmitter dopamine, which allows us to feel pleasure. In one study, those who had marijuana dependence had fewer positive emotions, higher stress levels, and increased irritability. The increased potency of modern marijuana strains means that there is a greater risk for tolerance, dependence, addiction, and withdrawal. Two of the most common signs of cannabis use disorder are physical dependence and withdrawal.
Marijuana has withdrawal symptoms, although they are generally less severe than those of heroin or alcohol, but you can still benefit from a medical detox. The purpose of detox is to manage withdrawal symptoms to keep you safe and comfortable while your body clears itself of marijuana. You’re more likely to get CUD if you misuse other drugs, like alcohol. Your chances also go up if you use marijuana a lot and by yourself.
If someone uses a drug often enough, the brain is marijuana addictive will become accustomed to it. “The most common genetic legacy relating to addiction is inherited boredom,” explained Stalcup. What they have scientifically is a pleasure system that’s about 20 percent below normal. THC also affects the brain’s reward system and the release of the “pleasure hormone” dopamine.