Marijuana has THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol as the primary psychoactive ingredient. It triggers receptors in your brain called endocannabinoid receptors. When you use addictive drugs like marijuana a lot, you can change circuits in your brain.
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The CDC states that you have a 10% risk of a cannabis use disorder if you use marijuana. Recent research suggests that if you start to use marijuana at a young age, use it frequently, and for a long period, you could be at risk of having schizophrenia or other mental conditions that involve psychosis. This risk could be higher in young men or people assigned male at birth, especially between 16 and 25 years of age. Using marijuana may raise your chances of clinical depression or worsen the symptoms of a mental health condition that you already have. Regular marijuana use for many years can put you at risk for this condition.
People who use cannabis should be aware that there is a risk of addiction, especially as THC levels grow stronger. People can speak with a healthcare professional for support with their substance use. Addiction is a is marijuana addictive medical condition, not a personal or moral failing.
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It will become part of your medical record, but that’s private information. Talk to your doctor if you have questions about how to stop using marijuana or your symptoms. Studies also note that if you’re at risk of a mental condition, you may be more likely to smoke marijuana at an earlier age, maybe as a way to medicate yourself.
Signs of cannabis use disorder
Treatment methods include psychotherapy (talk therapy) and medications. More specifically, motivational interviewing, contingency management, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may be used. Medications to control cravings may be used alongside nonmedicinal interventions.
Why Is Marijuana Addictive?
This article will use “cannabis” to refer to products from Cannabis sativa and indica plants. Research does suggest cannabis has the potential for addiction, especially when a person uses it frequently or starts using it during childhood or adolescence. “While all drugs are different, all substance use disorders must meet the same criteria in order to be diagnosed and classified as such,” Sternlicht says. Symptoms of cannabis addiction can be similar to symptoms of other drug addictions, like alcohol or cigarettes.
If your doctor is aware of your use, they’ll be able to take the steps to make sure you stay sedated, or “asleep,” for the entire surgery. If you use marijuana at least once a week, you might need more anesthesia. It’s important that your doctor knows about cannabis and any other drug you use.
- People may use the terms “cannabis,” “weed,” and “marijuana” interchangeably, but the latter term has racist connotations.
- The risk is greatest in people who use marijuana before the age of 18 or use it heavily.
- Cannabis use disorder involves continued use of the substance even though the person experiences negative health or life effects from it.
- Yet just as people have since cast aside the notion that marijuana use inevitably culminates in the destruction of the mind, so have they also begun to question the concept that it is benign.
- Nearly 90 percent of people who use medicinal marijuana claim that it helps them to manage their disease and symptoms, and many find that they are able to decrease their use of other medications.
The most notable compound in the cannabis plant is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. Unfortunately, relapse rates remain high for all addiction psychotherapies. In a study published in 2003 psychologist Brent A. Moore, now at Yale University, and his colleagues found that 41 percent of successfully treated marijuana addicts had relapsed within six months. Scientists are searching for ways to bring about long-term abstinence more consistently. Experiencing 2 or 3 symptoms within 12 months of using marijuana that results in impairment or distress is diagnosed as mild Cannabis Use Disorder.
- It has intoxicating effects, meaning it can temporarily alter a person’s mood, thoughts, and perceptions.
- If this happens to you, talk to your doctor about how to treat these symptoms.
- Some people may find that being in a calm, non-stimulating environment helps their recovery.
- If you do smoke, don’t hold it in your lungs for more than a second.
- On the other hand, marijuana has significant upsides for individuals with certain illnesses.
In particular, some evidence suggests that marijuana can, in some cases, be addictive and that it may present other health problems as well, particularly in heavy users. That said, most people suffer no ill effects from a single or occasional use of the drug. While there’s been debate over whether the use of marijuana can cause physical addiction or physical dependence, it’s been known to be psychologically addictive.