Yes, marijuana can be addictive but it’s not like other addictive drugs Here’s why

If someone uses a drug often enough, the brain will become accustomed to it. Volkow explained that the patterns of activity in the brain shift from the drug activating reward centers to activating other, nearby regions related to the formation of habits. “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.

Plus, pediatricians and others have long said that marijuana can impair brain functions in people under the age of 25. A 2017 study reported that adult cancer patients are using marijuana to ease nausea and other symptoms. The use disorder, according to researchers, can morph into an addiction when the marijuana addiction person can’t stop using the drug even when it interferes with their daily activities. Research also supports the finding that ceasing use of cannabis can result in what is defined in the DSM-5 ( (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – Fifth Edition) cannabis withdrawal syndrome.

Yes, marijuana can be addictive — but it’s not like other addictive drugs. Here’s why

Alexandra oversees all operations with The Freedom Center to ensure clients are given the best chance at success. She works with The Freedom Center team to develop and implement policies, procedures and oversees Intakes and Transportation. Alexandra works with Admissions and Clinical Departments for scheduling client admissions, transfers, discharges and outside appointments while maintaining positive relationships with all clients. Her primary focus is to provide all clients with a safe, structured environment while coordinating their care. Alexandra understands addiction from both familial and personal standpoints, as she is active in her own recovery.

• Addiction to marijuana is most commonly diagnosed during adolescence or young adulthood.
• The clinical staff are knowledgeable and provide consistent quality treatment.
• In the aforementioned Lancet study, the study’s authors found a connection between potency and dependency.
• Receive weekly insights to help you and your loved ones on your road to recovery.

Contrary to common belief, marijuana is an addictive substance. Research suggests that approximately nine percent of users develop addiction. The estimated incidence of addiction increases among those who start using at a young age and among people who use the drug daily (an estimated percent become addicted). But you may get better if you try psychotherapy, or talk therapy. That includes cognitive behavioral therapy , motivational enhancement therapy , and contingency management . These can help you change thoughts and behaviors that make it hard to quit.

About Marijuana

Many who seek treatment for marijuana do so due to pressure from family, friends, schools, employers, or the criminal justice system. If you’re dependent on cannabis, you could go through withdrawal for weeks or relapse after you quit. That’s why experts are studying how medicine can ease withdrawal symptoms like bad mood, anxiety, restlessness, and sleep https://ecosoberhouse.com/ issues. They’re looking at antidepressants, cannabinoid agonists, mood stabilizers, and insomnia medication, but there are no FDA-approved meds for CUD. Some of these may treat mental health problems that worsen CUD. It’s less addictive than alcohol, less addictive than opioids, but just because it’s less addictive doesn’t mean that it’s not addictive.

• 1-in-6 people who start using the drug before the age of 18 can become addicted.
• Harnessing science, love and the wisdom of lived experience, we are a force of healing and hope ​​​​​​​for individuals, families and communities affected by substance use and mental health conditions.
• As the Medical Director, Mark works with the staff to coordinate the appropriate level of care for each individual client.
• We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles.
• As with other types of drug addiction, there are behavioral and physical signs that can signal marijuana addiction .
• To the marijuana industry’s credit, legalization in US states does not appear to have led to a jump in youth cannabis use.

The results of a marijuana addiction in an adolescent can be severe and cause ongoing issues for the individual. Mental Health for Young Adults Learn about our evidence-based approach to depression and behavioral health conditions. Mental Health For Teens Learn about our evidence-based approach to depression and behavioral health conditions. THC impacts the sympathetic nervous system, increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and the body’s need for oxygen. Almost half a million people are admitted to emergency rooms in the U.S. each year because of this side effect. By the same logic, alcohol shouldn’t be commercially available either, but it is in much of the world.

Marijuana Addiction Treatment

How much do you really want to know about the risks of marijuana? Some adverse health effects caused by marijuana may occur because THC impairs the immune system’s ability to fight off infectious diseases and cancer. Even recreational use of marijuana can cause burning and stinging of the mouth and throat, often accompanied by a heavy cough. Someone who smokes marijuana regularly may have many of the same respiratory problems that tobacco smokers do, such as daily cough and phlegm production. 4) Giving up social, occupational, or recreational activities because of the use of marijuana.

But it’s possible to get hooked on marijuana, also known as cannabis. Studies show about 1 in 10 adults who use marijuana can get addicted. A typical brownie has 100 milligrams of THC, but a typical serving size is 10 milligrams. I don’t know about you, but when I’m eating a brownie, I eat the whole brownie. So, it’s the idea that if you’re going to use an edible and you’re buying a brownie then you’re going to consume a tenth of it, or if you eat cannabis, it’s going to take longer than if you were to smoke it. Some people will take a bite of an edible and nothing happens, so they take another bite.

If you or a loved one are struggling with marijuana dependency, there is help. Please contact the drug abuse counselors andtherapists at Windward Wayto explore your treatment options. Marijuana is one of the most popular drugs used in the U.S., with more than 94 million people admitting to using the drug at least once in their lifetime. At the time of arrest, up to 40% of all male arrestees test positive for the drug. After alcohol,marijuanais the most frequently found drug in the bodies of drivers involved in fatal car crashes. Despite how glamorized marijuana is in pop culture and the therapeutic qualities it may have, no substance, including marijuana, is 100% safe.

• It was his entire social life in seventh and eighth grades, when social life is everything.
• Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States, typically smoked as a hand-rolled cigarette or in a pipe or water pipe .
• That’s why experts are studying how medicine can ease withdrawal symptoms like bad mood, anxiety, restlessness, and sleep issues.