Marijuana use disorder occurs when a person continues to use marijuana despite it causing health and social problems in everyday life. Marijuana is one of the most used drugs that people become addicted to, and the risk for addiction increases in people who start using marijuana at a younger age. THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the compound in marijuana that is responsible for the addicting component.
Marijuana use has also been shown to affect the part of the brain that is associated with memory, learning, decision-making, and emotions. Continued use and higher concentrations of marijuana can impair decision-making and have greater negative impacts on brain health. Addiction to marijuana use is treatable with behavioural therapy, but currently, there are no approved medication treatments for it.
Often psychiatric disorders are also present as a comorbidity with marijuana use. In this case, medications may be used to treat the psychiatric disorder, and behavioural therapy implemented for the marijuana use disorder. It is important to check with a health care professional as they may be able to help you treat and manage marijuana use disorder, as well as give you resources such as how to find support groups.
There is no medication treatment specifically for marijuana use disorder, but medication research is ongoing. There are behavioural therapy treatment options available. If there are comorbidities along with marijuana use disorder, your healthcare provider may recommend certain medications for those, while behavioural therapies that have shown promise may be recommended for the marijuana use disorder.
Cognitive-behavioural, motivational enhancement and contingency management are several of the most common therapies for marijuana use disorder.
Depending on the person, one or more of these forms of behavioural therapy may be beneficial in helping to overcome marijuana use disorder. As with all types of treatments, it is important to consider the recommendations of your healthcare provider and report any concerns that you may have.
Marijuana use disorder is a substance abuse disorder that can worsen over time and become increasingly more difficult to overcome. Recognizing and taking responsibility for seeking treatment early on can help minimize both the dependency and the difficulty of overcoming an addiction. It can be difficult to manage and overcome, but it is possible.
Counselling, behavioural therapy, and accountability are tools that may be beneficial in helping to manage this disorder. Finding a support group and talking about your disorder with others who face similar issues may also help. Recognizing and implementing these steps, along with advice from a trusted healthcare professional, can help you in your pursuit of overcoming marijuana use disorder.