Marijuana use disorder, sometimes referred to as cannabis use disorder, is when you continue smoking or consuming marijuana despite knowing that it’s having negative effects on your body. In small quantities and with occasional use, many people believe that marijuana has medicinal value. However, if you repeatedly use marijuana to the point when it’s bad for you and continue to use it thereafter, you may have marijuana use disorder.
In the past, it was thought that you could not get addicted to marijuana because it doesn’t have an addictive element. However, thanks to recent research, that thought is quickly going by the wayside. Conservative estimates believe that roughly 10% of all marijuana users have marijuana use disorder, but that number is likely higher.
As with all addictions, it can be tough to tell when someone has a marijuana use disorder. In most cases, they themselves won’t think that they are addicted, even though they are. Here are some of the ways to tell if someone has a marijuana use disorder.
The signs and symptoms of marijuana use disorder are very similar to those of other addictions. The defining feature of the disorder, however, is that you can’t easily stop using marijuana even though you want to. Another defining factor is that you continue to use marijuana even though you see that it’s hurting you or those around you.
The big reason that people believed that marijuana is not addictive is because it does not have an addictive trait. However, this is incorrect because the THC in marijuana attaches to cannabinoid receptors in the brain. When this happens, the body releases excess amounts of dopamine, which give you a “high” feeling. As you continue to use marijuana, you start to crave the feeling that it gives you and continue to go back for more.
Eventually, you’ll get addicted to the feeling that marijuana gives you and have difficulty stopping the habit. While this can happen to anyone who uses marijuana, here are additional risk factors that could lead to marijuana use disorder.
It can be difficult to tell the difference between someone who has marijuana use disorder and someone who uses it on occasion. There also aren’t any specific tests that your doctor can perform to confirm a diagnosis. Instead, your doctor will examine your symptoms and perform a health history examination. They will also ask your friends and family how often you use cannabis.
Your doctor may also take a blood or urine sample to see if there’s currently marijuana in your system. If you have cannabis in your system and have several of the symptoms mentioned above, there’s a good chance you have marijuana use disorder.
The key to recovering from marijuana use disorder is to first admit that you have a problem and need to stop using cannabis. From there, treatment and recovery will involve several different things.
Medications to ease withdrawal symptoms and wean you off of marijuana.
Counselling so that you can talk through your problems and feelings.
Therapy to help you overcome your psychological need for marijuana.
Using these treatments, most people can recover from marijuana use disorder. However, recovery is a lifelong process, and you may require ongoing treatments.