However, more research is necessary to accurately estimate cannabis addiction levels among current users. A 2023 study of cannabis use in young adults in South Florida also found varying knowledge about this substance among participants. Researchers suggest that most people’s knowledge comes from personal experience and anecdotal evidence. This includes people coping with panic disorder, with symptoms of ADHD, social anxiety disorder, and low self-esteem.
Theoretical Model of Addiction
This means that when the drug wears off, the person’s heart could start to race, they could become irritable or depressed, or experience any number of other reactions called withdrawal. If someone uses a drug often enough, the brain will become accustomed to it. Genes are one strong predictor of developing an addiction, said Dr. Alex Stalcup, medical director of the New Leaf Treatment Center in Lafayette, California. Millions is marijuana addictive of Americans can pick up, and put down, marijuana relatively easily.
Marijuana and Broader Substance Abuse
- Another concern with modern marijuana is that it’s far more potent than in past decades.
- Marijuana, also known as cannabis, is a psychoactive drug derived from the Cannabis plant.
- These studies reinforce the role of glutamate upregulation during cannabis abstinence on clinical outcomes such as craving and relapse.
- Her work with these organizations exemplifies her exceptional expertise and unwavering commitment to providing accurate and reliable information to those seeking assistance.
However, unlike other substance use disorders, there are currently no FDA-approved medications specifically for the treatment of marijuana addiction. This poses a challenge for healthcare providers seeking pharmacological interventions to aid recovery. While THC is present in all parts of the plant, it is particularly concentrated in the resin of the flowering tops of the female plant. THC is responsible for the drug’s psychoactive properties, affecting the brain to produce a “high” sensation. Marijuana’s effects include physical symptoms like reddening of the eyes, dry mouth, increased heart rate, and, in some cases, impaired motor skills and drowsiness. A significant number of people consume it for both recreational and medicinal purposes.
Differences in Addiction Severity and Withdrawal #
In the retrospective study, researchers found that cannabis users younger than age 50 were over six times as likely to suffer a heart attack compared to non-users. The meta-analysis, which is the largest pooled study to date examining heart attacks and cannabis use, showed a 50% increased risk among those who used the drug. 1 Studies have demonstrated tolerance to cannabis, most likely secondary to physiologic changes in the function of cannabinoid receptors.
Mental Health Effects #
Guided meditation exercises can help redirect attention to emotional triggers and cravings and gaining more clarity about use without judgment. Doctors will not typically prescribe anything to relieve cannabis intoxication. They may encourage completely stopping cannabis use if someone has CUD. People can speak with a doctor for more advice and information if they experience any of the above criteria. John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE is board-certified in addiction medicine and preventative medicine. For over 20 years Dr. Umhau was a senior clinical investigator at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
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.
Understanding Marijuana’s Influence on Brain Dopamine Levels
Finally, one of the most consistent neuroimaging findings in addiction is that of dysregulation of frontal cortical regions involved with executive function including the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, the ACC and the inferior frontal cortex. Behavioral therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or motivational enhancement therapy, are often included in treatment plans for cannabis use disorder. They’re highly effective at increasing self-control, identifying problematic behavioral patterns and relapse triggers, and developing strategies to overcome marijuana misuse. When cannabis is used therapeutically, it would not be uncommon to change dosages, especially during the initial treatment period. And if the treatment is effective, it would be anticipated that cessation of the drug would result in withdrawal symptoms. But the mere presence of these symptoms, irrespective of the reason, is sufficient to diagnose cannabis use disorder, at least as the DSM criteria are now written.