Cannabis Addiction Is It Really a Gateway Drug?

There’s no shame in admitting you need support – in fact, it’s one of the bravest things you can do. Support groups and 12-step programs can be lifelines for many people struggling with addiction. There’s something powerful about sitting in a room (or these days, a Zoom call) with others who truly understand what you’re going through.

Key Reasons Why People Smoke Marijuana

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 investigation of marijuana use among those entering college used data from an online survey. The final sample consisted of 634 individuals (18 years; 58 percent women; 68 percent White, 17 percent Asian, and 6 percent Hispanic). Marijuana addiction can be challenging both for the person experiencing the addiction and for those around them. Marijuana use disorder, addiction, and dependence are treatable. Today, marijuana is cultivated and consumed in many parts of the world.

How to Avoid CUD

“A person is not dependent on a drug unless they experience some kind of negative outcome upon stopping their use,” said Reiman. 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.

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But so far, it’s clear that you should avoid all forms of it, including CBD products, if you’re pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or nursing. The main psychoactive ingredient in weed, THC, travels into your bloodstream to your brain. Once there, it connects to tiny receptors on your nerve cells called cannabinoid receptors. You can think of these receptors like bouncers is marijuana addictive at a club, monitoring what goes in and out of your cells.

Some people are also more prone to becoming addicted than others. It’s estimated that 1 in 3 who use cannabis will develop a problem with their use. It’s also estimated that 1 in 11 (9%) of those who use cannabis will develop an addiction to it. This statistic rises to about 1 in 6 (17%) for people who started using cannabis as a teenager. If a person smokes cannabis daily, the risk of addiction is 25% to 50%. This manual began by addressing the myth that the first time someone uses they don’t usually experience the negative things that they have been told as a youth.

Such treatments primarily focus on psychotherapy, but researchers are also exploring medications that might someday be helpful. Studies suggest that THC is the substance that creates the potential for marijuana addiction because of its psychoactive properties. Two of these components, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), have effects that are commonly known to people who use marijuana. THC is known as the substance that makes a person feel a “high,” while CBD often promotes a feeling of relaxation.

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The use of marijuana has also been found to be connected with lower IQ scores, compromised memory and cognitive ability, and decreased performance on tests. The negative effects of use appear to be more of an issue for those who use more often and over a longer period of time. However, research is limited and the details of the negative effects on the brain are not fully understood. Typically, people harvest the buds of the marijuana plant, dry them, and consume them by smoking, vaporizing, or incorporating them into edible products.

Cannabis Health Effects

When it comes to addiction potential, cannabis might not be in the same league as heroin or cocaine, but it’s certainly not benign. It’s more like the minor leagues of addiction – still serious, still capable of causing harm, but perhaps with a better chance of recovery. One common argument is that you can’t get addicted to something natural.

• It might be as high as 1 in 2 among those who use it every day.
• There is also, I mentioned how cannabis is increasing in commercialization.
• Although anyone who uses marijuana has the potential to abuse it, there are risk factors that can make marijuana abuse more likely.
• If you’re struggling with cannabis use, don’t be afraid to reach out for help.
• Norton said many organizations “concur that marijuana is addictive — specifically, THC.”
• The natural vs. synthetic debate is a red herring when it comes to addiction potential.

Medical School’s Kevin Hill talks about fearmongering and rosy myths, safe use and addiction

You could also try to set limits such as only using marijuana  on certain days of the week, like the weekends. If you have trouble sticking to self imposed limits, it may indicate a problem. Meditation or other stress relieving activities may also help you use less.

Family members and friends often feel frustration when they fail to get through to a loved one who clearly has a problem with drugs or alcohol. While it is evident to these others that substance abuse is having negative consequences, the addicted person may be unable to see the truth. It is the affected individual’s brain’s way of protecting them from an unpleasant reality. Learn about potential for cannabis addiction, withdrawal symptoms and overdose.