Why High-Potency Marijuana Is More Likely to Lead to Addiction and Psychosis

CBT helps people identify why they use, develop relapse prevention and coping skills, and come up with more effective behaviors. However, there may be other reasons for these findings and more research is necessary. There are studies of children whose mothers used marijuana when pregnant with them. These children were found to have decreased verbal reasoning skills and more hyperactivity, impulsivity, and decreased attention. Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug during pregnancy. Sign up for InsideHook to get our best content delivered to your inbox every weekday.

How Marijuana Use Affects the Brain and Body

Now is the time to reach out and get the help you need to overcome this problem. There are no medications that are approved, FDA-approved for the treatment of cannabis use disorder. So, motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral therapy with return to use prevention are gold standards of treating substance use disorders, including cannabis. Now, not every physician or clinician can go through all of the elements of CBT or cognitive behavioral therapy, but we can certainly help with motivational interviewing. Let’s dive into the nitty-gritty of how cannabis affects our brains. When you smoke or ingest weed, THC binds to cannabinoid receptors in your brain, triggering a release of dopamine – the feel-good neurotransmitter.

Marijuana Abuse and Addiction: Know the Signs

Compared to other substances, cannabis addiction might seem less severe. It’s true that it doesn’t carry the same physical withdrawal symptoms as, say, heroin or alcohol. But don’t be fooled – THC vs nicotine addiction is a comparison worth exploring, as both substances can lead to significant dependence and withdrawal symptoms. Behavioral therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or motivational enhancement therapy, are often included in treatment plans for cannabis is marijuana addictive use disorder. They’re highly effective at increasing self-control, identifying problematic behavioral patterns and relapse triggers, and developing strategies to overcome marijuana misuse.

Cannabis abstinence for month aids memory, study says

• Weed addiction, also known as cannabis use disorder, is a condition characterized by an inability to control or stop cannabis use despite negative consequences.
• “I’ve always found quitting marijuana to be easy when I needed to because of travel reasons or personal reasons, or professional, or what have you,” he told Healthline.

The brain may become resistant to the effects of the drug in an effort to protect itself, so that next time the person uses the drug, it doesn’t have as strong an effect. In order to feel the same high, the person has to take larger and larger doses. There are also the studies that indicate legalizing marijuana can reduce the misuse of opioids, alcohol, and other substances. Mental health conditions, which have both genetic and environmental causes play a large one in a person’s chance of developing an addiction. Many people can use marijuana safely without becoming addicted or abusing it.

• “A part of the process for some people is to rationalize continued use despite having adverse consequences,” said Galloway.
• Most early research into marijuana addiction suggested that marijuana use rarely produced tolerance and withdrawal.
• There’s even a Marijuana Anonymous for those who need a support system to stay weed-free.
• So, motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral therapy with return to use prevention are gold standards of treating substance use disorders, including cannabis.
• Compared to other substances, cannabis addiction might seem less severe.
• So, a drug can cause dependence but not abuse, as is the case for some people prescribed opiate pain medication.
• In some people, tolerance can eventually lead to physical dependence and/or addiction.

Marijuana Legalization

However, there are long-term side effects of marijuana to consider. There are no FDA-approved medications to treat marijuana use disorder specifically, but medications can help address accompanying issues like insomnia or co-occurring mental health disorders like depression or anxiety. Marijuana use disorder is a growing problem, but fortunately, addiction treatment can be effective in addressing marijuana addiction. Like other drug abuse treatments, the treatment programs for marijuana use disorder are tailored to the individual and their unique use patterns, history, and possible co-occurring disorders.

• The upregulation of glutamate signaling during the anticipation/preoccupation phase may be counteracted with NAC treatment, reducing clinical symptoms of craving and therefore reducing relapse rates.
• It is usually marked by a change in behavior, where the person becomes consistently focused on using that substance regardless of potential negative outcomes.
• However, daily, long-term use of marijuana can lead to addiction and many other harmful effects.
• Immediately after the drug enters the brain, the effects begin and can last from one to three hours.

Knowing what these are can help you approach your loved one in a caring way. If you recently used or regularly use marijuana, your stomach may take longer to empty. That puts you at risk of your stomach contents coming back up and being sucked into your lungs. If you vape or smoke weed, THC could get into your bloodstream quickly enough for you to get your high in seconds or minutes.

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. One marijuana user, Conrad, age 47, of San Francisco, said that when he can’t smoke, he drinks more. On the other hand, there are studies that have issued warnings on marijuana and heart health as well as using marijuana for morning sickness. In recent years, there have been a number of studies that have highlighted the use marijuana in treating certain medical conditions. But family ties may also help some people avoid progressing to a state of addiction.