Marijuana Dependence: Not Just Smoke and Mirrors

These studies reinforce the role of glutamate upregulation during cannabis abstinence on clinical outcomes such as craving and relapse. Individuals who use marijuana daily are more likely to develop a psychological dependence due to changes in brain chemistry, particularly in the endocannabinoid system. Research published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence indicates that individuals with CUD experience withdrawal symptoms, cravings, and continued use despite negative consequences. The risk of addiction is significantly higher in individuals who start using marijuana at a young age or use high-THC strains. The effects of marijuana include both short-term and long-term consequences. Users experience euphoria, altered perception, impaired memory, and coordination issues.

What Is Marijuana?

Stress causes the release of hormones like cortisol and adrenaline to prepare the body for fight or flight. Self-regulation refers to our ability to wield control over our choices, impulses, feelings, thoughts and behaviors. When we become addicted to cannabis, the desire to consume the plant may sway our choices and actions in ways that are sometimes harmful. A chemical addiction is when an individual’s use of a substance disrupts their daily life, detrimentally affects their relationships, and hinders their ability to work.

What are the Effects of Marijuana?

It triggers receptors in your brain called endocannabinoid receptors. When you use addictive drugs like marijuana a lot, you can change circuits in your brain. You might make less endocannabinoid, which your body produces on its own.

Psychological Withdrawal Symptoms

Despite the risks, studies of medicinal marijuana use have shown effectiveness. Nearly 90 percent of people who use medicinal marijuana claim that it helps them Drug rehabilitation to manage their disease and symptoms, and many find that they are able to decrease their use of other medications. Substance dependence, also called chemical dependence, is when a person experiences physical dependence on a substance but is not addicted to it. One example is when a person who has taken a prescription medication for a long time stops taking that medication and experiences physical or mental withdrawal symptoms. People develop cannabis dependence for different reasons, so it’s important to address any underlying issues. For instance, those who use marijuana to cope with anxiety, depression, or sleep disorders can find more appropriate treatment types—including lifestyle changes, therapy, and medication—to help relieve their symptoms.

First, as The New York Times warned on the front page in 1971, there was a “G.I. heroin addiction epidemic” in Vietnam. The drug’s use was also on the rise in places like New York, where, in the following year, at least 95% of those admitted to drug addiction treatment reported using it. The past forty-five years of drug use in America does not match this relatively tidy narrative—in reality, there’s a beginning and middle, with no end on the horizon. A 2015 review that weighed up more than two decades of research found that individuals who use cannabis are less likely to develop a dependency than users of almost any other substance, including nicotine, heroin, cocaine, alcohol or stimulants.

• In the new study, researchers examined data from the Human Connectome Project, which explores how age, growth, disease, and other factors affect the connections in the human brain.
• The NIDA reports that the higher potency of marijuana available today—specifically in regard to its THC levels—may be a factor in the rising number of people who develop a problem.
• We discuss several clinical studies showing that oral THC reduces cannabis withdrawal responses in cannabis-dependent patients.
• In addition to its role in HPA axis dysfunction and reward processing, the hyperactivation of the eCS may also play a role in the executive dysfunction sometimes observed in cannabis use.
• However, when we rely on substances to provide us with this feel-good high, our internal reward system can become dysregulated and dysfunctional, leading to addiction.

Attenuation of Cannabis Withdrawal Symptoms in Humans

Individuals must show at least 2 symptoms over a 12-month period to receive the diagnosis of a Cannabis Use Disorder. More information on Cannabis Use Disorder can be found in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition. If you have questions about Cannabis Use Disorder, please discuss with your healthcare professional. Treatments are available that can help people overcome marijuana addiction. Such treatments primarily focus on psychotherapy, but researchers are also exploring medications that might someday be helpful. This includes people coping with panic disorder, with symptoms of ADHD, social anxiety disorder, and low self-esteem.

• A study of daily cannabis smokers found that the density of CB1 receptors returned to normal levels in almost all parts of the brain after four weeks of abstinence.
• Inpatient treatment involves a hospital or residential setting that offers 24/7 care and supervision while the patient undergoes treatment plans.
• There are various reasons that a person might become dependent on marijuana.
• Conventional enforcement and seizure methods have done little to contain the spread.
• Some are even dependent on the drug, using it daily and going through withdrawal if they try to quit, but they still remain functional.
• Ten percent of people who start smoking weed become addicted5; 30% of those who smoke it regularly meet addiction criteria.

In 2020, New Jersey voters approved the legalization of recreational marijuana through a ballot measure changing marijuana laws and leading to the enactment of the Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act. Adults 21 and older legally possess and purchase marijuana from licensed dispensaries. However, certain restrictions apply, including limits on possession and public consumption. The study suggests that these cognitive effects can persist for several weeks, even after someone has stopped using cannabis. If you use cannabis, consider how it might impact your cognitive performance, especially in demanding situations like work or driving.

Marijuana Can Be Addictive: Who Gets Hooked and Why

Marijuana is a psychoactive drug that contains close to 500 chemicals, including THC, a mind-altering compound that causes harmful health effects. Support and treatment are available if someone develops cannabis use disorder or wants to stop using cannabis. A 2018 review suggests that cannabis may have less effect on dopamine than alcohol and opioids and highlights the need for further research. Similarly, another 2018 review suggests that cannabis does affect dopamine but to a lesser extent than other drugs.

• While it is possible to try and use the substance without becoming addicted, that is not the case for everyone.
• In contrast, large datasets are used in retrospective studies in which subjects are asked to recall their own attempts to abstain from marijuana use, providing insight into real-world conditions.
• The purpose of detox is to manage withdrawal symptoms to keep you safe and comfortable while your body clears itself of marijuana.
• Addiction is a recurring cycle that worsens over time and involves neuroplastic changes in the brain reward, stress, and executive function systems (Koob and Volkow 2016).
• Nonetheless, these studies provide proof of principle that bolstering endogenous anandamide or 2-AG through the inhibition of their respective catabolic enzymes may be viable approaches to reduce cannabis withdrawal symptoms.
• Researchers examined data on over 1,000 former or current cannabis users — roughly half males and half females ages 22 to 36 years — who underwent functional MRI brain scans while completing seven kinds of cognitive tests.

Who Gets CUD?

Yes, you can overdose on marijuana, but it is extremely rare and not fatal. Unlike substances like opioids or alcohol, marijuana has a relatively high safety margin, and it is unlikely to result in a fatal overdose. The main reason for overdose symptoms is consuming large amounts of THC, which overwhelm the body’s receptors.

Precipitated Withdrawal with Other Cannabinoid Agonists

Marijuana, also known as cannabis, is a psychoactive drug derived from the Cannabis plant. Marijuana is smoked, vaporized, or consumed in edibles, depending on the preference of the user. The study, published in JAMA Network Open, analyzed data from 1,003 adults aged 22 does weed have addictive properties to 36.