Your chances also go up if you use marijuana a lot and by yourself. Mental health issues, like an anxiety or a mood disorder, can raise your chances, too. Addiction is more common in drugs like alcohol or cocaine.

Medication

• Important social, occupational, or recreational activities are given up or reduced because of substance use.
• To learn more about all AAA offers or become a member, visit AAA.com.
• But complete abstinence is sometimes not achievable, even in the long-term, and there is a need for new treatment approaches that recognize the clinical value of reduced use.
• Like other substance use disorders, cannabis use disorder and addiction can lead to withdrawal symptoms, dependence, social challenges, legal issues, and more.
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Marijuana has THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol as the primary psychoactive ingredient. 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. Over time, you become less sensitive to the chemicals in marijuana. You might make less endocannabinoid, which your body produces on its own.

• Do you get unwanted symptoms when you stop, like anxiety, crankiness, or trouble sleeping?
• “Cannabis addiction is far more dependent on patterns of use and psychological factors than sheer quantity alone,” Caplan says.
• If you’re an adult, you’re allowed to buy it from a licensed source.

Cannabis use disorder (CUD)

• You might have this condition if smoking marijuana causes physical, emotional, or social problems.
• Most scientists believe marijuana originated in Central Asia, specifically in present-day Mongolia and Siberia.
• CUD is a type of substance use disorder that may occur when someone frequently uses cannabis.
• When cannabis is used therapeutically, it would not be uncommon to change dosages, especially during the initial treatment period.

Substance use is continued despite knowledge of having a persistent or recurrent physical or psychological problem that is likely to have been caused or exacerbated by the substance. Recurrent substance use in situations in which it is physically hazardous. Important social, occupational, or recreational activities are given up or reduced because of substance use. Historical evidence suggests that ancient civilizations such as the Chinese, Indians, Persians, and Egyptians recognized the plant’s medicinal properties and employed it for therapeutic purposes. It was highly regarded for its fiber, which was used to make textiles and ropes, and its seeds, which served as a source of nutrition. Doctors will not typically prescribe anything to relieve cannabis intoxication.

How to Avoid CUD

“Cannabis addiction is far more dependent on patterns of use and psychological factors is marijuana addictive than sheer quantity alone,” Caplan says. Research suggests there are currently no effective medications in the treatment of cannabis use disorder. Buspirone was one medication of interest, but some research has shown that it is no more effective than a placebo and, in some cases, was linked to worse cannabis use outcomes. In addition, experts are investigating whether there are specific medications that can help with cannabis use disorder.

People who use weed daily, or even multiple times a week, are at higher risk of developing marijuana use disorder, where quitting feels like an uphill battle. And the longer you use it, the harder it becomes to break the habit. At Woodland Recovery Center, we see the impact of marijuana addiction every day. Our marijuana addiction treatment program helps people who never thought they had an issue until they realized they couldn’t quit. If you’ve ever wondered whether weed is truly addictive or if your own use is getting out of control, we can help.