Is Marijuana Really Addictive

Is Marijuana Really Addictive Addiction Drug Use Marijuana Print Is Marijuana Addictive? Its Rare, but Addiction Can Happen By Buddy T facebook twitter Buddy T is an anonymous writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Learn about our editorial policy Buddy T Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on January 06, 2017 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on February 21, 2020 Medioimages/Photodisc Collection/Photodisc/Getty Images More in Addiction Drug Use Marijuana Cocaine Heroin Meth Ecstasy/MDMA Hallucinogens Opioids Prescription Medications Alcohol Use Addictive Behaviors Nicotine Use Coping and Recovery The majority of pot smokers do not develop a marijuana addiction, but some smokers do develop all the symptoms of an actual addiction after chronic marijuana use.?? Most marijuana users never come close to being addicted to weed. They do not lose control of its use; they generally use the amount they want to use and when they want to use it. When they use marijuana, they get the exact results they expect and intend to get.?? Marijuana Addiction The fact that most users never develop an addiction doesnt mean that it never happens. Some marijuana users will exhibit all the classic behaviors of someone who has an addiction. Prevalence The National Institute on Drug Abuse previously reported that about 1 in 7 marijuana users would develop problematic use with the drug. Now the agency is reporting that 30 percent of marijuana users will develop problems with its use, known as marijuana use disorder. Users who begin smoking marijuana before they reach the age of 18 and 4 to 7 more likely to develop a disorder compared with those who wait until after 18 to smoke, according to the NIDA.?? Marijuana Addiction: What You Need to Know Higher Potency Factor The NIDA also reports that the higher potency of marijuana available today may be another factor in the rising number of people who develop a problem. Marijuana confiscated by law enforcement today contains an average of 9.6% of THC compared to 3.7% in weed confiscated in the 1990s.?? Marijuana that is consumed in products that are made from marijuana extract can contain from 50% to 80% THC. Researchers are investigating if higher potency is the reason for an increase in emergency department visits by people testing positive for marijuana. Marijuana Abuse v. Dependence There is a difference between marijuana abuse and marijuana dependence. Marijuana abuse occurs when someone continues to use the drug despite negative consequences, such as losing a job, poor academic performance or getting arrested.?? Just as with other drug use disorders, people who continue to use marijuana in spite of continued negative consequences, by definition, have a marijuana use disorder. But, is it an addiction? Classic Addictive Behavior Someone who becomes addicted or dependent upon marijuana is also an abuser, but will also display some of the classic behavioral symptoms of addiction:?? Will begin to lose control, needing increasing larger amountsWill spend more time thinking about usingWill deny claims from those close to him that he has changedSubstance use will begin to take a central role in lifeWill spend more time and money acquiring more marijuanaWill become irritable or agitated if they run outAs negative consequences mount, they will continue to use What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Addiction? Physical Dependence Most experts agree that dependence on a substance is accompanied by a build-up of tolerance to that substance, requiring increasing larger amounts, and withdrawal symptoms when someone stops using the substance. Most marijuana smokers do not experience either tolerance or withdrawal.?? Most early research into marijuana addiction revealed that marijuana use rarely produced tolerance and withdrawal. But the marijuana that is available today is more powerful than the marijuana of the 1960s, containing higher levels of the active ingredient THC.?? Withdrawal Symptoms Todays research shows that tolerance does develop to THC and that withdrawal symptoms do occur in some users. Studies of chronic marijuana users who quit smoking show that some experience these withdrawal symptoms:?? Anxiety and insomniaLoss of appetiteExcessive salivationDecreased pulseIrritabilityIncreased mood swingsIncrease in aggressive behavior Researchers believe that because todays pot is much more potent it makes it more likely to develop physiologic dependence in some users. Even if not physically or chemically dependent on marijuana, some users will at the very least develop a psychological dependence upon the drug. Seeking Treatment Whether marijuana has become more addictive or not, the number of people seeking treatment for marijuana abuse has increased significantly. According to studies, the number of children and teenagers in treatment for marijuana dependence and abuse has increased by 142% since 1992.?? As with most substances of abuse, people who abuse marijuana usually decide to seek help when their use of the drug becomes painful due to increasing negative consequences. Many who seek treatment for marijuana do so due to pressure from family, friends, schools, employers or the criminal justice system. How Effective Is Drug Treatment?