Marijuana use disorder, in and of itself, is not a sign of addiction, just like having one or two alcoholic drinks a day is not alcoholism. But for those who do become dependent on marijuana, about 30% of users, the signs of addiction become apparent. Like with any other substance, dependency can lead to marijuana addiction.
Many factors contribute to whether one’s marijuana use will lead to addiction. It may be a genetic predisposition. Is there a family history of alcoholism or substance abuse? Pressure from one’s job or the environment one lives in can also influence the regular use of marijuana. Whatever the reasons, marijuana addiction can have a considerable negative impact on one’s life. Drug addiction treatment can play a major role in the recovery process.
Marijuana Addiction in Oregon
Our professional staff in Bend, Oregon, are well prepared to help you tackle your marijuana addiction. You may think it is a problem you can handle yourself. After all, aren’t addiction treatment centers for hard drugs and alcohol? They are, but they are also for nicotine and marijuana addictions. There must be a reason for your continued use of marijuana that goes beyond unwinding after work or getting high with a couple of friends. If you need marijuana to get through the day, you have a problem.
Marijuana Use Disorder
Dependence on marijuana has several signs that need to be addressed. Like with any addiction, there are withdrawal symptoms like mood changes, increased irritability, and restlessness. Other symptoms may seem counterintuitive, such as difficulty sleeping and decreased appetite. While some people use marijuana to help get to sleep or increase their appetite, those with a marijuana addiction sometimes experience opposite reactions.
Marijuana Abuse
The terms abuse and dependence are both used to describe marijuana abuse disorder. One of the components that differentiate the two is known as “responsibility skills.” People who have responsibilities such as work, family, and social networks tend to have too much on their plates to allow their marijuana use to grow into an addiction. Those who succumb to addiction tend to be those with less social skills. They have a difficult family life and few friends, which leads to social isolation and more opportunity to self-medicate with marijuana.
Studies have shown that approximately 9% of marijuana users will develop an addiction, with those numbers rising to 17% among those who began using it in their teens. Like with alcohol, it may seem like everyone is doing it and they aren’t becoming addicted, so you may assume you don’t have a problem. There are some factors that can contribute to a reliance on marijuana.
4 Mental Health Risk Factors
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Schizophrenia
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
These same conditions that may contribute to marijuana addiction are, at first, relieved by marijuana use. Decreased anxiety and feelings of well-being are common among users. However, as the amount of marijuana needed to combat these conditions increases, the ability to get anxiety and depression under control decreases. Now not only do these uncomfortable feelings remain, but a burgeoning addiction problem now exacerbates them. Your physical and mental health are more important than your desire to get high. The sooner the problem is addressed, the sooner you can return to being a happier and more productive member of society.
Reach Out to Sunstone Recovery Today
Marijuana addiction can be one of the more difficult substance abuse problems to combat. Many people use it without it having a negative outcome on their lives. Marijuana use disorder can have an enormous impact on your life, but there is help out there. Sunstone Recovery in Bend, Oregon, uses telehealth, a virtual method of interacting with our clients. There are currently no inpatient services available. We use a collaborative treatment approach that focuses on addressing our clients’ mental health issues. Currently, all of our services are being offered online via telemedicine due to covid-19 restrictions. However, this makes us available to residents throughout the state. We can be reached online or at 855.833.9199 for you to take the first step on your journey to recovery.
