Marijuana Use Disorder

Marijuana, or cannabis, is the third most commonly used psychoactive substance in the world. Its use is surpassed only by alcohol and tobacco (nicotine). Recently, it's increasingly legal for recreational and medicinal use in many states. It's called by various names such as pot, weed, blunts, grass, reefer, ganja, hash, or hashish. It's usually smoked, but it can be mixed with foods or brewed as a tea. Recently a practice known as "dabbing" or "smoking wax" has become popular. This means smoking highly concentrated extracts of the marijuana plant. The result is more side effects. Sometimes, marijuana can be illegally sold with PCP (angel dust) or amphetamine mixed in it. These illegal drugs can cause other harmful side effects. If you're using marijuana with other illegal or legal drugs, the type and severity of side effects will vary.

Marijuana (cannabis) use is considered a disorder when the person loses control over its use. The person continues to use it even when it causes serious physical, emotional, thinking, and social problems. It may be identified as mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the number of symptoms present.

Marijuana can cause:

• Changes in mood, such as feeling stimulated, happy, drowsy, depressed, or paranoid.
• Visions (hallucinations).
• Increased heart rate and blood pressure.
• Red eyes.
• Increased appetite.
• Changes in awareness of time, trouble concentrating, or memory problems.
• Lung damage. This is similar to cigarettes with chronic cough, wheezing, frequent colds, and bronchitis.
• Rarely, collapse of a lung.
• Decreased sperm count.
• Dizziness, vertigo, and possibly slurred speech.
• Vomiting. Even though marijuana is often used to treat nausea and vomiting, some long-term daily users have the opposite effect. They can't stop vomiting for long periods of time.

You can become psychologically dependent on marijuana. That means the craving to use the drug is emotional or psychological rather than from physical withdrawal.

Signs of marijuana use disorder include:

• Relying on marijuana to feel good, forget problems, deal with stress, or relax.
• Wanting to be alone most of the time or only with others who use drugs.
• Losing interest in things that used to be important.
• Changes in school or job performance or attendance.
• Spending a lot of time thinking about how to get marijuana.
• Stealing or selling your things so you can buy marijuana.
• Unable to stop using even though you may want to quit.
• Increasing anxiety, anger, or depression.
• Sleeping too much, or changes in eating habits (leading to weight loss or gain).
• Needing to use more to get the same effect.

These suggestions can help you manage marijuana use disorder:

• When you become addicted to any drug, quitting is hard to do. Most people find they can't quit without help. So don't try to do this alone. Talk to someone you trust who can support you. Seek professional help.
• Stay away from people and places where drugs are used. That only increases the temptation to use.

Follow up with your health care provider as advised.

For more information or a referral to a treatment center in your area:

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Treatment Locations at https://www.samhsa.gov/find-treatment
• National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence at http://ncaddms.org/ or call 601-899-5880
• Marijuana Anonymous at marijuana-anonymous.org or call 800-766-6779

Contact your health care provider right away if:

• You believe you're addicted to marijuana and want to stop using it.
• You feel extreme depression, fear, anxiety, or anger toward yourself or others.
• You feel out of control.
• You feel that you may try to harm yourself or another.
• Call 911 if you have chest pain or shortness of breath.