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As America’s Marijuana Use Grows, So Do the Harms

People are considered to have cannabis use disorder if they meet two of 11 criteria, which include craving the drug, building up tolerance and continuing to use it even when it interferes with work and social activities. People who meet six criteria are considered addicted. Last year, the federal government’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that the rate of cannabis use disorder among people ages 18 to 25 was 16.6 percent. It has caught up to the rate of alcohol use disorder, 15.1 percent.

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 Cannabis use and cannabis use disorder

Cannabis use disorder (CUD) is an underappreciated risk of using cannabis that affects ~10% of the 193 million cannabis users worldwide. The individual and public health burdens are less than those of other forms of drug use, but CUD accounts for a substantial proportion of persons seeking treatment for drug use disorders owing to the high global prevalence of cannabis use. Cognitive behavioural therapy, motivational enhancement therapy and contingency management can substantially reduce cannabis use and cannabis-related problems, but enduring abstinence is not a common outcome. No pharmacotherapies have been approved for cannabis use or CUD, although a number of drug classes (such as cannabinoid agonists) have shown promise and require more rigorous evaluation.

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Articles of Interest

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Cannabis use and cannabis use Disorder

Cannabis use disorder (CUD) is an underappreciated risk of using cannabis that affects ~10% of the 193 million cannabis users worldwide. The individual and public health burdens are less than those of other forms of drug use, but CUD accounts for a substantial proportion of persons seeking treatment for drug use disorders owing to the high global prevalence of cannabis use.

Cannabis Use Disorder

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Cannabis/Marijuana Use Disorder

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Current Treatments for Cannabis Use Disorder

The prevalence of CUD is increasing in lock step with rates of cannabis use due to changes in legalization and other sociopolitical factors. Behavioral interventions are the current mainstay of evidence-based treatment; nevertheless, they can be challenging to implement and show limited efficacy in maintaining long-term abstinence. No FDA-approved medications are available for CUD, but some studies show potential off-label utility in mitigating withdrawal and maintaining abstinence. Further research will be needed to clarify definitive treatment guidelines for this increasingly relevant condition.

Drug to Treat Cannabis Use Disorder

Cannabis use disorder is an underappreciated risk of using cannabis that affects about 14 million individuals in the United States. Despite daily use of cannabis being at record high levels among adolescents and young adults, many are unaware that cannabis can be addictive. To date, no medications have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of cannabis use disorder—and evidenced-based behavioral therapies have shown limited benefits.

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Understanding Your Risk for Cannabis Use Disorder

Approximately 3 in 10 people who use cannabis have cannabis use disorder. It is estimated that people who use cannabis have about a 10% likelihood of becoming addicted.

We Talked to a Doctor Who Treats ‘Cannabis Use Disorder’

While the idea of being addicted to marijuana is highly contentious—many people believe it’s impossible—doctors actually have a term for weed dependency: cannabis use disorder. The diagnosis itself is only three years old—it was first referenced in the 2013 version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The US-based National Institute on Drug Abuse says 9 percent of marijuana users will abuse it.

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Resources

StatPearls

As cannabis strains become more potent and accessible, the risk of cannabis use disorder will increase. For individuals with marked intoxication or withdrawal or cannabis use disorder, the goal should be to stop the drug altogether. Unlike abrupt cessation, a gradual decrease is likely to decrease the discomfort of the withdrawal and prevent relapse. Cannabis intoxication most often does not require medical management and will self-resolve.