Marijuana is one of the most well-known substances with a long and complex legal and pop culture history. The line between marijuana’s place as a legal or illicit substance is often blurred. Well-known illicit substances like cocaine and opioids are known for the devastation they can have on individuals and entire communities. However, the status of marijuana often leaves the understanding of its potential risk factors in limbo for the general public. Thus, the impact of cannabis use disorder is often overlooked, especially among young people.
According to the “Alcohol, Drugs and Addictive Behaviours Unit” from the World Health Organization (WHO), 147 million or 2.5% of the world population consume cannabis in a given year. Although 2.5% of the world population may seem small, in comparison to other abused substances, annual consumption is significant. In comparison, 0.2% of the world’s population consumes substances like cocaine and opioids. Moreover, as the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) notes, in the U.S. alone, 52.5 million (18.7%) people 12 years and older use cannabis in a given year.
In addition, the prevalence of cannabis use among young people also increases across adolescence. An estimated 8.3% of 8th graders, 19.5% of 10th graders, and 30.7% of 12th graders used cannabis in a given year in the United States. Looking at the prevalence of cannabis use globally and among young people highlights the importance of addressing cannabis use disorder.
At Rancho Recovery, we know how important individualized care is to the recovery process for your long-term well-being. With individualized holistic care, you have access to support that addresses your specific experiences and healing needs. There is no cookie-cutter way to engage in treatment and recovery because your experiences are unique. We are committed to providing therapeutic modalities designed to meet you where you are with compassion, support, and guidance.
Through our commitment to tailored treatment strategies, you will find a community that uplifts and celebrates you as you reclaim your life. As a Christian rehab center, a person-centered approach to healing is at the core of our work. We are invested in helping you heal in mind, body, and spirit. With holistic care, you will find support to understand the impact of cannabis use disorder on your life. Whether you are just starting to think about your cannabis use or you have been overwhelmed by your challenges for a while, there is a path forward. You can overcome cannabis use disorder to lead the life in recovery you deserve.
Yet, you likely still have many questions about cannabis use disorder. How do you know if you have cannabis use disorder? Increasing your awareness of cannabis use disorder can give you insight into how it impacts physical and psychological health.
What Is Cannabis Use Disorder?
As noted in Nature Reviews Disease Primers, cannabis use disorder is an inability to refrain from consuming cannabis. Specifically, cannabis use disorder is the inability to stop consuming it even if it leads to physical and psychological harm. Despite a global estimate that 22.1 million people meet the diagnostic criteria for cannabis use disorder, cannabis or marijuana misuse is often overlooked as typical. The normalization of cannabis use can be tied back to its role in culture.
Cannabis is the third most used substance worldwide after alcohol and tobacco; much like alcohol and tobacco, cannabis shares complicated histories. Substances like alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis are all substances that have been both accepted and rejected by society. The cultural implications of substances like cannabis speak to a deeply ingrained cultural relationship. Cultural relationships with substances are built on a set of traditions and social behaviors that normalize their overconsumption.
For many people, the use of substances like alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis is synonymous with social engagement. Thus, the act of consuming substances is viewed as a social activity. In overconsumption, there is a desire to find connection and community in others. The desire for connection and community reinforces the idea that alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis are not misused. Further, for young people, the overconsumption of culturally popular substances may even be seen as a right of passage. Young people may face social pressures to consume cannabis to save face with their peers. In addition, young people may also wish to increase their sense of belonging as the same rather than others.
According to the Indian Journal of Psychiatry, by the time you reach adolescence, you have been exposed to a variety of stressors that can impede well-being. Many of the stressors you experience in adolescence and young adulthood include:
- Competition in school and employment opportunities
- Changes in your roles in your family and society
- Addressing new-found responsibilities
- Changes in your sense of identity,
- Rapid physical, mental, and emotional changes
In addition to new stressors in your life, you are also entering a transitional phase of dependence and independence. The strangeness of moving from dependence on your family to the desire for independence can be both terrifying and thrilling. Thus, the complicated emotions of entering adulthood can exacerbate mental health challenges and psychological distress.
The desire to assert your sense of self and independence comes with an interest in different ways of life. As a result, you may experiment with different subcultures, like different clothing, makeup, and music choices. The desire to find yourself or find belonging with your peers can contribute to exploration and experimentation with substances like cannabis.
Therefore, the risk of developing cannabis use disorder is more significant than may be expected. Many people mistakenly believe cannabis cannot cause dependence syndrome or withdrawal symptoms. Yet, approximately one in ten regular cannabis users and one-third of people who use cannabis daily are at risk of developing cannabis use disorder.
Moreover, the NIDA points out that an estimated 16.3 million (5.8%) people 12 years and older in the United States had cannabis use disorder in a given year. Looking at the estimated age of individuals in the U.S. with cannabis use disorder speaks to the prevalence of cannabis misuse among young people. With more insight into the prevalence of cannabis misuse among young people, you can better understand the roots of its misuse and addiction.
Prevalence of Cannabis Misuse Among Young People
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 30.7% of 12th graders used cannabis in a given year, and 6.3% used cannabis daily for 30 days. The high percentage of older teens who misuse cannabis highlights cannabis as an early-onset substance. As a result, the early onset of substance use in adolescence increases risk factors for poor health outcomes and life satisfaction in adolescence and adulthood.
The start of challenges with cannabis use disorder, much like the use of other legal and illegal substances, often starts with misuse in late adolescence. In particular, the onset age of cannabis misuse globally is a mean of 15 to 16 and a median of 18 to 19 years old. Moreover, using cannabis before adulthood further increases your risk for difficulties with cannabis use disorder and related challenges:
- Onset before the age of 16
- Increased risk of developing cannabis use disorder
- Higher rate of progression of cannabis use disorder
- Increased risk of misusing or developing an addiction to other substances
- Greater chance of developing mental health disorders like anxiety disorders
- Using cannabis before the age of 18
- Increased risk for accidents like a car crash
- Higher chance of expressing antisocial behaviors
- Increased risk for polysubstance use
- More likely to drop out of school early
- Other challenges of cannabis use in adolescence
- Difficulty thinking and problem-solving
- Impaired memory and learning
- Decreased attention span
- Reduced coordination
- Relationship conflict
- Poor judgment and decision-making
- Decreased life satisfaction
- Hinder how the brain builds connections for functioning
The potential difficulties that stem from early cannabis use highlight the risk of functional impairment that comes with cannabis use. With more awareness of the physical and psychological impact of cannabis use, you can understand the importance of addressing cannabis use disorder.
Addressing the Physical and Psychological Impact of Cannabis Use Disorder
Cannabis use, misuse, and cannabis use disorder can have a profound impact on your physical and psychological health. Some of the physical effects of cannabis use can contribute to other health challenges like:
- Breathing issues: Daily cough and phlegm, higher rate of lung illnesses, and greater risk of lung infections
- Increased heart rate: Greater risk of heart attack
- Long-term misuse can lead to cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome: Regular cycles of severe nausea, vomiting, and dehydration and more frequent hospital admissions
Further, many of the physical consequences of cannabis use disorder can be found in the changes it makes to the brain. As stated in NIDA, using marijuana over activates parts of the brain that contribute to psychosis and other brain and body impairments. Some of the brain and body impairments that can stem from frequent cannabis use include:
- Impaired body movement
- Altered senses and sense of time
- Changes in mood
- Experiencing delusions and hallucinations
- Impaired thinking and memory
- Difficulty problem-solving
As the CDC notes, the use of or frequent use of marijuana can lead to changes in the brain that impair mental health and well-being. In high doses, marijuana often leaves you feeling disoriented and can lead to anxiety and paranoia. Moreover, cannabis use can increase your risk of temporary psychosis, which can make it difficult to recognize what is and is not real. Further, early and frequent use of cannabis can increase your risk for long-lasting mental health disorders and conditions. Listed below are some of the mental health disorders and conditions that can develop:
- Schizophrenia
- Depression
- Anxiety disorders
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Sleep disorders
- Suicidal ideation
- Self-harm
Moreover, the mental health disorders and conditions related to cannabis use disorder share a bidirectional relationship. Not only can cannabis use support the development of mental health disorders, but it can worsen symptoms for preexisting mental health disorders, too. With more insight into the physical and psychological impact, it is clear that cannabis use disorder can no longer be overlooked as harmful to health and well-being. When addressing cannabis use, misuse, and cannabis use disorder, research has shown the need to prevent early overuse among young people. Whether you or a loved one is experiencing challenges with cannabis use disorder, some tools can be utilized to reduce use.
Preventative Tools: Reducing the Risk of Cannabis Use Disorder
Tools for understanding ways to prevent and reduce the risk or use of cannabis use disorder start with the roots of the misuse. Regardless of age, understanding the roots of cannabis misuse can help you build effective tools for healing. Much like many other substance use challenges, cannabis use can develop from self-medicating. Through self-medicating, you may attempt to alleviate or suppress distressing thoughts and feelings like depression and anxiety. Thus, greater self-awareness of where your psychological distress stems from can support you in learning how to dismantle maladaptive coping strategies like self-medicating.
As noted in Cannabis Use Disorder by Jason Patel and Raman Marwaha, you can find supportive treatment for cannabis misuse and cannabis use disorder with holistic care. Through the psychiatric services of holistic person-centered care, you can work in collaboration with clinicians to address underlying disorders and conditions that contribute to your challenges. By addressing the root causes of your cannabis use disorder, you can learn how to modify negative thinking and behavior patterns and foster adaptive coping skills to respond to life stressors and distress more effectively.
In addition to seeking professional support, there are some tools you can utilize in your daily life to help you reduce your use of cannabis. As the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority (CCA) states, taking a gradual approach to reduction can support you in reducing your cannabis consumption rates for your long-term well-being. Listed below are some of the strategies and tools you can utilize to support reductions in cannabis use:
- Build a care plan designed around a gradual decrease in usage
- Journal writing: Keep track of how much and how often you consume cannabis to note patterns of misuse
- With support, engage in building, setting, and achieving goals for reductions in cannabis use. Reflect on the changes you want to make and why
- Work on understanding what thoughts, feelings, and situations trigger the urge to use cannabis
- Limit exposure to activities and situations that trigger the desire to use cannabis
- You can work in collaboration with clinicians to build adaptive strategies to address potential triggers before and after a trigger
- Engage in other healthy activities: Physical activity, try out different hobbies, and participate in volunteer work
- Surround yourself with a positive, mutually supportive support network
The adaptive strategies you can utilize to address cannabis use disorder give insight into the value of whole-person care. With whole-person care, you are given the necessary space to heal the parts of the whole. Moreover, insight into cannabis use disorder highlights the value of awareness for dismantling unhealthy thinking and behavior patterns.
Fostering Healing With Education at Rancho Recovery
At Rancho Recovery, we recognize the importance of personalized care in supporting lasting recovery. Through personalized care, you have access to a comprehensive range of services, which can help you address your unique experiences and needs to heal. With holistic care in a luxury rehab, you are reminded that despite life’s stressors, you are not alone.
We meet you where you are with empathy and understanding. With empathy and understanding, you can foster connection and community to face life’s challenges. Through our person-centered approach to care, you can build a treatment plan that supports healing the parts of the whole. Our commitment to whole-person care allows you to set goals and build resiliency in recovery.
Within our Christian residential treatment centers for youth, a variety of therapeutic tools are available to meet you where you are on your recovery journey. With access to invaluable therapeutic services, you can be empowered to heal. Some tools for recovery include evidence-based therapies, holistic activities, family programs, and peer support. Thus, access to a luxury drug rehab offers the tranquil and private space you need to transform your life.
The complex cultural limbo between acceptance and rejection of cannabis in society has impeded awareness of the health risks of cannabis misuse. Cannabis misuse increases the risk for cannabis use disorder and other physical and psychological challenges. Frequent cannabis use can contribute to impairments in physical and psychological functioning like poor coordination, psychosis, and the development or exacerbation of mental health disorders like schizophrenia and anxiety disorders. However, with the knowledge and support found in holistic care, you can work with clinicians to dismantle the underlying root causes of your cannabis use to heal. At Rancho Recovery, we are committed to providing a comprehensive range of holistic services to support lasting recovery. Call us at (877) 484-1447 today.