Signs of Cannabis Addiction
Learn more about the signs of a cannabis problem and symptoms of abuse.
While the effects of cannabis use aren’t considered as serious as other drugs, it can still create problems in the personal lives of some individuals, including addiction. If you believe you or a loved one is living with a cannabis addiction, then there are some signs and symptoms to look out for. If you spot these, it may be time to seek help.
Signs You May Have a Cannabis Problem
It is believed that around 9% of cannabis users become either dependent or addicted to the drug. This means they cannot stop using the substance despite it having a negative effect on relationships, finances, or health. Below are five signs that may indicate a cannabis addiction.
You Are Having Relationship Issues
Maybe you find yourself distancing yourself from loved ones who disapprove of your drug use. If you are putting less effort into your relationships with family, friends, or romantic relationships because of the drug, then this is a key sign of a substance abuse disorder.
You Have Lost Interest in Activities
Cannabis can decrease your motivational levels and interfere with your decision-making; this can result in a loss of interest in recreational activities and social outings.
You Experience Withdrawal Symptoms
If you are dependent on cannabis, then you may notice withdrawal symptoms when you attempt to stop using the drug. This includes feeling irritable, restless, anxious and having sleep or eating problems.
You Are Unable to Cut Down or Stop Taking the Drug
Individuals who are dependent on any substance often find it difficult to stop taking the drug despite the adverse effects, such as a difficulty in maintaining responsibilities.
Your Tolerance Has Increased
As you smoke cannabis regularly and if you become dependent on the drug, your tolerance will increase, which means you will need more of the substance to feel the same effects.
Recognising Signs of Cannabis Use in Family Members or Loved Ones
It can be scary to notice that a loved one is abusing cannabis. You may be worried about both their physical and mental health and the effects that excessive use of the drug is having on their life.
Many people consider the drug to be relatively harmless, however research has found that it may reduce memory, thinking, and learning functions. It’s important to know the signs of cannabis use to offer support in seeking help. However, someone could be living with a cannabis addiction and may not display these signs or symptoms.
What Changes in Mood or Personality Can Be Seen in Family Members or Loved Ones?
When someone is smoking cannabis, they often find it difficult to engage and hold a conversation. This is because cannabis affects an individual’s ability to focus, with users often drifting into other topics, commonly unrelated. If a loved one has lost interest in activities they once enjoyed or were once an important part of their lives, this could signal cannabis use as it decreases motivation and an individual’s ‘get up go’ greatly.
Maybe a loved one has become extremely paranoid; suspicious thoughts and feelings are common for cannabis users. Alternatively, when someone is high on cannabis, it’s common for them to laugh at times at something that may not even seem funny; this can happen at any point, even at inappropriate times.
Changes in Appearance and Health
People who smoke cannabis often experience a similar set of physical symptoms that can be spotted. One of the best-known is bloodshot eyes. This is due to the effects of THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol – the main compound of weed contributing to getting “high”) as it lowers blood pressure causing blood vessels and capillaries to dilate. It increases the blood flow to the tiny blood vessels in the eyes leading to the tell-tale bloodshot appearance. Other physical signs of cannabis use include:
Dry mouth
Lethargy or fatigue
Impaired balance
Increased appetite
Lack of attention to hygiene or grooming
Poor coordination
Disrupted sleeping patterns, including inability to sleep
Delayed reaction time
Changes in Social Interactions and Friendships
People who are addicted to any drug often change their circle of friends to accommodate their drug use. By surrounding themselves with other users of cannabis, it is often easy to dismiss and normalise the addiction as everyone around them is also using the drug.
This can result in an individual withdrawing themselves from loved ones who disapprove of their cannabis use so they can avoid dealing with the problem at hand, often choosing the drug over causes of concern. It can be difficult to not take these actions personally as it’s disheartening watching a loved one withdraw because of drug use. However, dependency on a substance can alter a person’s way of thinking and their current actions do not reflect them or you, just their drug use. It’s important to remember that with the correct help and support, many of these changes can be reversed.
Cannabis Overdose Symptoms
THings to look out for:
Although cannabis is a class B drug and, mainly thanks to depictions in popular culture, considered less dangerous, dozens of cannabis-related deaths are recorded in the UK every year. In 2022 just in England and Wales there were 36 weed-related deaths recorded. Cannabis OD is different from symptoms related to overdosing intravenous drugs like heroin as it doesn’t cause a system shutdown. In most cases the lethal outcome is caused indirectly through a psychotic episode, however, it is possible to develop respiratory problems as well as a stroke and heart attack.
About 30% of people who present to an ED with a cannabis overdose display signs of psychotic disorders. If left untreated, these psychotic episodes develop into schizophrenia in 50% of the cases.
There is no antidote for THC so the emergency treatment plan will be centered around monitoring the patient for suicidal tendencies, respiratory depression, low blood pressure and increased heart rate with treatment focused on counteracting the specific symptoms, i.e. using beta blockers to lower the heart rate or benzodiazepine to fix panic attacks.
36 cannabis-related deaths in 2022
Signs of Cannabis Withdrawal
Cannabis withdrawal can present a variety of symptoms as the body adjusts to the absence of THC. Here are the main symptoms along with brief explanations:
Irritability and restlessness
Individuals may experience increased irritability and mood swings. This is due to the brain's adaptation to the lack of cannabis, which can disrupt emotional regulation. A feeling of unease or inability to relax may be present, making it challenging for individuals to settle into daily routines.
Anxiety and suicidal thoughts
A heightened sense of anxiety is common, as the calming effects of cannabis wear off, leaving the individual more susceptible to stress. Some patients may feel a sense of sadness or depression, as the brain adjusts to the lack of dopamine release that cannabis usage had enhanced. It's very important to monitor this aspect of cannabis withdrawal as suicide is among the leading causes of death among cannabis users and those who are on their journey to addiction recovery.
Sleep Disturbances
Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep may occur, often accompanied by vivid dreams or nightmares. This happens as the body's natural sleep cycle attempts to stabilise without the influence of cannabis.
Decreased Appetite
A reduction in appetite is typical, as cannabis often stimulates hunger. Without it, individuals may experience less desire to eat.
Cravings
Strong urges to use cannabis again can arise as the body and mind crave the substance to regain the previous balance.
These symptoms can vary in intensity and duration, often peaking a few days after cessation and gradually subsiding over a few weeks. Understanding these symptoms can aid individuals in managing withdrawal and seeking appropriate support.
Recognising When It’s Time to Get Help
If you suspect that a loved one may be struggling with a cannabis addiction, it’s important to approach the situation with care and empathy. It can be challenging for individuals to admit they have a problem and seek help, so it’s important to offer support and encouragement rather than judgement or criticism.
Encourage your loved ones to seek professional help from a therapist or treatment centre that specialises in substance abuse. Offer to attend appointments with them and continue showing your support throughout their journey towards recovery.
Start the Cannabis Rehabilitation Process Today
Finding the best cannabis treatment is vital for long-term recovery success. Our friendly and compassionate team will hold your hand through the process until you learn to love yourself again.
What methods we use to identify symptoms of cannabis addiction
If you are unsure whether you do have a substance abuse disorder, then there are a range of screening tools that are available for further clarity. A popular choice is CAGE – an assessment tool that is widely used in the context of drug and alcohol addiction treatment. It’s designed to quickly identify potential problems with substance use. The acronym CAGE stands for the four questions it asks, which are:
- Cut down: Have you ever felt you should cut down on your drug use?
- Annoyed: Have people annoyed you by criticising your drug use?
- Guilty: Have you ever felt bad or guilty about your drug use?
- Eye-opener: Have you ever had to use drugs first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or to get rid of a hangover (an “eye-opener”)?
These questions help to identify individuals who may need a more comprehensive evaluation for substance use disorders.
Although cannabis compounds can stay in your system for 30 days or longer, there is no formal detoxification for cannabis use. Methods for cleansing CBT and THC are highly inefficient, besides the physical addiction to cannabis is not as pronounced as in other types of drugs. Hence at Providence Projects we will be focusing on addressing the mental side of addiction.
However, if you are abusing multiple substances, there might be a need to cleanse your body from these substances in order to have a better chance of recovery from the cannabis addiction. Rehabilitation works best when the mind and body are clean off any harmful chemicals.
