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CANNABIS KNOW HOW- Can Cannabis be addictive?

mercredi 26 avril 2023

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Can cannabis be addictive?

The answer is clearly a YES!

Like all other psychoactive substances, you can become addicted to cannabis. But, of course, this depends on several factors.

BUT!!!

Not everyone becomes addicted to cannabis. The younger you start using cannabis, the greater the risk of developing a mental disorder or dependence.

One analysis estimated that about one in ten cannabis users experienced a period of psychological and/or physical dependence.

What’s the difference between a psychological and a physical addiction?

  • With physical addiction, withdrawal symptoms occur when the use is stopped or reduced. These include cardiac arrhythmias, restlessness, insomnia and sweating.
  • A psychological addiction manifests itself mainly by a strong desire to consume. It lasts longer than physical dependence and leads to more relapses.

What defines an addicition?

According to the diagnostic guidelines of ICD-10 (International Classification of Mental Disorders), one suffers from a dependency syndrome (F12.2) if 3 or more of the following 6 criteria have been met over the last 12 months:

  1. A strong desire or some kind of compulsion to consume psychoactive substances.
  2. Reduced ability to control the onset, cessation and amount of consumption.
  3. A physical withdrawal syndrome at cessation or reduction of consumption, evidenced by the substance-specific withdrawal symptoms or by ingestion of the same or a closely related substance to alleviate or avoid withdrawal symptoms.
  4. Proof of tolerance. In order to produce the effects of the psychoactive substance originally achieved by lower doses, progressively higher doses are required.
  5. Progressive neglect of other pleasures or interests in favor of substance use, increased time spent procuring the substance, consuming it, or recovering from the consequences.
  6. Persistent substance use despite evidence of clear adverse effects.

What is Cannabis tolerance?

Regular consumption usually leads to tolerance formation, i.e. the number of receptors in the brain decreases and thus less dopamine can be released. This is called habituation. Therefore, in order to achieve the same effect, it is necessary to take a larger dose.

With long-term consumption, there is also the risk that the desired effect can no longer occur.

In order to counteract this tolerance formation, you should regularly take longer breaks of at least 4-6 weeks.

Why can Cannabis be addictive?

However, the development of a dependency is above all multifactorial, i.e. it is linked to several influencing factors.

It is not only the substance itself that can be seriously addictive, but the person’s handling of the substance.

Nevertheless, the psychoactive effect of cannabis should not be underestimated.

The active ingredient THC has a psychoactive effect because it « docks » to cannabinoid receptors (CB1) in the brain and thus triggers a chemical chain reaction. The so-called happiness hormone dopamine is released in large quantities. Dopamine is responsible for the feeling of bliss and euphoria.

The harmful use, development or prevention of dependence can be considered using the explanatory model of the 3 influencing factors drug-individual-environment. The factors can act as risk factors (deficits) as well as protective factors (resources). Some factors are summarized in keywords.

DRUG

Availability, type of drug, dose, frequency of use, social/cultural significance of the drug, legal status, image enhancement of the drug, positive effect, …

INDIVIDUAL

Personal resources and skills: age, self-efficacy, frustration tolerance, conflict management strategies, self-esteem, tendency to flee and suppress, emotional control and skills, …

Social skills: communication and relationship skills, trust, resistance to social influence, …

Willingness to take risks, finding identity and meaning, …

ENVIRONMENT

Close Social environment: family conditions, behaviour of educators, contacts with peers and their consumption patterns, incentives to consume and role models, demands of school, training, profession and school, conflicts, extent of supporting relationships, social integration, requirements of close people, …

Society: performance and competition, future prospects, stigmatization, drug policy, economic conditions, environment and quality of life, …

The combination of several such risk factors has a certain risk of developing dependence.

Here is a selection of more Cannabis Know How cards:

For any further questions about Cannabis please feel free to contact our Cannabis Hotline:

  • By phone: (+352) 49 7777 55 every Tuesday between 9 m-1pm & 2pm-5pm
  • By E- Mail: cannabis@cnapa.lu
  • By WhatsApp: (+352) 691 497 755

 

Méi informéiert – manner riskéiert