Should Cannabis Be Considered a Treatment Option for Alcohol and Drug Recovery?
by Bethan Rose
Simply put, problematic cannabis use can be defined as consuming so much cannabis that it begins to negatively affect various areas of your life. Although problematic cannabis use technically falls under Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD) in the DSM-V, the variations in experiences make it challenging to accept that lower-risk individuals should be diagnosed with the cannabis version* of addiction.
Taking care of your problematic cannabis use now should significantly reduce your risk of escalating to CUD. The biggest difference between CUD and problematic use is that the latter causes negative effects, but it does not mean that the consumer is addicted to, or dependent on cannabis. CUD was set up in the DSM-V to account for both problematic use and the more dependent use.
Ask yourself the following questions. If you answer yes more than two of these, your cannabis use is probably problematic and could be on its way to Cannabis Use Disorder. Remember, there are mild, moderate, and severe levels of problematic use and of CUD but being aware is best.
In the last 3 months…
If you found that you have identified with having problematic cannabis use, it would be wise to take some steps to avoid any adverse outcomes. Luckily, death by cannabis alone will not on the list of possible problems adverse outcomes… in fact, you may find that working your way out of problematic cannabis use easier than you expected.
Professionals are having trouble separating problematic use, use disorder, and just frequent consumption in the diagnosis of patients. Remaining educated and informed on the most recent cannabis research will be best yourself. Although, it is always recommended that you consult with medical professionals.
Differences of opinion on how to screen for problematic cannabis use and debates about whether the tools are able to differentiate between ‘safe’ and ‘risky’ cannabis continue as professionals try to get a better understanding of problematic cannabis use, formally known as Cannabis Use Disorder.
Patterns of cannabis use develop without much thought, however, changing them requires thought and intentional action. Luckily, it is easier to turn around from problematic use than it would be from Cannabis Use Disorder. Cannabis does have a low risk for physical dependence, however, over time, consumers may develop a psychological or emotional dependence without even realizing it.
*Cannabis version due to sharing similarities but with nothing as adverse as is to be expected from other types of addictions.
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