As more states legalize marijuana, use has become more normalized and products have become more potent. But fewer of those who are addicted seek help for it.
Pot use among young adults reached historic levels in recent years, according to a federally supported survey. Daily use even outpaced daily drinking, with nearly 18 million Americans reporting in 2022 that they use marijuana every day or nearly every day, up from less than 1 million three decades earlier.
Studies show a corresponding increase in cannabis use disorder — when people crave marijuana and spend lots of time using it even though it causes problems at home, school, work or in relationships. It’s a condition that researchers estimate affects about 3 in 10 pot users and can be mild, moderate or severe.
And it’s an addiction — despite the common misconception that that’s not possible with marijuana, said Dr. Smita Das, an addiction psychiatrist at Stanford University.
Alcohol industry has entered the chat.
The article referenced: The impact of recreational cannabis legalization on ED visit rates for acute cannabis intoxication https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39111101/
From the Abstract: “The increased visit rate occurred in the first month after legalization; however, the slope of the increasing rate of ED visits were similar before and after cannabis legalization (RR, 1.28, 95% CI (1.07, 1.54), p-value <0.001).”
lmao I was very confused for a second.
ED means something entirely different where I am, in the USA.
For those also confused, they are referring to the Emergency Department, which we call the ER (Emergency Room). Our version of ED is Erectile Dysfunction.
It is my understanding that cannabis possesses no addictive qualities. People enjoy it and enjoy enjoying it but they are not addicted for enjoying it. You do not get the DT’s by going cold turkey. Also, you can not overdose on it.
Everything we think we know about it was designed by the alcohol and tobacco industries along with the Hearst corporation and drug czar Harry Anslinger. Harry opined that reefer will make white women seek sexual relations with darkies (his word) resulting in disease and pregnancy. It will cause black men to step on the shadows of white men. It will cause brothers to murder one another. It will frighten Frankenstein’s monster. Google Harry Anslinger quotes for more useful knowledge.
Why would I need help?
Weed culture celebrates addiction and downplays risks and side effects. Cannabis might not be as bad as alcohol, but it can ruin lives as well. Stoners being lazy and stupid is not just a stereotype.
There’s also the trauma angle, it’s very effective for masking the symptoms of ptsd, anxiety, depression, etc. Does not fix these problems (likely makes anxiety and depression worse over time) but the symptoms go poof when you go puff.
Problem is, it takes a good therapist with the right modality to actually fix you, and finding that person is often an arduous process, if you can even access them to begin with, insurance etc. So people use the crutch that works.
Exactly. Cannabis can makes you feel okay with what is, this can impede taking the necessary steps for change. The „bad feeling“ goes away, but the reasons for them remain.
Poorly said but true
