Contrary to what you may have been taught to believe, marijuana can be an addictive drug. And what makes marijuana unique, is that it is often times difficult to identify if someone is abusing it.
Research has show that on average, 30% of people using marijuana regularly are at risk of developing a dependency. As the most commonly used illicit drug in the US, it can be a little difficult for family members to monitor. By knowing the signs of marijuana abuse, it can become a little easier for you to identify if a loved one might have a problem and seek help.
10 Signs of Habitual Marijuana Abuse
As states make the decision to legalize marijuana, it’s becoming more and more common for people to use. While it still trails heavily behind alcohol and tobacco use, it could start to become more and more prevalent as time goes on.
If you notice any of the following signs in your loved one, they may be abusing marijuana:
- Marijuana tolerance – If you know your loved one is frequently using marijuana, but it does not alter their behavior, it’s possible they have built a tolerance. This is a clear indicator they could be on the road to addiction, because they may start taking higher doses to feel a high.
- Inability to scale back – Oftentimes, when someone is trying to change bad habits on their own, they hit a roadblock. This is a clear sign of addiction. They may even start to experience withdrawal symptoms.
- Priorities shift – If the majority of time is being spent getting high from marijuana and other important responsibilities or commitments are falling to the wayside, it’s a clear indication there is a problem.
- Using marijuana as an escape – If someone is using marijuana, or any drug, to escape problems or to avoid dealing with reality, it’s a bad sign. Drugs should never be used as a coping mechanism.
- Withdrawal from things that used to bring joy – It’s not uncommon for drug use to lead to withdrawing from friends, family and activities that someone used to enjoy.
- Depending on marijuana to relax – It’s also not uncommon for people to start using marijuana as a way to relax or to redirect their thoughts. But, if marijuana use becomes the only way to accomplish these things, it could lead to dependency.
- Finding a new circle of friends – If a loved one is starting to hang out with a new crowd of people, it could be because they are trying to find people they can get high with all the time. This is a sign that their addiction is taking priority.
- Excessive eating or snacking – When someone is abusing marijuana, they tend to experience a major change in appetite. If you notice changes in eating habits, it may be something to pay attention to – especially if you’ve noticed any of the above signs.
- Spending a lot of money on a marijuana habit – While marijuana is not typically an expensive drug, someone who is dependent on it might start to spend their money on things like bongs, rolling papers and other products to enhance their experience with the drug.
- Denial – As with many bad habits, denial is a sign that they might not be aware they have a dependency. If you notice this along with any of the other symptoms, you might want to seek help.
As a loved one, it is your job to educate yourself on the dangers of marijuana abuse and to be an advocate for your loved one. You can’t force someone to get help, but you can start to help them understand that just like any other illicit drug, regular marijuana use can lead to addiction.
Find Answers at Spirit Mountain Recovery Center
Spirit Mountain Recovery is perfectly located in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah, just north of Salt Lake City. We offer remarkable treatment programs for men seeking drug and alcohol rehabilitation. We make it our goal to help our clients get the rest, nutrition and exercise they need to reorient their life goals and find joy outside of addiction. Contact us today to get answers from an admissions counselor about how to help your loved one.
