These red flags could mean you've lost control over your cannabis use.
With recreational marijuana use now legal in many states, many people are enjoying cannabis safely and guilt-free. But while many people use this popular psychoactive drug without any adverse effects, a study published in the Dec. 2015 issue of JAMA Psychiatry estimated that three in 10 people who habitually use cannabis have "marijuana use disorder," and a 2011 study found that frequent users have a 10 percent chance of becoming addicted to the drug.
Could your cannabis use be creating problems without you even realizing it? Read on to find out what behaviors and symptoms signal marijuana addiction, and how it could be impacting your quality of life.
1. Lack of interest in activities you once enjoyed.
Marijuana use disorder can cause a depressed mental state, including apathy, lack of motivation, irritability, loss of interest in daily activities, inability to concentrate, and feelings of isolation, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
"One of the strongest signs that a patient is addicted to marijuana is if their use gets in the way of their normal activities," says Andrea Paul, MD, a medical advisor at Illuminate Labs.
"This could be as severe as a job loss, but it could also be [more minor] things like choosing to socialize less with certain friends who don't use marijuana."
