Substance Use Disorder

Substance Use Disorder

DSM-5 criteria of substance use and related disorders

Substance use disorder as per DSM-5 is part of a class disorder related to the taking of a drug of abuse. The disorders include alcohol use disorder, caffeine use disorder, cannabis use disorder, phencyclidine, and other hallucinogen use disorder, inhalant use disorder, opioid use disorder, stimulant use disorder, sedative, hypnotic or anxiolytic use disorder, and tobacco use disorder.

The psychological and developmental impact of the legalization of marijuana

The legalization of marijuana has led to increased use among adolescents. Prolonged usage of cannabis among young adults is a matter of concern considering the effect it has on their psychological development.

According to Krista et al. (2014), regular marijuana use during the adolescent and emerging adult years may disrupt brain function and result in reduced cognitive functioning. Furthermore, even subtle reductions in sustained attention, new learning, psychomotor speed, and executive functioning which may result in significant psychosocial consequences during the neurodevelopment period that is typically rich in new knowledge and continued education and training. As such, the legalization of marijuana harms the psychology and development of young adult users.

Marijuana legalization and addiction

In line with Magdalena (2012), states that legalized marijuana use for medicinal purposes has significantly higher rates of marijuana use and marijuana abuse and dependence. The trend is as a result of community approval for marijuana policy change. Communities that support marijuana use have a higher number of abusers since there is no social pressure to abstain from prolonged usage. In a society that does not support marijuana usage, addiction is lower because of the societal pressure regarding marijuana usage. Furthermore, in states where marijuana is illegal, there are smaller numbers of young adults and adolescents who use marijuana compared to countries where marijuana is legal.

Marijuana as an alternative form of pain management

Although marijuana leads to addiction and affects neurodevelopment in young adults, medical marijuana is an alternative form of pain management. Opioids are potent analgesics which have substantial benefits for pain management. However, although opioids are effective pain relievers, they often lead to death. According to Barth et al. (2012), low doses of marijuana could potentially be prescribed by physicians as pain relievers to help patients use cannabis effectively while minimizing cognitive and psychological side-effect. Therefore, medical marijuana, when prescribed by a physician, serves as an alternative form of pain management for opioid users which reduces opioid-related deaths.

Marijuana and managing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a severe mental condition that occurs when one is unable to recover after experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event. Some PTSD patients turn to marijuana to help manage their situation because of the ability of marijuana to distract one from reality. In line with Samuel et al. (2015), PTSD patients who use marijuana experience severe symptoms compared to other patients. Marijuana usage causes hallucinations and seeing that the PTSD patients already experience hallucinations, marijuana worsens their condition by increasing their delusions. Therefore, marijuana does not help manage PTSD effectively; instead, it aggravates the situation.

 

 

References

Cerdá, M., Wall, M., Keyes, K. M., Galea, S., & Hasin, D. (2012). Medical marijuana laws in 50 states: investigating the relationship between state legalization of medical marijuana and marijuana use, abuse and dependence. Drug and alcohol dependence, 120(1-3), 22-27.

Lisdahl, K. M., Wright, N. E., Medina-Kirchner, C., Maple, K. E., & Shollenbarger, S. (2014). Considering cannabis: the effects of regular cannabis use on neurocognition in adolescents and young adults. Current addiction reports, 1(2), 144-156.

Wilkinson, S. T., Stefanovics, E., & Rosenheck, R. A. (2015). Marijuana Use is Associated with Worse Outcomes in Symptom Severity and Violent Behavior in Patients with PTSD. The Journal of clinical psychiatry, 76(9), 1174.

Wilsey, B., Marcotte, T., Deutsch, R., Gouaux, B., Sakai, S., & Donaghe, H. (2013). Low-dose vaporized cannabis significantly improves neuropathic pain. The Journal of Pain, 14(2), 136-1