I thought that my Drugs of Choice would not cause me Problems. I Was So Wrong.

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Dear AJ,

I live in Colorado and I never used cannabis until it was legal, when I started smoking it occasionally. I am 50 years old, and now I find myself addicted to it. I thought cannabis was not addictive, but there is no other way to describe what I am. My consumption worsened during the pandemic, when I was working from home all the time. I smoke cannabis all day, every day, and I want to stop. I’ve tried more times than I can to quit and I just can’t seem to do it alone. I don’t know if AA can help or what is the best way to get help. My doctor encouraged me and said he would support me, but when I asked what the options were, he said mainly anti-nausea meds, which I don’t believe will help. What is the standard of care for cannabis use disorder? What can I do to give myself the best chance of success the next time I try to quit?

— Stoned in Colorado

Dear Stoned,

You are right that cannabis does not produce the issues that many other substances produce. My colleague Joe Schrank, who is a social worker, is a strong advocate of using cannabis as part of harm reduction treatment for alcohol addiction. Here is what he told me about the medicine:

I know how hard that sounds, but I can assure you that Joe is on the good side, even if he is not liked. And of course, what he describes as “wishing you had weed” can manifest itself in many symptoms that, while not life-threatening, are not pleasant – everything to from anxiety and anger to headaches and stomach aches, according to the paper. entitled “Clinical Evaluation of Cannabis Withdrawal.” However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s most important concern when it comes to cannabis and death is the potential for an adult to lift a car, or children to get involved in edibles.

So, you were completely wrong error at your first thought that weed is not like other drugs. But again, as you noticed – you were a bit wrong.

I have met many people like you, who feel that their cannabis addiction is being ridiculed as not being a “real” addiction, and after talking to my doctor about this, I am also looking at some of the scientific facts that available on Google. ‘I had to dismiss those feelings myself. 1 in 10 adults who use weed become a true addict, just like you. That addiction—the cravings, the time spent—can lead to “a significant decline in quality of life,” Christina Brezing, a psychiatrist at Columbia University, told the New York Times. And unfortunately, according to the Times article, the best your doctor can do for you in terms of medication is probably things that can help you manage your symptoms. “There is an urgent need to develop effective treatments, either behavioral or pharmacological, for cannabis use disorder,” psychiatrist Deepak Cyril D’Souza said in Yale Medicine FAQ on cannabis use disorder, which also noted that different types of treatment can help. meanwhile.

All of this doesn’t mean it gets you any closer to a solution—or doesn’t have enough of the air of compassion I’m aiming for in this column. So, to serve you better, I’ve marked my friend “C.” (an alias, obv), who also struggled with cannabis. “It can be very difficult to let go,” he says. It’s so difficult that I haven’t done it completely successfully, but I’ve reduced my THC intake a lot and I’ve had enough sessions to give advice if not professional advice.” He is excited to share with you what he learned:

You see? You are not alone here. You probably knew that, but I really want you to know feel that. As for what I can offer you personally, although our unique experiences with things differ: I tell you that far from “partnership and service” are two practical ideas that hold me together and give me the freedom to to grow as a person. get rid of most of the negative emotions that drove me to (mis)use alcohol and drugs for half of my life. Those are some of the Alcoholics Anonymous words; This is what I mean: Be open to others who are going through what you are, if not the exact same situation, others who are also struggling. Sometimes, all it takes is talking to someone in person or on the phone. Try talking to them—not texting. Part of what works here is letting someone recognize the weakness of your voice, open up to them, and let them open up to you.

If you want to gently dip your toe into the world of dating, I encourage you to come to one of our Small Bow meetings. I promise you will find many of your people there. And the best part is, after being there regularly, you’ll feel more grounded, more competent, and, ultimately, more willing to help someone else find a way out. Nice to see you there!