Understanding Cannabis Use Disorder and its Impacts

This article provides an in-depth understanding of Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD), its causes, impacts, and available treatment options. It explores the physical and mental influences of cannabis, the signs and symptoms of CUD, and the risks associated with long-term exposure. The article also discusses the prevalence of cannabis use in Australia and the effects on personal life. Additionally, it highlights evidence-based practices and interventions for overcoming CUD, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and pharmacotherapy. Overall, it aims to educate readers about CUD and raise awareness about the harmful effects of cannabis use.

Assessment
Cannabis and its impacts:
Cannabis is referred as the psychoactive drug
which is found from cannabis plant utilise
primarily for recreational or medical purposes.
Tetrahydrocannabinol is the main component of
cannabis among 483 known compounds (Gates &
et. al., (2016). It has various physical and mental
influences including altered states of mind,
Euphoria, impaired short term memory, increase in
appetite, impaired body movement, difficulty in
concentration etc. Cannabis helps in managing
symptoms of multiple sclerosis, chronic pain in
adults, vomiting and nausea resulting from
chemotherapy. It can also help with sleep issues
like sleep apnea, low appetite, anxiety and
Tourette’s syndrome. Acute impacts of cannabis
may involve maximized risk of psychotic
symptoms, impaired memory and attention,
maximize risk of accident, inability to think clearly
and anxiety and panic. Long-term exposure to
cannabis may have biologically based behavioural,
social, mental and physical consequences (Hill, &
et. al., (2017).
Cannabis use disorder:
Cannabis use disorder (CUD) is an issue pattern of
cannabis utilisation which causes clinically
significant distress or impairment. This disorder is
related to dependence in which an individual
experiences withdrawal symptoms when not taking
cannabis. These people often report sleep difficulties,
irritability, cravings, physical discomfort, decreased
appetite that peak within initial week after quitting.
When reliance and other factors escalate to CUD, an
individual cannot stop using it even though the drug
interferes with many aspects of a person's life.
According to the report of national drug strategy
household survey, it was found that around one in ten
Australians aged over 13 years utilised cannabis and
around 12.8% people are daily users of it (Lintzeris &
et. al., (2018). It has been found that the people who
are aged between 20 to 29 years has high prevalence
of cannabis use. Although, it has lower acute toxicity,
the morbidity associated with it are major burden on
public health. The people who dependent on the drug
are at higher risk and experience many problems in
their personal life.
There are several layers that can inhibit the treatment
seeking involving thinking treatment is unnecessary,
concerns about confidentiality, not being aware of the
options available for treatment, cost of treatment, lack
of accessibility etc.
In order to overcome from this disorder, there are some
evidence based practices and intervention available like
cognitive behavioural therapy, pharmacotherapy,
motivational enhancement therapy, psychosocial
interventions etc.

In Australia, the main reason behind more use of
drugs among young individuals involves conflict
with parents and parental drug use. Cannabis
intoxication causes sensation of slowed time,
impaired learning, impaired motor coordination
and decreased short term memory.
It can also cause acute psychosis with
hallucinations and delusions and can trigger
schizophrenia in around 4 percent of regular uses
(Lubman, Cheetham, & Yücel, (2015). It can also
cause delirium due to which an individual feel
disturbance in awareness, cognition and attention.
The main signs of symptoms of cannabis use involves
chronic cough, yellowing of fingertips, red eyes,
exaggerated cravings, cannabis odour on clothing and
burning of incense. After the reduction in prolonged
and heavy use of cannabis, cannabis withdrawal
occurs.
The symptoms of petrol do not need medical
attention, however quitting it is difficult for the
individuals. Around 9% of users are addicted to it.
CUD in schools often triggers dramatic drop in
grades, declining interest in sports as well as other
activities. Among adults, this disorder is often related
to lower income, impaired social functioning,
unemployment, work impairment and welfare
dependence (Olfson, & et. al., (2018).
Facts and ways to help students:
The self-reported issues related to mental health
increased among individuals who have utilised
cannabis from 21 percent in year 2013 to 28 percent in
year 2016 (Facts About marijuana/cannabis use
Australia, 2019). In year 2017 - 18, maturity of arrest
and national illicit drugs seizures were from cannabis.
It has been reported that the prime source of cannabis
are friends.
In order to overcome the issue of cannabis use disorder,
drug and alcohol services play a significant role in
supporting in withdrawal. Detox is the initial phase of
treatment which is the process of cleaning drugs or
alcohol from body.

Apart from this, cognitive behavioural therapy
proves to be very effective for the individuals as
this helps in changing behaviour and mood of
individual suffering from the disorder
(MacCallum, & Russo, (2018).
This helps in learning the way to examine the
thoughts that cause physical and psychological
harm through use of drug. In addition to this, the
addiction education program helps in aware the
people about the use and misuse of cannabis and
the harmful impact of it.
This program helps in supporting them in ongoing
recovery by providing them with support to recognise
this signs of using and withdrawing the drug along
with other aspects associated with it.
Art therapy is also an effective way in reducing
anxiety and stress, motivate individual and develop
confidence along with a sense of achievement among
them. With the assistance of this therapy, the
individual feel relax and enable them to emphasize on
positive thoughts (Cannabis Addiction Treatment,
2020).
REFERENCES
Gates, P. J., & et. al., (2016). Psychosocial
interventions for cannabis use disorder. Cochrane
Database of Systematic Reviews, (5).
Hill, K. P., & et. al., (2017). Cannabis and pain: a
clinical review. Cannabis and cannabinoid
research, 2(1), 96-104.
Lintzeris, N., & et. al., (2018). Medicinal cannabis in
Australia, 2016: the cannabis as medicine survey
(CAMS‐16). Medical Journal of Australia, 209(5),
211-216.
Lubman, D. I., Cheetham, A., & Yücel, M. (2015).
Cannabis and adolescent brain
development. Pharmacology & therapeutics, 148, 1-16.
MacCallum, C. A., & Russo, E. B. (2018). Practical
considerations in medical cannabis administration and
dosing. European journal of internal medicine, 49, 12-
19.
Olfson, M., & et. al., (2018). Cannabis use and risk of
prescription opioid use disorder in the United
States. American Journal of Psychiatry, 175(1), 47-53.
Facts About marijuana/cannabis use Australia, 2019.
[Online]. Available through:
<https://whsandtrainingcompliance.com.au/facts-
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