3 Myths About Cannabis Use Disorders – Cannabis | weed | marijuana

What are three myths about cannabis use disorders? The whole concept is probably a myth. Regardless, the US has an ICD-10 code for cannabis disorders. As well as a cannabis ICD-20 code. Although none of these accurately describe the myth.

To do this, we use the definition of cannabis use disorder in the DSM-5. They list twelve points that suggest that chronic or daily cannabis use counts as a “disorder.”

Some of these symptoms of cannabis use disorder are:

• A persistent desire or unsuccessful effort to limit or control cannabis use.
• Craving or a strong desire or urge to use cannabis.
• Experience cannabis withdrawal

There’s more, but the common thread is involuntary behavior. A cannabis use disorder, or any addiction, is characterized by the belief that we are not choosing to use it, that we are being forced and cannot stop.

Now let’s not deny that some people think that way. You might wish you could only schedule the weekends, but the thought of moderating cannabis is too daunting. Really ridiculous.

Unfortunately, politicians and public health officials are no help. Rehabilitation and treatment centers often do more harm than good.

And while three myths about cannabis disorders may not seem like a big deal, when it comes to the opioid crisis, these myths are killing people.

Because we can apply these three cannabis use disorder myths to any drug that induces a high. We’re not denying that you may feel compelled to use substances despite the negative consequences. But by debunking these three myths, you can break through the public health bullshit and decide for yourself.

Cannabis use disorder myth #1: Loss of control

The addiction and recovery ideology is very similar to banking. When you go to the bank, don’t deposit your money. You lend it to the bank.

Most people have no idea what fractional reserve banking is. If they understood how the Federal Reserve’s “open market operations” led to massive inflation, we would have a revolution tomorrow morning.

Or take modern race relations. Martin Luther King’s belief that we should treat one another as individuals was turned on its head. Now we are members of an identity group first and then individuals (if at all).

But race is a social construct. Biologically, we are all homo sapiens. Our skin color is determined by how close our ancestors were to the equator.

Similarly, addiction is a social construct. “Addiction experts” speak of a loss of control over drug use. The idea is that once you show up, the fun can’t stop.

If you smoke a joint, you get two. And why the hell not? Make it three.

Perhaps this cannabis use disorder myth doesn’t need to be debunked. But almost everyone believes that a former problem drinker can never drink again. Also, how many ex-cannabis users are afraid to touch the herb lest they “get hooked again”?

Of course, several laboratory experiments have never found any proof of this myth. Even hardcore opioid addicts will reduce or save on their dose when supplies run low. The ability to conserve medication is not part of the “clutter” paradigm.

Fact: There is no loss of control because people make substance use decisions based on their inner (and subjective) scales of values.

Cannabis Use Disorder Myth #2: The Abduction of the Brain

Another cannabis use disorder myth holds that the craving or “desire to use cannabis” originates outside of you. As if it were an external force compelling you to behave.

We have already covered this topic. There is no “abduction” of the brain. Even drugs that alter the mesolimbic pathway, like cocaine, are not inherently “addictive.”

Eating increases dopamine. Food alters the mesolimbic pathway – especially high-fat diets. Next, we might hear about the “keto diet disorder” as public health attempts to further demonize red meat and salt.

But don’t take our word for it. Here is a scientific researcher’s conclusion:

There are no published studies demonstrating a causal relationship between drug-induced neural adaptations and compulsive drug use, or even an association between drug-induced neural changes and an increase in preference for an addictive drug.

The brain disease model of addiction is complete nonsense. Like the last few nutritionists clinging to the “low-fat processed foods are good for you” trend, the researchers supporting the brain disease model are a dying breed. The facts do not support their ideology.

The brain changes that “cause” addiction occur when you develop habits. Nobody feels compelled to play the guitar. However, if you practice long enough, the neural changes will make chord progressions and soloing much easier.

Cannabis Use Disorder Myth #3: Cannabis Withdrawal

What is considered heavy cannabis use? Apparently there are withdrawal symptoms. According to DSM-5

Withdrawal manifests itself as either (1) the characteristic withdrawal syndrome associated with cannabis, or (2) the use of cannabis to alleviate or prevent withdrawal symptoms.

It doesn’t follow that experiencing withdrawal means you have a “cannabis use disorder.”

Throughout history, withdrawal symptoms were thought to be a reaction to the body eliminating the drug. That’s technically all there is to a payout.

An alcohol hangover is alcohol withdrawal. Suppose you go on a one-off binge and experience the aftermath the next day. So are you an alcoholic? Will you be forced to drink more to starve the hangover?

You don’t even have to experience withdrawal symptoms to feel addicted. What are the withdrawal symptoms from problem gambling or sex? Boredom?

Almost everyone drinks coffee in the morning to avoid caffeine withdrawal. Do We Have a Caffeine Use Disorder?

But what about the pleasure points in the brain?

These three myths about cannabis use disorders aren’t myths at all, we hear some of you say. Drugs are not like food; Drugs hit the pleasure point (or reward circuit) in the brain. That’s why you become addicted.

According to the critic, cannabis use disorder may be milder than opioid use disorder, but it is still a serious condition.

But pleasure is subjective. Imagine an activity that touches your brain’s pleasure points: listening to music.

Researchers recorded brain scans of people listening to music. They came to the conclusion

We have shown here that music recruits neural reward and emotion systems similar to those known to respond specifically to biologically relevant stimuli, such as food and sex, and those artificially activated by substance abuse. This is quite remarkable since music is not strictly necessary for biological survival or reproduction, nor is it a pharmacological substance.

Music consists of sound waves moving through the air. Nothing gets into your body. But who hasn’t experienced moments of intense joy and reward while listening to their favorite song?

The symptoms of cannabis use disorder are based on ideology, not science.

Suppose you find yourself fitting some of the DSM-5 definitions of a cannabis use disorder. You would be better off reading our previous posts on the subject than paying big bucks to a psychiatrist to misdiagnose you.

Cannabis use disorder is a myth. Like any addiction and treatment ideology, it is a social construct. It only exists in people’s minds. It has no basis in objective reality.