Is My Child Addicted to Marijuana?

By DeAnna Jordan

 

Alcohol and marijuana addictions are difficult to identify. Alcohol is legal in all 50 states, with the legal drinking age set to 21 years old. Marijuana has become an increasingly acceptable drug; recreational use is legal in four states, and medical marijuana cards are available in 24 states.

Drinking and smoking marijuana are now considered a rite of passage for teenagers and young adults.

Less socially accepted drugs such as methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and benzodiazepines are easier to identify as a "problem" than alcohol and marijuana because these "street drugs" generally cause the user to fall into a vicious cycle at a faster pace than alcohol and marijuana.

If my child drinks and smokes weed below the legal age limit, are they addicted? 
Recreational use of marijuana and alcohol does not automatically qualify an individual as an alcoholic or an addict. 

While as a parent you may not approve of your child's use of alcohol and marijuana, this does not mean he or she has a problem.

The pressures of being a teenager have consumed the best of us, often without the thought of consequences.

If you are familiar with your family tree and know for certain that alcoholism and/or addiction run in your family, then there is a risk that your child, too, may suffer from addiction or alcoholism.

Your child may not, at present, suffer from an addiction to the alcohol or marijuana he or she uses on a recreational basis, but the possibility of a future addiction increases with the presence of a family history of addiction.

How do you know if your child is addicted to marijuana or alcohol?

There are a few major signs of alcoholism and addiction that the addiction industry has identified and that our outreach coordinators at New Method Wellness, the substance abuse treatment center where I work, ask the families of potential patients or the potential patients themselves:

1. Has marijuana or alcohol caused emotional, physical, financial or legal problems in your loved one's life?

Emotional problems can range anywhere from loss of friendships or romantic relationships to increased depression or anxiety.

Physical symptoms of an addiction generally indicate a physical dependence on the drug and range from overdose and alcohol withdrawal shakes to less obvious physical symptoms such as headaches, dizziness or loss of appetite.

Financial and legal problems go hand in hand, from possession of marijuana charges warranting a fine to DUIs and DWIs also warranting a fine and potential jail time. Often, at the point of legal and financial problems as a result of marijuana or alcohol, the individual has developed a full-blown addiction.

There is a positive correlation between the amount and frequency of drug and alcohol use and the presence of consequences. When you notice that your child's marijuana use and consumption of alcohol has increased and his or her consequences have subsequently increased, this is a good indicator that he or she may have a problem, as this indicates that the use of drugs and alcohol has made life unmanageable.

2. Has your child exemplified a significant decrease in responsibilities?

If your child has proven their ability to maintain a handful of responsibilities – such as school, sports, homework and a social life – simultaneously in the past, but their marijuana use and alcohol consumption has increased and their ability to manage responsibilities has decreased, he or she may have a problem.

Mind-altering substances used in high doses or high frequency have a way of negatively impacting one's ability to manage responsibilities. This happens in addiction cases because the priority shifts from taking care of legal, emotional, work or school responsibilities to the pursuit of alcohol or drugs.

Unfortunately, with the pressures and at times overwhelming responsibilities of today's youth, the drop in efficiency may be a result of burn out as opposed to the overuse of drugs and alcohol. Keep an eye on your child's behavior over time to determine whether this is a reflection of temporary burn out or a more severe addiction to alcohol or marijuana.

3. Have you noticed a personality change in your child?

Sometimes the personality changes that originate from an addiction or alcoholism are subtle, and sometimes they're blatant.

A few common characteristics of an addicted individual are:

• Isolation
• Depression
• Heightened anxiety
• Quick to anger
• Frequent exhaustion
• Distracted
• Defensive

If you notice your child has suddenly started to exemplify one or more of these personality changes over an extended period of time, it could be a sign he or she has a problem.

To summarize, if you notice your child has experienced negative emotional, physical, legal or financial consequences as a result of drinking or using marijuana; he or she has exemplified a decrease in responsibilities; or your child has shown a change in personality over an extended period of time, he or she may be addicted to marijuana or alcohol.

The good news is you can catch addictions in their early stages. By remaining proactive about your child's alcohol and marijuana use, you can ensure exposure to recovery at an early age increasing the chances of a long-term sobriety.