Signs of Pot Use: Guide to Signs & Symptoms of Marijuana Use
By David Rotenberg, MA, MBA, CAC Diplomate, Executive Director of Adolescent & Young Adult Services at Caron Treatment Centers
Identify and Address Concerns over Pot Use
Marijuana is often referred to as a “gateway drug.” In reality, this phrase does a disservice to the drug’s users by minimizing and trivializing the impact it has on the lives of addicts and their loved ones. Marijuana, as a “stand alone drug”, is a brutalizing substance on the physical, social, and emotional well-being of addicts. In fact, over 50% of adolescents and young adults under the age of 25 that are admitted to Caron have indicated that pot is their drug of choice. Despite what you may hear, marijuana is and has always been damaging to users, their loved ones, and their family systems.
Parents and loved ones who argue that “it’s just weed” or “it’s nothing to worry about” are minimizing the drug and essentially giving tacit approval to the act of using it. Our society also has a generation of parents who were raised in the Woodstock era (and after) which, coupled with our popular multimedia culture, creates a dangerous synergy that paints marijuana in an almost socially acceptable light.
How do I know if my child is smoking pot?
There are several ways to tell if someone is habitually smoking pot. We have broken it down into two categories, behavioral and physical, to help you identify if a child or loved one is habitually abusing marijuana.
Behavioral Signs of Pot Use:
- Lack of motivation or ambition for activities that once excited the user.
- In many cases, participation in sports, social groups, or other pursuits will wane or even cease entirely.
- Performance in school or in the workplace will begin to decline, coupled with a sense of apathy towards this decline.
- Withdrawal from the family system – This is most often the case with adolescents and young adults, but can be a warning sign for adults as well.
- Drastic change in peer group – An addict will often abandon peer groups in favor of those who share similar desires and behaviors, namely those engaging in drug use.
- Personal hygiene may begin to suffer as he or she is less concerned with their public appearance.
- Depressive style of mood. Marijuana addicts manifest many of the same characteristics as those suffering from depression. An addict will have a flat affect and mood; he or she will appear lazy and day-to-day functioning will start to deteriorate on every major life level.
- Aversive, avoidant behavior
Physical Signs of Pot Use:
Marijuana is a drug of convenience; for a relatively small amount of money (sometimes as little as ten dollars), a person can buy enough that can be shared with several people but still transports easily in a pocket or bag. Furthermore, pot can be purchased in almost any neighborhood in any city or state in the country, thus contributing to the pervasive nature of the drug. It is also considered a drug of convenience because it is easily concealed, both for transport and use. This is why it has become widely popular with adolescents or young adults who have a lot of authority figures involved in their lives. Unlike alcohol, where the signs of use are often overt and overwhelming, a marijuana user can often conceal their use in the event that they are under scrutiny, often with such simple remedies as a quick shower or a few drops of Visine.
However, there are still some physical characteristics that can be used to identify if a loved one is using marijuana, available below:
- Bloodshot eyes
- Slowed speech
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Averting eye contact or an unsteady gaze.
Finally, many people ask about the smell of marijuana and whether or not that can be used as a distinguishing factor. The sense of smell is very personal; one person’s perception of a smell could be dramatically different from a friend or colleague even if they are investigating the same smell. It is recommended that you concentrate on physical symptoms to identify marijuana use than speculating on the fickle nature of smells.
What Should I do if my Loved One is Abusing Marijuana?
Dealing with a loved one who is addicted to marijuana can be a trying endeavor for all involved. However, if you have reasonable evidence to suspect your child or loved one may be smoking pot, there are several options you can consider.
- Honest, Open Dialogue – Depending on your own background and relationship with the addict, you could consider engaging in an open dialogue about their drug abuse. Try to determine what led them to seek out weed as a coping mechanism in the first place and concentrate on the driving factors that led to the drug, rather than overstressing the use.
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If open dialogue is unsuccessful, a level of care evaluation by a local provider may be necessary. The first step would be to contact an appropriate drug and alcohol counselor for a full assessment; this assessment will help determine what type of treatment approach should be considered. It will also help differentiate casual use from abuse or full-blown addiction.
Identifying marijuana abuse can be a slippery task because many of the symptoms can also be indicators of depression or simply apathetic behavior (sleeping too much, not motivated at school/work). However, if you have strong reason to believe your loved one has a marijuana addiction, you should always err on the side of caution and address it head on. It is always better to address the issue and be proven wrong than to sweep it under the rug.
