Kevin Hill, MD, chief of the Division of Addiction Psychiatry at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, says cannabis addiction is real and becoming more common.
Most cannabis users do not develop a cannabis use disorder, but Hill reports that rates have climbed. Five years ago, data showed 10 to 30 percent of adults developed the disorder. Current published data now shows 30 to 35 percent develop it. Hill attributes the rise to increasing cannabis potency.
Cannabis use disorder affects the same neurotransmitters as other addictive substances. Cannabis use triggers a surge in dopamine, similar to opioids, though the scale differs. Hill notes that many addiction medications work on these common pathways.
Genetic factors play a role in cannabis addiction risk. Hill says the genetic aspects of cannabis use disorder are less well understood than for other addictions. However, people with a family history of any addiction become more likely to develop another substance use disorder, including cannabis addiction.