Understanding cannabis use disorder
If cannabis is affecting things you care about, you can take that concern seriously. Find language for the changes you have noticed and learn what support or assessment may involve.
Use alone does not tell the whole story.
Some people develop a pattern of cannabis use that is difficult to control and continues despite problems. Cannabis use disorder concerns that pattern and its effects, rather than simply whether you use cannabis.
A clinician can consider why you use it, how often, the product, other substances and medical context. Using a prescribed product does not settle a diagnosis either way; your care needs an individual conversation.
Based on CDC · MedlinePlus · National Library of Medicine
Keep your reasons and the effects in the same conversation.
- Your reasons
What cannabis is doing for you
- Your pattern
Control, cravings and changes over time
- Your daily life
Effects on activities and relationships
- Your support
Care that considers the whole context
Describe the pattern without making assumptions about why you use.
Cannabis assessment considers control, continued use despite difficulties and effects on daily life. Medical or nonmedical context should be explained to the clinician rather than treated as an automatic answer about whether a disorder applies.
Changes in attention, mood or sleep can need attention alongside the use pattern. A cannabis screen does not prove the cause of those symptoms.
Intended role
What you use it for and any treatment already involved.
Actual effects
What has changed in health, functioning or relationships.
Change attempts
What has happened when you tried to reduce or stop.
Based on CDC · MedlinePlus
Describe what has changed around use.
These examples can help explain a concern without deciding the diagnosis yourself.
Reasons for use
Using more than you meant to, or struggling to reduce use.
Control & cravings
Cravings or a large amount of time organised around cannabis.
Things you value
Use getting in the way of responsibilities, relationships or activities.
Health & medicines
Feeling uncomfortable when reducing use, or continuing despite unwanted effects.
Based on CDC · MedlinePlus · National Library of Medicine
A cannabis-specific screen is one part of a conversation.
Assessment can explore control, effects on everyday life, other health concerns and the reasons you use cannabis. Talk about medicines or medical use so the context is not lost.
CUDIT-R was developed as a revised eight-item screening measure. It is not interchangeable with every form called CUDIT, and a study result is not an individual probability of having a disorder.
Based on CDC · MedlinePlus · National Library of Medicine · Adamson and colleagues · University of Otago repository
- 1The change
What feels different from how you wanted to use it?
- 2The impact
What matters to you that has become harder?
- 3The context
What medical, sleep or other substance details matter?
Ask for support that addresses your own reasons for use.
You and your clinician can discuss what fits your needs, preferences and health.
Ask what support addresses both use and wellbeing.
Psychological treatment may help with the pattern and goals for change. Ask how other mental health concerns and symptoms during reduction will be assessed.
If a previous attempt felt difficult, describe what happened and what support was missing. A clinician can discuss appropriate follow-up without requiring a particular screening result first.
Based on MedlinePlus
A little clarity. A place to start.
Explore a tool, prepare a conversation or find someone to talk to. Choose what feels useful to you.
Prepare for a conversation
A few prompts to help you explain what you have noticed and what you would like help with.
- A simple notes builder
- Copy your notes to keep
- No account needed
You decide how much to write and share.
Find your wordsFind your next kind of support
Explore where to begin with everyday support, professional help or an urgent conversation.
- Ways to ask for help
- Country-specific crisis contacts
- Support at your own pace
If you need urgent help, go straight to support.
Find supportYour first sentence does not need to be perfect.
You could describe something cannabis is making harder and ask about local support. You do not need to share answers here or wait for a screening score before arranging a conversation.
Based on CDC · MedlinePlus · National Library of Medicine
“I am worried about how cannabis is affecting my life and would like to discuss support that fits my situation.”Make it sound like you
Your questions, with room for nuance.
You can read just the answer you need.
Does a CUDIT-R result prove a cannabis use disorder?
No. It is a screening measure with a specific research context. Diagnosis needs assessment of the wider pattern; a score cannot explain every symptom or establish acute safety.
Based on CDC · MedlinePlus
Where this information comes from.
Use this hub to learn and prepare questions. It does not diagnose you or recommend a personal treatment plan. By Selfmora editorial; sources checked . Updated .
Additional explanations and examples: sources consulted . Examples illustrate ideas; they do not assess your personal health. Your questions
- Cannabis use disorder
- Cannabis use disorder: assessment and treatment
- CUDIT-R: original instrument-development study
- TAPS: two-stage screening instrument information