Cannabis, everyone is talking about it, but how do you recognize a joint smoker? Among the many signs we find the loss of self-control, the interference of consumption on school or professional activities or the continuation of consumption despite awareness of the disorders it causes. What alert those around you to the dangers of consumption that passes to be cool. But not that much …

A joint looks like a cigarette rolled with tobacco and rolling papers. Usually a little bigger than a cigarette. The smoker mixes a dose of tobacco with cannabis resin or dried herb, which he crumbles. He then places the mixture on two long rolling sheets, which he finds in all tobacco shops. The joints can therefore be recognizable because they are white and a little longer than a cigarette.

The smell it gives off is also very special. Between the herbal tea and the smell of foliage, the smoke is quite thick and gives off a rather strong fragrance.

The smoker behaves quite significantly:

• he seems relaxed, bordering on ridiculous;
• eyes vague, pupils dilated;
• the effect lasts for several hours;
• drowsiness, slowness in movement;
• in the case of daily smokers, one can observe the fingertips yellowed by the resin.

So the little square wrapped in foil or foil, hidden at the bottom of the sock in the dresser drawer is not a forgotten piece of chocolate. It’s cannabis resin. Ditto with the so-called herbal tea leaves, which dry on the radiator in his room. It’s herbal cannabis.

Cannabis is a mood-altering psychoactive substance. A person who regularly smokes cannabis may have:

• mood swings, anger, aggressiveness;
• a tendency to paranoia, unexplained fears;
• memory lapses.

Parents usually have no trouble realizing that their child has changed. They observe in particular a slowness of reaction, difficulty in making decisions, in finishing a discussion without losing the thread, in adopting irrational convictions.

Since cannabis is smoked with tobacco, the smoker coughs a lot. Indeed, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) present in cannabis, considerably weakens the secretion of saliva. The bronchi become dry. This dryness results in strong coughing fits and causes lung problems.

Little by little, the person locks himself in his world and becomes desocial. The impact on his social life, on his leisure activities, on his work can be significant. Medical care is then essential to get him out of this addiction.

When the person smokes a joint every now and then in the evening, or on one night of the year for an exceptional occasion, we are not talking about addiction. But when the practice is repeated frequently, the addiction is likely.

Problematic use or dependence on cannabis affects 7% of 17-year-olds and 3% of 18-64 year-olds.

People who are anxious, introverted, or with a tendency to depress, have an increased risk of dependence, as do those eager for thrills.

Addiction is diagnosed according to 11 criteria defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical manual of Mental disorders (DSM). This reference work published by the American Psychiatric Association (American Psychiatric Association or APA) describing and classifying mental disorders from statistics collected from psychiatric hospitals.

DSM experts list as addiction only substance dependence and those to video games and money.

Here are the 11 signs identified by the DSM. If a person has or has had at least 2 of the following 11 symptoms during the year, this may indicate addiction to cannabis:

• Strong and irrepressible need to consume cannabis;
• Loss of control over the amount and time spent taking cannabis;
• Lots of time spent researching cannabis;
• Increased tolerance to cannabis;
• Presence of a withdrawal syndrome, that is to say of all the symptoms caused by the sudden cessation of consumption (irritability, anger, hunger, compensation by another addiction, sweating, etc.);
• Inability to fulfill important obligations;
• Use even when there is a physical risk;
• Personal or social issues;
• Persistent desire or efforts to reduce doses;
• Reduced activities in favor of consumption;
• Continued use despite physical or psychological damage.

Addiction is qualified as low if 2 to 3 criteria are met, moderate for 4 to 5 criteria and severe for 6 criteria and more.