This week Bobbi Conner talks with Dr. Rachel Tomko about treatment for cannabis use disorder. Dr. Tomko is an Associate Professor in the Addiction Sciences Division of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and a clinical psychologist specializing in the treatment of substance use disorder at MUSC.
TRANSCRIPT:
Conner: I'm Bobbi Conner for South Carolina Public Radio with Health Focus here at the radio studio for the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. Recent research estimates that approximately 3 in 10 people who use cannabis meet criteria for cannabis use disorder. Doctor Rachel Tomko is here to talk about cannabis use disorder and treatment. Doctor Tomko is an Associate Professor in the Addiction Sciences Division of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and a clinical psychologist specializing in the treatment of substance use disorder at MUSC. Doctor Tomko, tell us about cannabis use disorder
Dr. Tomko: When someone has cannabis use disorder, it means that they are experiencing problems with mental or physical health due to increased cannabis use. Or it could mean that they're continuing to use even though cannabis is interfering with their responsibilities, their relationships, or other important activities in some way. So, people may notice that going without cannabis use is becoming more difficult for them. And we know that about one out of every 14 adults in the United States report symptoms consistent with cannabis use disorder. We particularly see high rates among young adults. In fact, one out of every six 18 to 25 year olds is estimated to have cannabis use disorder.
Conner: Doctor Tomko, from your perspective, how can someone determine honestly if they might be struggling with cannabis use disorder?
Dr. Tomko: Great question. If you are finding that more of your time is revolving around cannabis use, and you're spending less time on other things that you enjoy doing or need to be doing, that's a pretty big warning sign. If you've struggled to reduce your use when you told yourself that you were going to reduce in the past, that's also a sign.
Conner: Tell us about treatment for cannabis use disorder.
Dr. Tomko: We have several effective behavioral treatments for cannabis use disorder. This includes things like counseling or working one on one with a therapist, or potentially even in a group setting with a therapist. One type of treatment we know to be effective is called cognitive behavioral therapy. And in cognitive behavioral therapy, you meet with a therapist or counselor to learn techniques to help you to reduce your substance use. And you can also work with your therapist or counselor to help with depression or anxiety that might be contributing to cannabis use for some people.
Conner: When should someone seek help and who is a good initial contact for this problem?
Dr. Tomko: If you've tried to cut back on your own and were not as successful as you had hoped, a mental health professional may be able to help. So, find a psychologist, a social worker, a counselor, or a psychiatrist you feel comfortable talking to. That's a great place to start.
Conner: I know you're involved in a research study about cannabis use disorder. Tell us about that study.
Dr. Tomko: We are recruiting approximately 220 adults who use cannabis and are interested in reducing their use. The study that we're conducting now, we're in the fourth year. We are trying to determine how we might be more helpful to people wanting to reduce their cannabis use instead of completely quitting. In our study, participants meet with a therapist for a goal setting session and then complete a web-based treatment. And we follow their progress as they work toward their own specific goals. We are hoping to learn how much most people need to reduce their use to no longer have cannabis use disorder symptoms, but we also want to understand what factors determine whether someone is successful during treatment.
Conner: Doctor Tomko, thanks for this information about cannabis use disorder.
Dr. Tomko: You're welcome.
Conner: From the radio studio for the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, I'm Bobbi Conner for South Carolina Public Radio.
Health Focus transcripts are intended to accurately represent the original audio version of the program; however, some discrepancies or inaccuracies may exist. The audio format serves as the official record of Health Focus programming.
