Using Weed Alone

While using marijuana outside of the company of friends can be a way to escape from the stresses of daily life, one sign of a brewing problem is using alone more frequently.

One recent study found that people who reported solitary use of marijuana had higher rates of symptomatic marijuana dependency, needing to use marijuana to cope, and overall use versus people who used marijuana around other people (Spinella et al, Drug Alcohol Rev, 2019).

So, the next time you consider using marijuana, ask yourself: do I want to get high to enjoy the company of my friends, or because I don’t want to be alone with my thoughts sober? If the latter is your answer, it may be time to reconsider your marijuana habits, despite how well-adapted you are in other areas of your life.

Using alone may also be caused by marijuana dependence, and your desire to avoid symptoms of withdrawal. If you use every day, chances are high that you feel uncomfortable when you stop smoking, and that using makes those unpleasant feeling go away. After a long period of marijuana use, your withdrawal symptoms may be cause so much discomfort that you are motivated to use marijuana just to prevent them from occurring at all. If you’re experiencing this frustrating cycle of withdrawal and dependence, it may be worth learning more about cannabis use disorder.