Cannabis Dependence & Addiction: 30 Questions for Self Reflection©
30 questions, developed By Antonia Amore-Broccoli, LCSW to help a person explore their relationship with cannabis. Great for clinicians as an assessment tool for cannabis dependency. These questions offer a gentle, insightful exploration of how and if chronic cannabis use is directly affecting a person’s life.
When did you first begin using cannabis recreationally? How often did you use cannabis in the beginning?
Did your use eventually progress to regular and/or daily use? When did that happen?
How often do you use cannabis today?
Do you use cannabis to relieve problems or your emotions?
Do you use cannabis in social situations to make you feel less inhibited and/or to relieve social anxiety?
Do you use cannabis for medicinal reasons (regularly/chronically) to relieve mental, psychological, and/or physical ailments?
Have you noticed a decline in your cognitive function or thought processes since using cannabis ?
Do you experience problems with staying focused or completing tasks, since using cannabis/marijuana?
Do you have problems with short-term memory or do you sometimes overlook details since you began using cannabis?
Do you operate a vehicle or any other kind of machinery while using cannabis? If so, do you ever have a sense of invincibility when doing so?
Since you began using cannabis do you have difficulties maintaining boundaries, having sound reasoning and/or following through with basic functions for yourself?
Since you began using cannabis do you ever find that you are unable to follow through with what you say you are going to accomplish in regard to others?
As your use has progressed have you become more apathetic about life in general, especially in regard to your life’s purpose, and/or your career or educational goals?
If you are a parent: Have you had problems with being more permissive or alternatively, with being more rigid and controlling since your cannabis use began? Do you feel you are the parent you want to be?
Are you irritable, discontent and/or impatient or depressed when coming down from cannabis high? Do you ever experience these feelings and decide to get high again? Have you noticed that you want to get high sooner and more often?
Do you ever become anxious when your cannabis/marijuana supply is nearly gone? Have you gone to extreme lengths to be sure your supply doesn’t run out?
Do you hide your cannabis stash in different places and later forget where? Do you hide it from a significant other or family members?
As your cannabis use has increased, do you ever feel your life has become sluggish, as if time has slowed down or stopped completely? Do you feel you have become more isolated socially?
Do you ever feel less motivated or not motivated at all? This feeling is known as “amotivational syndrome,” and it can develop with chronic marijuana use and addiction. Do you ever experience this feeling? Has it affected your ability to follow through on your dreams and aspirations?
Have you at times abandoned your dreams and life aspirations or ever felt complacent, telling yourself that spending more time getting high is okay?
Have you experienced any adverse consequences in your job or in school as a result of your cannabis use?
Have you felt an increase of mood instability, or an overall decline in your mental health? Have you ever become psychotic as a result of cannabis THC use?
Have your friends, family members, or co-workers ever confronted you or been upset with you regarding your cannabis use?
Do you tend to feel more present or do you tend to feel more distant when you are under the influence of cannabis, or from regularly using cannabis ? Please describe.
Would you consider yourself dependent on using cannabis?
Have you ever tried to reduce your use or moderate or control your use? Have you been successful in doing this?
Have you made promises to yourself about reducing your use, but been unable to keep them? If so, has that caused feelings of shame, self- criticism, or depression?
Have you lost the ability to moderate or control your cannabis/marijuana use? Do you find yourself using it despite your best intention not to use?
Since using cannabis regularly, do you have any increased problems with impulse control, anger or rage?
Would you like a new lifestyle without the dependency or addiction to cannabis?
