The Addicted Mind Podcast · Duane Osterlind, LMFT

Episode 354: Unveiling the Risks: THC Addiction and the Impact of High-Potency Cannabis with Dr Mitrevolis

·35 min·3 clips

Chronic cannabis use in teens leads to an eight-point IQ drop that doesn't recover, altering life outcomes.

Dr. Gary Mitrevolis, an addiction medicine specialist and medical director at Laguna Treatment Center, joins host Dwayne Osterlund to discuss cannabis use disorders and the effects of high-potency THC. The conversation focuses on the changing landscape of cannabis, its rising social acceptance, and emerging health data. Cannabis available today often contains THC concentrations upwards of 90%, compared to 2-3% common in the 1960s and 70s. Dr. Mitrevolis explains that THC activates CB1 receptors in the central nervous system, which can lead to euphoria but also paranoia, psychosis, and delusions. Studies indicate approximately one in ten adults who use cannabis develop a cannabis use disorder, a rate that rises to one in six for those who start in early adolescence. A prospective cohort study following about 1,000 people from age 13 to 38 found an average eight-point drop in IQ associated with chronic use, a decline that research suggests may not be recoverable even after cessation. Another study in *The Lancet* found adolescents with a family history of psychosis have a five-fold increased chance of expressing psychotic symptoms later in life with chronic cannabis use. Emergency department visits for cannabis intoxication are notably higher with edibles due to their delayed onset of effect, leading to overconsumption. Research from the *Journal of the American Heart Association* associates increased cannabis use with a higher risk of heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular disease, even when separated from tobacco use. Dr. Mitrevolis notes that while cannabis is often used to self-medicate anxiety or insomnia, prolonged use can actually increase baseline anxiety and worsen sleep. Withdrawal symptoms, including anxiety, irritability, depression, and significant insomnia, can begin within a week of stopping and may last for months, though their intensity diminishes over time. The discussion highlights that cannabis use can create an amotivational state by inhibiting dopamine production, which is crucial for drive and reward. Dr. Mitrevolis emphasizes the importance of seeking professional help to address the root causes of use and manage withdrawal, rather than relying on willpower alone. The tone is educational and conversational, blending clinical research with observational insights from the doctor's practice. The host and guest maintain a supportive, hopeful perspective focused on understanding and recovery. This episode is ideal for listeners concerned about modern cannabis potency, parents of adolescents, or individuals questioning their own cannabis use. Those seeking a debate on cannabis legalization or who prefer a purely pro-cannabis viewpoint might find the content less aligned with their interests.

As heard by us

A grounded look at rising THC potency and its possible effects on adolescents' mental health and cognition.

Dr. Gary Mitrovolis and Dwayne Osterlund keep the THC discussion concrete, linking rising potency to adolescent life in ways that are easy to follow.

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Why you'd press play

If you're trying to understand what rising THC potency may be doing to teens, this helps you hear the warning signs.

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