In recent years, the legalization of marijuana has been a very acute cause of controversy both at the state and medical levels. Contrary to claims that marijuana is a safe substance that can be used by everyone, a lot of scientists are coming to the conclusion that marijuana can cause drug addiction.
The smoking of marijuana is not as dangerous as heroin or cocaine use; however, it can also lead to serious health problems, especially the psychological ones. A person suffering from marijuana addiction is also susceptible to incurable diseases, so this condition requires prompt and professional treatment.
Marijuana addiction treatment is based on an integrated approach, which is a combination of the use of special medicines and the implementation of individual or group therapy for the psychological support of the patient.
We recommend contacting us if you personally or someone you know has an addiction to marijuana. In our marijuana addiction treatment center you will receive the necessary help from the best specialists and get rid of this harmful habit.
Main Strategies of Marijuana Addiction Treatment
There is no universal pill for marijuana addiction, therefore, as in the case of other drugs, complex therapy is used.
In our rehabilitation center in, everything starts with marijuana detox, when all traces of drugs are removed from the body. However, even after that, a person may want to smoke marijuana again, so he will need the help of mental health services.
It is important to understand that treatment for marijuana addiction is a long and difficult process, both for the patient and for his family. Usually, the treatment takes from 90 days to several years. Treatment can be carried out on an outpatient basis or at the place of residence.
When it comes to drug rehab after detox in our treatment center doctors can choose one of the tactics recommended by the Mental Health Services Administration:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy aims to stabilize a person’s emotional state and develop personal strategies in the fight against addiction. People who abuse marijuana are invited to keep diaries, make lists of Pros and Cons, and share experiences.
- Motivational enhancement therapy has proven itself well among those people who started using a particular addictive substance due to life difficulties. Therapy helps to gain self-confidence, realize the effects of marijuana, and start a new life.
- Art therapy improves mental state, helps to activate brain activity, find new acquaintances and overcome internal conflicts.
- Training in contingency management will help not to break down in a critical situation and will allow one to control emotions.
All treatment programs are primarily aimed at psychological work with the patient because psychological addiction is at the heart of any substance use disorder. The main goal of any therapy is to teach a person to live in sobriety without marijuana, to cope with stresses that can trigger drug use, and to lead a full and happy life, and our specialists of the rehabilitation center are the best at solving these medical aims.
Marijuana Treatment Triggers
Marijuana is a gateway drug that is made from dried cannabis plant material, especially leaves, stems, and flowers of Cannabis sativa. Marijuana belongs to the category of THC-based drugs, as it contains special chemical compounds, one of which is tetrahydrocannabinol. It can be extracted from the plant itself or hash oil.
People smoke tobacco and marijuana in the same ways, in the form of classical or self-rolled cigarettes. After one puff, marijuana almost instantly enters the brain and, thanks to the chemical effect, creates a temporary psychotic reaction such as relaxation, pacification, or “absolute buzz”.
The most dangerous point is that the more often marijuana triggers chemical reactions in the brain, the faster it gets used to them and eventually ceases to function normally without drug use. For this reason, researchers suggest that marijuana belongs to habit-forming substances and leads to different use disorders, which have many negative consequences.
However, there is a term “medical cannabis” because this substance is sometimes applied by doctors. Medical and recreational use is explained by the fact that marijuana can stop the symptoms of seriously ill people. Medical marijuana finds application as one of the components of palliative treatment in oncology, AIDS, or chemotherapy. Such legalized marijuana cannot be found in the public domain, as it is stored in medical institutions according to the pharmaceutical regulations and given only based on a physician’s prescription.
Any other marijuana use is illegal and extremely dangerous to health, as it can cause severe mental illness or become the onset of pathological changes in human organs.
How people get to need assistance from the Rehab?
Everyone can become addicted to marijuana at some point in their life. However, there are a number of socio-economic factors that are highly likely to predict substance abuse in the future.
Researchers at the National Institute on Drug Abuse highlight the following aspects:
- Low level of family involvement. When parents do not participate in the child’s life, and he or she is left to themselves for a long time, then with high probability, in adolescence, the grown child can get into bad company, where they will try alcohol, smoking, and some illicit drug variants.
- There is a correlation between low awareness and drug use. That is, if from an early age, through family, school, or various activities, a person does not receive information about which health issues may arise as a result of marijuana use, then he will be more susceptible to possible consumption.
- The case of addiction in the family significantly increases the chances that in the future the person will face substance abuse.
- Problems with mental health conditions. For people who suffer from various psychiatric diseases, drug consumption is the easiest way to forget about difficulties and break away from the harsh reality.
There are other predictors of marijuana smoke. However, in any case, drug abuse leads to the fact that sooner or later a person will need the help of a rehabilitation specialist.
Marijuana Addiction Health Consequences
Even short-term marijuana abuse has a devastating effect on brain cells and is addictive, and chronic marijuana use can lead to fatal consequences for health. Marijuana addiction outcomes can be divided into two large groups, namely, psychological and physiological.
As a result of smoking marijuana, a person may face such mental health problems as:
- Cognitive impairment (memory disorders, lack of concentration, difficulties with solving simple everyday tasks).
- Insomnia, anxiety, and increased irritability.
- Confusion and hallucinations.
- Loss of motivation to work, study, or hobby.
- Various personality disorders and frequent psychoses.
Each of these conditions is very dangerous, but treatable. However, the most severe and common cannabis use disorder — depression with the emergence of suicidal tendencies — can lead to terrible consequences, even before the start of treatment.
In terms of physiological consequences, marijuana-addictive personalities have a high chance of encountering heart and lung problems. This is because marijuana smoking contributes to the destruction of the walls of blood vessels, which leads to a stroke, heart attack, or rupture of an aneurysm.
Like all tobacco smokers, marijuana users kill the health of the respiratory system, so they often suffer from severe lung infections, bronchitis, pharyngitis, and pneumonia. In addition, doctors are increasingly recording cases of lung cancer among those who have a marijuana addiction.
This is far from a complete list, as the National Institute on Drug Abuse notes that marijuana use also disrupts the work of the central nervous system and reproductive organs. All this gives solid reasons to believe that marijuana abuse is not safe.
Marijuana Withdrawal Symptoms
After stopping the use of marijuana, multiple drug craving may occur, which is accompanied by heavy withdrawal symptoms, especially among frequent smokers. The drug’s intoxicating effects include insomnia, depressed mood, lack of appetite, increased irritability, anger, and also fever/chills, tremors, and headache. Unfortunately, the only option is to wait out this period, because laboratories are only working on developing medications to ease withdrawal symptoms
Frequently Asked Questions — FAQ
How can I recognize marijuana addiction?
The symptoms of marijuana addiction, as in the case of other substance use disorders, can be divided into mental and physical. The first category includes memory problems, difficulty thinking, speech disorders, and constant laughter. The second category is characterized by red eyes, poor coordination, slow reaction, increased thirst, and hunger.
Does the rehab program in the center of marijuana addiction treatment work effectively?
The probability of successful treatment in our center is very high because specialists help patients accept the disease, understand the origins of mental health problems, learn to give up marijuana in stressful situations, and lead an interesting and healthy life without drugs. Psychological work is carried out individually or in groups, and a personal approach is developed for each patient.
What are the long-term effects of marijuana use?
The most dangerous long-term consequences are reduced immunity, impaired reproductive function, cardiovascular and neurological diseases, as well as serious mental health issues such as uncontrolled anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts. Therefore, to avoid the development of these illnesses, it is advisable to start rehabilitation as soon as possible in our center.