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Marijuana Abuse
Marijuana is Harmful
The perception of marijuana has shifted dramatically in recent decades. While it is clearly not the same as heroin addiction, marijuana should never be mistaken as a benign or harmless substance. The most commonly abused controlled substance, marijuana abuse often precedes other, more serious, forms of substance abuse like cocaine, methamphetamine or even heroin addiction. While marijuana is a viable and increasingly utilized resource in the treatment of various medical conditions, it still contains mind-altering substances that can significantly compromise a user’s judgment and cause them to engage in behavior that can be dangerous to themselves or others.
Marijuana is Dangerous
Marijuana abuse can create many physical and psychological dangers, which will increase with the scope and duration of abuse. Some of the immediate dangers of marijuana abuse include:
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Dramatic Changes in Mood
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Impaired Body Movement
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Impaired Cognitive Ability
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Impaired Memory
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Respiratory Problems
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Increased Heart Rate
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Hallucinations
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Impaired Decision-Making
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Increased Risk-Taking
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The Importance of Marijuana Addiction Treatment
For those addicted to marijuana, what they can experience when they try to quit the drug can be similar to other drugs. While the physical aspects of withdrawal are significantly less severe in comparison to other illicit drugs, many marijuana users can experience significant psychological symptoms that are associated with the withdrawal process. While those who quit using the drug may not experience withdrawal symptoms, for those that do they can experience the following:
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Insomnia
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Vivid dreams
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Anxiety and feelings of nervousness
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Depression
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Moodiness
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Loss of appetite
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Abdominal pains
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Nausea
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Fever
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Restlessness
These withdrawal symptoms can be extremely uncomfortable, and many who experience these symptoms may revert back to using marijuana. That is why it is important those who are addicted to the drug undergo treatment at a Florida marijuana addiction treatment facility. The first step in the marijuana treatment process is medical detoxification. While many addicted to the drug may never experience physical symptoms of withdrawal, experienced treatment staff can use the detox process to perform a comprehensive evaluation to diagnose any co-occurring mental disorders that may be the underlying root cause of addiction.
Once a person is stable and substance free, they will transition to formal and intensive drug treatment. During this phase, clients will undergo an individualized plan of recovery that will include a combination of individual and group therapy, life and coping skills training, and any holistic-based therapy options such as yoga, nutritional therapy and acupuncture. This individually tailored treatment program takes into account the unique and specific needs of each client, and can be modified as the client’s needs change during the course of treatment.
Once drug rehab has been completed, our Florida marijuana addiction treatment staff highly encourage those newly recovering to attend aftercare programs such as intensive outpatient treatment or sober living. In these programs, clients receive additional therapy and undergo rigorous relapse prevention education so they can receive the extra tools and support needed to minimize the chances of relapse once they go back home and resume their normal everyday lives.