Do You or Someone You Love Need Marijuana Treatment?
Addiction to any drug or substance is a terrible disease, and marijuana addiction is no exception. Marijuana addictions know no boundaries, and it can take control of the user’s life. There are some typical signs of abuse that can expose a marijuana addiction. Someone high on marijuana will have red eyes, an increased appetite, have short term memory loss, the pupils will be dilated, they will have a sense of euphoria, and the user will have impaired motor skills. A marijuana treatment center can help stop the abuse. Marijuana addiction does not discriminate. It can affect the affluent and underprivileged, men or women. However, marijuana is definitely prevalent with today’s youth. Marijuana is often co-occurring with other drugs (alcohol, sedatives, cocaine, heroin, etc), mood disorders (severe depression, paranoia, etc.) or trauma (sexual abuse, physical abuse, etc.), and especially such co-occurring issues require a good treatment center for marijuana addiction.
Understanding that there is a marijuana addiction and the need for help is very important for recovery to begin. This will be a very difficult journey and should not be done alone. It is critical that professional marijuana treatment be sought, and understand that it will be a long road to recovery. Finding a therapist, a marijuana treatment facility, a support group, and the support of friends and family will help with overcoming this disease.
Dealing with a marijuana addiction is complicated. The first step to recovery is confronting the addiction and admitting you have a problem. You have to make the choice to deal with the disease, and you have to admit you have a problem. Assess the affect the addiction is having on your relationships, career, finances, health, etc. then seek the guidance of a professional counselor, therapy, or marijuana rehab center. If you are the loved one of an addict, gently approach the person to begin the discussion to start recovery. Think about how the person will react. Share how the marijuana addiction has affected you. Keep in mind that the disease is controlling the person’s life and that the marijuana addiction will reject admitting that they are an addict. Remember that this will be a long and difficult road to recovery and a marijuana rehab center can help you get through the process.
Marijuana Addiction Rehab Centers
Often, you or your loved one needs assistance in finding help. The marijuana addiction treatment centers listed in this directory have been carefully evaluated by Addiction Hope. When considering the available rehabilitation options for this important decision, we believe this resource can help you navigate through the various options. We understand the importance of working with an all-inclusive and accredited marijuana addiction treatment program to help in the road to recovery.
Articles on Marijuana
To understand more about marijuana, please read the attached articles.
Treatment Plan for Marijuana Addiction
The marijuana addict needs the support of a therapist, a marijuana treatment program, a support group, and loved ones. This group of people will make up the marijuana rehab team and play a critical role in successfully overcoming the marijuana addiction.
- Ask for help – One of the first steps is to start with family and friends if possible. Ask your loved ones for help. They can play a significant role in recovery.
- Find a therapist – An individualized marijuana treatment plan is important, and a therapist will help create one for you. They will also help find and provide the resources needed for recovery.
- Find a marijuana rehab program – When a person quits using marijuana, they experience a craving for the drug along with other physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms. Dealing with the withdrawals of quitting marijuana is very difficult. A treatment program will help in dealing with the withdrawal effects.
- Engage in support groups and ongoing therapy – Most of the withdrawal symptoms will dissipate but often the person will feel the desire to use marijuana again. Connect with a support group and maintain ongoing therapy. These connections will help in overcoming these urges.
Marijuana Abuse Treatment Levels
There are various treatment levels that can be utilized to overcome a marijuana addiction.. The severity of the addiction and any co-occurring disorders will determine the initial treatment level that should be pursued.
- Inpatient hospital treatment – Inpatient treatment offers 24 hours a day hospital care. Medical stabilization is the primary function of this type of treatment. Inpatient treatment programs help the patient go through the withdrawal process, and it helps make sure the patient can handle the withdrawal. Once the individual is considered to be medically stable, they are usually moved to a residential treatment center for continued care.
- Residential treatment center (RTC) – A marijuana residential treatment center provides a live in facility and 24 hour care for the patient. This type of care is normally recommended as long as the patient medically stable and can physically handle the withdrawal. This generally involves a stay of at least 30 days at the treatment center. Extended care is also available for up to 90 days. These types of drug rehab centers will generally operate holistically and address the multiple needs of the patient.
- Partial hospitalization programs (PHP) – Partial hospitalization programs are frequently held in a hospital environment. This type of marijuana addiction treatment includes attending groups and individual therapy sessions, and it normally goes five days a week either all morning or all afternoon. However, there are some PHPs that will go Monday through Friday, 9 to 5.
- Transitional living centers (TLC) – Transitional living centers provide low cost housing for those just coming out of an inpatient marijuana detox program or marijuana rehab center. They supply all of the living necessities and often offer spiritual guidance as well.
- Intensive outpatient programs (IOP) – This type of outpatient program offers group and individual services and assistance, and it does not rely on detoxification. It allows the addict to continue in some of their normal daily activities such as work, and then they can participate in a treatment program either early in the morning or later in the evening.
- Outpatient care – Outpatient programs are similar to IOPs but not as concentrated. Group sessions and individual therapy are still incorporated, while there are fewer restraints on personal movement.
- Support groups – Support groups fill a valuable role in overcoming a marijuana addiction. They provide accountability and understanding as the members have all gone through similar situations.
Types of Therapy for Marijuana Addiction Treatment
As of now, there are no medication based treatments for marijuana abuse. The most effective way to combat marijuana addiction is to incorporate multiple therapies. This will address the physical side of the marijuana addiction, and it will address the psychological needs as well.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – CBT deals with negative ways of thinking as a way to affect the patient’s behavior in a more productive way. It helps the affected person change the way they deal with and think about adverse problems and increase their capabilities in dealing with problems and negative thoughts in a constructive manner.
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) – DBT makes use of CBT, a standard behavioral therapy, and introduces the management of stress and mindful awareness components into the therapy.
- Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) – IPT concentrates on the interpersonal relations and social roles using a short-term supportive psychotherapy. IPT tries to help patients find better ways to handle and deal with existing issues or problems. There are four basic areas identified by IPT. They are unresolved grief, role disputes, role changes, and relationship shortcomings.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) – ACT is a type of cognitive behavioral therapy that uses acceptance and mindfulness strategies combined in various ways with commitment and behavior-change strategies, to increase mental and emotional flexibility.
- Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) – is an approach that focuses on behavior change by helping to resolve ambivalence about entering treatment and stopping drug use. It uses strategies to encourage a quick and motivated change from within, rather than having people progress step by step through the recovery process. Strategies for coping are presented so high-risk situations can be dealt with more effectively.
The road to recovery is long and difficult. It takes a great commitment by both the addict and loved ones to deal of resources, commitment, time, energy, sacrifices, etc. If you or a loved one needs help to overcome a marijuana addiction, please take a moment to view Addiction Hope’s resources, and find a marijuana treatment center that can help the healing begin.
Last Updated & Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on August 26, 2013
Published on AddictionHope.com, Online Addiction & Abuse Help Guide