Signs of Marijuana Addiction

While marijuana for the most part does not cause a physical dependency like many others drugs, it still has the potential to cause strong psychological addiction because it causes feelings of euphoria. Many people will get wrapped up in a lifestyle of using marijuana and will come to depend on it to get them through the day. Someone might use marijuana to escape reality or self-medicate negative feelings. Getting high can become a response to almost any issue in life; it can become an obsession, something around which every other part of that person’s life revolves. The following are signs that your marijuana use might be a serious problem:

• You use marijuana daily or regularly
• You’ve tried to stop but you can’t
• You are experiencing trouble at work, school, or with relationships as a result of your marijuana use
• You obsess about obtaining marijuana or worry about concealing your use of the drug
• You continue to use the drug regardless of the consequences
• You begin to exhibit uncharacteristic behaviors such as lying or stealing in order to possess more of the drug
• You feel like you need the drug in order to live or function

Is Marijuana Abuse a Problem?

Though many people believe that marijuana use is merely harmless fun, it can actually have severe consequences. Marijuana can have lasting effects on your health, causing respiratory problems, decreased immune system functioning, and an elevated heart rate. Additionally, it can significantly affect the mind, causing memory loss, a decreased ability to learn, impaired cognition, and an increased risk of mental illness. Someone who uses marijuana regularly will find less pleasure in everyday activities, which can result in depression. Not only does a marijuana habit impact your health, but it can also cause you to do or say things that put you or others at risk.

Marijuana Addiction Help

Are you worried about the direction your marijuana use is heading? Continual marijuana use is dangerous territory, so it is important to reach out for help before it becomes a full-blown addiction. If left alone the problem will continue to worsen, so please call and let one of our trained counselors get you the help you need. We are here 24 hours a day to answer any questions you might have, so call our toll-free helpline now.

What Will Happen When High on Marijuana?

Marijuana acts as a depressant and a mild hallucinogen. While high on marijuana, a user will experience profound physical and psychological side effects. Many first-time marijuana users are unable to achieve a high at their first go, but with a few more tries the sought-out trip will be easily recognizable. The effects of a marijuana high may differ among users; the most commonly seen side effects are as follows:

• Increased heart rate
• Increased blood pressure
• Dry throat and mouth
• Impaired or reduced short-term memory
• Hallucinations, paranoia and acute panic anxiety reaction
• Distorted sense of reality and time
• Distorted perception and reaction time
• Impaired motor skills and coordination
• Increased appetite
• Feelings of euphoria, dream-like state, and relaxation

Avoiding the Negative Effects from a Marijuana High

While under the influence of marijuana people literally are no longer in control of their thoughts, actions or behavior. A person becomes disoriented when high and loses touch with reality. The side effects of a marijuana high can lead to a number of negative consequences. People are more willing to do things that they normally wouldn’t while under the influence of marijuana; this can lead to a variety of unplanned events, catastrophic accidents and devastating mistakes.

Driving while high is just as dangerous as drinking and driving; the driver’s distorted perception and lack of coordination and reaction time make operating a vehicle extremely risky. Any activity performed while high is at high risk for causing an accident or injury: valuables will get broken, a fire could erupt, people may get hurt. People may also make impulsive decisions while high which can result in trouble with the law, financial loss, unplanned pregnancy and much more.

Can I Overdose on Marijuana?

A person is able to overdose on marijuana. While overdosing on marijuana is not typical, nor has it proven to be fatal, it is a possibility for those using large amounts, or for a user who is just starting out. The symptoms of a marijuana overdose can range from unpleasant to life-threatening. The chances of an overdose or complication greatly multiply when a person is taking marijuana with other drugs or alcohol; the results of mixing marijuana with other substances are severe.

Getting Help for a Marijuana Abuse Problem

The short-term effects of a marijuana high can lead to long-term effects that may haunt you for the rest of your life. Mistakes, accidents, injury, complications and death are all possible outcomes of getting high on marijuana. If you feel threatened by the outcome of your marijuana use, please don’t hesitate to get help now. A simple phone call can save your life and protect you from the destruction of a high gone bad.

If you would like to eliminate the harmful consequences of marijuana abuse from your life, call our toll-free helpline today. We are here 24 hours a day to give you advice, guidance and as much information as you need about marijuana abuse and treatment.

Marijuana Withdrawal Symptoms

Withdrawal symptoms are the body’s natural reaction to the sudden removal of marijuana. These symptoms can vary from person to person and typically arise within eight hours of the last dose taken. The most common symptoms of marijuana addiction withdrawal include the following:

• Restlessness and irritability
• Severe headaches
• Insomnia
• Depression
• Nightmares or vivid dreams
• Increased aggression or anger
• Fear or anxiety
• Loss of concentration
• Night sweats
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea, vomiting or cramping

Home remedies and “do it yourself” marijuana detox methods do not provide the lasting results that can be found through professional care. At-home detox methods are ineffective and can even be hazardous to a person’s health. Marijuana withdrawal is psychologically exhausting, as it leads to a mental and emotional rollercoaster ride.

How to Detoxify from Marijuana for Good

Detoxing from marijuana is a complex process. The best way to get clean and stay clean is to enlist professional help. Rehab specialists can guide a patient through the recovery process while minimizing the pain and discomfort of withdrawal.

Long-term marijuana addiction recovery takes more than short-term detox help. Marijuana withdrawal comes in two stages. After the initial stage of withdrawal a person will experience post-acute-withdrawal syndrome (PAWS). PAWS occurs, because the brain is trying to adjust to functioning without marijuana. This second stage of withdrawal causes people more emotional and psychological pain than physical. PAWS can last for years after use ends, and this is why those with an addiction to marijuana need professional rehab treatment. Without comprehensive treatment a person is unlikely to overcome the cravings and withdrawal symptoms that can last for months or even years.

Finding Safe and Affordable Marijuana Detoxification Treatment

If you are in need of detox or addiction treatment, do not settle for at-home remedies or other unsafe recovery techniques. Let us help you find the detox treatment that is right for you. Please call our toll-free helpline today to speak to a rehab counselor. We are here 24 hours a day to answer any questions you may have and to provide you with as much information as you need.

Physiological and Psychological Effects of Marijuana Use

Habitual marijuana use can cause chronic respiratory problems such as bronchitis and esophageal infections. THC (the active ingredient in marijuana smoke) alters brain chemistry by acting directly on the “reward center” of the brain. Habitual users develop a tolerance for the drug and often experience depression if use is stopped. They may find it difficult to feel good, be happy or enjoy life without smoking pot. Marijuana use becomes the primary focus of users’ lives, and they will go to great lengths to obtain and use pot to avoid the depression that comes with not smoking it. This is a sign of psychological addiction.

Indirect Consequences of Marijuana Use

Since THC alters brain function, marijuana users experience impaired judgment and often make poor choices that may lead to serious indirect consequences. They will spend large amounts of money on the drug which can lead to financial hardship. They often become socially isolated and experience problems at work. They may experience legal problems stemming from charges for possession or driving under the influence. Marijuana use may lead to accidents that cause injury or death to the user or someone else.

Root Causes of Marijuana Addiction

Psychological dependence on marijuana is often related to a deeply rooted psychological or emotional issue. Drug addiction combined with a mental health issue is known as a Dual Diagnosis of co-occurring disorders. Habitual marijuana users are often self-medicating to ease the pain of a psychological or emotional problem. Marijuana use will numb mental pain temporarily, but when use is stopped the person will often find that the problem still there and that it has gotten worse. This is a self-reinforcing cycle, as users may continue to attempt to escape problems through drug use while the problems in their life continue to get worse.

Integrated Treatment for Marijuana Addiction and Co-Occurring Mental Health Issues

Traditional approaches to drug addiction that focus exclusively on the behavioral aspects of addiction but leave the root causes untreated may be successful in stopping drug use for a time, but they leave the patient susceptible to relapse. Integrated treatment deals with the behavioral aspects of drug addiction while addressing the psychological or emotional issues that underlie the addiction and is by far the best hope for lasting health for those suffering from co-occurring disorders.

Need Help Quitting Pot?

If you would like to stop using marijuana but are finding it difficult, we can help. We are her to answer any questions you may have and to help you find the best treatment options available. Our number is toll free, and we are available 24 hours a day. Please call.

Side Effects of Marijuana Abuse

The side effects of marijuana use affect both the mind and the body. Some of the common symptoms of marijuana addiction are as follows:

• An increase in appetite, which can lead to compulsive overeating and related medical concerns
• Depression
• Suicidal thoughts
• Disorientation and memory loss
• Loss of focus and learning disabilities
• Shortness of breath
• Increased blood pressure
• Racing heart
• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Lung cancer

Marijuana is not always considered physically addictive. However, marijuana use can become addictive and many people are susceptible to marijuana dependence. Just like a person can become addicted to gambling, shopping, sexual activity or any other behavior, marijuana can become a lifestyle that takes over your happiness and your productivity.

Do I Need Rehabilitation For Marijuana Use?

If you are asking yourself whether or not you need get marijuana treatment, then there are good odds that you have developed a marijuana dependence or addiction. If you can answer yes to the following questions then you need to consider entering rehab to learn how to quit marijuana:

• Does your marijuana use interfere with your social life?
• Have your personal and professional relationships suffered as a result of your marijuana use?
• Are you having difficulty holding down a job or managing your finances due to your pot use?

Without getting the rehab that you need, you may find yourself journeying down a very dark pathway of addiction. Your weed addition is not going to go away on its own; as a general rule of thumb, addiction is a progressive disorder that needs to be halted in its tracks before things get completely out of control.

Help for Marijuana Abuse

Have you been in front of a judge for a marijuana arrest? If you are being offered the opportunity to go to rehab instead of jail you should look at this as your chance to get the help for your marijuana addiction, as well as your key to avoiding jail time.

A THC addiction (the active ingredient in marijuana) quickly alters the brain and can make users more likely to try other drugs like heroin or meth. Learn how to quit marijuana, break away from this gateway drug, and set yourself firmly on the pathway towards a much happier, healthier, and productive life.

Give us a call, today. Calls are toll-free to our 24 hour helpline. All calls are also confidential to our knowledgeable counselors who can swiftly help you to find the best solution for the treatment that you need. With our help you will be able to break away from your pot addiction and once again have full control of your life.

How to Stay Sober from Marijuana

When fighting through the difficulties of a new sober life, it can helpful to observe tips for continuing to be sober:

• Find an aftercare program and consistently be involved with it. This will immediately introduce you to people who know exactly what you are going through. They too are no longer able to be around the people and places of old, and they too are experiencing fears of sobriety. Programs also provide structure which can be comforting. While participating in aftercare it is much more difficult to forget where you have come from, and how hard you have worked to be sober.
• Consider your health. Exercise, diet, and activity levels are surprisingly effective when battling addictions. It is in periods of apathy, boredom, and unhealthy fatigue that temptation most dangerously rears its head.
• Reach out to people. You may feel ashamed of where you are coming from, or possibly, too prideful to reach out to strangers, but it is good to create relationships. Life after addiction can be lonely, so foster a group of support to combat isolation. Turn to people instead of drugs when you are feeling alone.
• Remember the programs, plans, and practices that you learned in rehab. The setting may feel very different, but the effectiveness is the same. You will probably also find that participating in the practices of the rehab facility create a sensation similar to those that you experienced while there. Just as triggers can affect you negatively, this sort of trigger will aid your battle.
• If you relapse into use, how you respond can be signal your progress. Recovery from addiction is a life-long battle, and you should not feel like a failure if you use again. If you feel regret, that can be harnessed, but do not become self-destructive or hopeless. Remember that you have recovered before.

Marijuana Abuse Help

Rehab does not destroy your cravings for marijuana; it also does not guarantee that you will not slip back into use again. The guides to maintaining sobriety are helpful, but their implementation can be difficult and they are not perfect. Even the most diligent of recovering addicts can return to drugs. The most dangerous aspect of slipping backward is not the actual use, but the possibility of depressing thoughts or hopelessness.

If you feel as though another round of rehab is necessary for you or someone that you love, please call our 24 hour, toll-free helpline now. Begin recovery today.

Health Risks of Marijuana Abuse

Marijuana smoke contains approximately three times more tar than the smoke from cigarettes, which means that regularly smoking marijuana is probably far more likely to cause lung cancer than smoking cigarettes. Marijuana also depresses the immune system by inhibiting the action of important disease-fighting cells, and is also proven to increase the risk of tumors and bacterial infections. Marijuana abuse treatment, if sought early enough, can prevent these risks.

Marijuana Abuse Treatment

Marijuana abuse treatment is the most reliable manner by which a person can accomplish long-term recovery from marijuana addiction. You may be wondering what marijuana abuse treatment is like. As with any drug addiction program, the first step to marijuana addiction treatment is detox, which cleanses the patient’s body of toxins that accumulated due to smoking marijuana.

Detox may cause withdrawal symptoms, which simply means that the patient’s body reacts to not containing any THC. Withdrawal symptoms may include anxiety, depressed appetite, and insomnia. With time, these symptoms pass and physical addiction is curbed. After detox, patients are treated for the psychological component of marijuana addiction through various forms of counseling, support groups, and holistic treatments. The ultimate goal of treatment is for patients to develop new lifestyles that are not dependent on the next marijuana high but instead are drug free and positive.

Help Finding Professional Treatment for Marijuana Addiction

If you or someone you know is using marijuana to get high, please don’t hesitate to call our toll-free helpline for professional help. We can answer your questions and connect you to the drug addiction treatment program that is right for you or your loved one. We can also check your insurance information, to let you know what level of coverage is offered by your provider for drug addiction treatment. We are eager and willing to help you achieve recovery. All calls are free and confidential, and we are available 24 hours a day. Don’t hesitate to call us at any time.

Dangers While under the Influence of Marijuana

Marijuana acts as both a stimulant and a depressant depending on the user and the specific drug’s contents. The drug can be a mild hallucinogen and provoke euphoric-like feelings. Common side effects include the following:

• Impaired coordination and balance
• Impaired perception causing lack of judgment
• Hallucinations
• Loss of inhibition
• Impaired short-term memory
• Anxiety, panic attacks and paranoia
• Lack of motivation and energy

Many of these symptoms are similar to alcohol and impair the brain and body. For this reason it can be incredibly dangerous to drive with under the influence of marijuana. Impaired perception and lack of inhibitions can cause people to make decisions they would never consider sober. Some outcomes are STDs, unplanned pregnancy, accidental injury and death.

Health Consequences of Long-Term Marijuana Use

Chronic marijuana use can lead to a number of serious health concerns such as the following:

• Respiratory problems. Smoking marijuana can lead to chest colds, bronchitis, emphysema and asthma.
• Chronic users are prone to severe lung damage which greatly increases the risk of cancer.
• Immune system complications. Marijuana can weaken the immune system making it harder to fight off infection and disease.
• Delayed puberty. Marijuana affects the hormones, and chronic use can slow the development of puberty.
• Pregnancy complications. Regular marijuana use reduces male sperm count. For women marijuana disrupts the menstrual cycle and may prevent ovulation. Using marijuana while pregnant can cause severe health risks to the baby.

Marijuana restricts the brain from absorbing and retaining information. While under the influence users are unable to focus, sustain attention or organize information. Chronic marijuana use can cause permanent brain damage to the portions of the brain that control memory and learning.

End the Dangers of Marijuana Use

If you or someone you know needs help ending a marijuana habit, please call our toll-free helpline today. We can answer questions and provide you with information on recovering from substance abuse or addiction. We are here 24 hours to assist you in your recovery needs. Please call now.

Potential Consequences of Using Marijuana

The risks and dangers of marijuana use include the following:

• Addiction. Marijuana is more addictive than many people realize. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that about 1 in every 11 people who use marijuana at least one time will become addicted to it. For people who first try marijuana in their teens the addiction rate is 1 in 6. The risk of addiction increases with the dosage and frequency of use. For those who use marijuana daily the rate of addiction is 25 to 50 percent.
• Physical health effects. Marijuana causes a number of negative health effects including respiratory difficulties, blood pressure fluctuations, increased heart rate and decreased immune response. It also impairs coordination which can increase the risk of accidents.
• Mental health effects. When people are high, they may experience panic attacks, paranoia or distorted perceptions of reality. Although anyone may experience these effects, they are particularly troublesome in those who are predisposed to certain mental illnesses. Marijuana use is also associated with anxiety and depression.
• Withdrawal symptoms. When people stop using marijuana they often experience withdrawal symptoms. These may include insomnia, anxiety and irritability.
• Impaired learning and memory. Marijuana negatively affects memory, concentration and learning. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration notes that adolescents who use marijuana show problems with short-term memory, focusing attention and abstract and logical thinking. They state that it may take 6 to 12 weeks of sobriety for the brain to recover even partially.
• Lack of motivation. Marijuana is associated with amotivational syndrome which involves social withdrawal, apathy and a lessened capacity to carry out long-term plans.
• Legal trouble. The recreational use of marijuana is illegal. Legal trouble can have serious and long-lasting effects on present and future opportunities.

End the Harms of Recreational Marijuana Use

Don’t be lulled into thinking that recreational marijuana use isn’t dangerous. Even occasional use can lead to addiction and a host of other problems. If you have become hooked on marijuana and are ready to face the issue, give us a call and let us answer your questions. We can explain your options and help you find the resources you need. The call is toll free, and we are available around the clock. We are ready to help, so call now.

• A trigger is a moment in time that elicits a response in an addict. This moment may be seeing former drug friends, visiting a setting in which you used to take drugs, hearing music that you used to get high to or even a smell that reminds you of your drug use.
• A craving is an emotional, psychological, and physical urge to do something; in this case, to smoke or use marijuana.
• A relapse is when a recovering addict returns to any form of substance abuse. If you started off being addicted to marijuana and you return to using marijuana, that is a relapse. If you started off being addicted to marijuana and then started abusing alcohol or some other drug that is also a relapse.

While many people view a relapse as a sign of weakness or failure, most addiction specialists concur that relapse is a part of the disease of addiction. While you certainly want to avoid a relapse, if a relapse does occur you need to look at what led to the relapse to learn from these mistakes and make better choices on your road to recovery.

Marijuana Relapse Warning Signs

If you are experiencing any of the following, you may be at risk for marijuana relapse, and you need to seek help immediately:

• Isolating yourself
• Keeping your thoughts and feelings to yourself
• Giving into doubt about your sobriety
• Avoiding attending support groups
• Altered eating and sleeping patterns
• Denial
• Becoming overwhelmed or having fluctuations in your emotions

Causes of Marijuana Relapse

There are many reasons that people relapse, but the top reasons that relate to treatment for marijuana addiction include the following:

• Treatment that does not adequately clear the drugs from the body
• Treatment that does not delve into the underlying conditions that led to addiction
• Treatment that does not provide skills training for people to live a life free from marijuana
• Treatment that does not help a person understand and manage triggers and cravings
• Treatment that does that provide ongoing support for an addict to build a life without drugs

That is why it is important for you to take your marijuana addiction seriously and seek the quality drug addiction treatment services that include the following:

• Medically supervised detox
• A variety of counseling therapies that can help you resolve underlying issues
• Individual and group counseling to help you understand triggers and cravings
• Life skills training to assist you with nutrition, fitness, and healthy life patterns
• Ongoing support to help you avoid relapse

Get Help for Marijuana Relapse

Relapse is a step backwards, but it does not have to be the end of marijuana addiction recovery. You can recover from a relapse and we can help, so please call our toll-free helpline today. We are available 24 hours a day to answer any questions you might have about relapse avoidance or marijuana addiction treatment. We are here to help.