The road to recovery from marijuana addiction will likely have many ups and downs. Many people who try to quit smoking pot for the first time will fail and may have to try again, possibly a few times, before they find a recovery method and treatment program that works for them. Many people consider marijuana use to be relatively harmless, because they believe that it isn’t addictive, and because the drug can be beneficial when used for a medically prescribed purpose. Studies have shown, however, that chronic use of marijuana can be dangerous, leading to dependence, tolerance, and addiction.
Healthier Ways to Cope
For most people discontinuing their marijuana use, withdrawal symptoms will usually last for around one to two weeks. However, some people may continue to experience these symptoms for several weeks or even months, a phenomenon known as post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS). About 30% of people who use marijuana addiction marijuana may have some level of marijuana use disorder. Those who started using it before age 18 are 4 to 7 times more likely to than people who started later. One of the most challenging aspects of recovering from substance abuse is learning how to cope with triggers—situations, people, or emotions that can prompt cravings. Research shows those who start using marijuana in their teens risk damage to areas of the brain responsible for memory, thinking, and learning, and that damage may be permanent.
Which Treatment Options are Available for Marijuana Addiction?
- This article explores some of these tactics for how to stop smoking weed as well as information on the withdrawal symptoms you may experience.
- Research suggests that up to 90% of people who are dependent on marijuana will experience withdrawal symptoms.
In addition, marijuana dependence has been linked with a lack of motivation. Someone who is addicted may lack the drive to engage in activities, pursue goals, or keep up with responsibilities, including school and work. One of the major signs of cannabis use disorder, according to the DSM, is a strong craving to use marijuana. A person’s urges might be so strong, for example, that they would sacrifice other commitments such as work or school in order to acquire and use marijuana. As the addict approaches their bottom and their disease worsens, family members and friends have a tendency to enable the addict, allowing them to postpone the ultimate repercussions of their using.
How to Stop Smoking Marijuana
A successful intervention must be planned carefully to work as planned. Your loved one may feel attacked and become isolated or more opposed to treatment. Additionally, because it impairs judgment and motor coordination, marijuana use contributes to a greater risk of injury or death while driving a car.
Other Weed Hotline Resources and Numbers
For instance, it can be an effective way to stop your habit and get a fresh start. People who doubt their ability to reduce their marijuana use gradually may find this method more effective. Furthermore, marijuana may be laced with other products or substances. Using marijuana with other substances may result in greater impairment than using it alone.9 It may also cause severe intoxication and dangerous—even fatal—effects, depending on the adulterant mixed with it. If you or a loved one are struggling with marijuana misuse, WebMD Connect to Care Advisors are standing by to help. Whether or not marijuana makes the user “high” depends on the levels of THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) or CBD (cannabidiol) in the product.
For example, Mayo Clinic offers various addiction services and has a thorough team approach to treating addiction. It’s hard helping a loved one who is struggling with any type of addiction. Sometimes a direct, heart-to-heart conversation can start the road to recovery.
- Prepare for your conversation by thinking about worrisome behaviors or changes you’ve noticed so you can give your loved one examples of what you’re seeing.
- Each type of counseling plays a vital role in helping individuals achieve long-term sobriety, offering both emotional support and practical strategies for dealing with addiction.
- The likelihood of developing an addiction increases exponentially when marijuana use begins before the age of 18 when the drug can have a profound effect on the individual’s still-developing brain.
- Research suggests that approximately nine percent of users develop addiction.
- THC affects areas of the brain that initiate the pleasure response, as well as control movement, memory, and sensory perception.
It can also be consumed via tea, baked goods, candies, or other edible means. In fact, we have over 500 online meetings available on SMARTfinder waiting to provide support and connection. The only meetings impacted by this change are the 42 that required SROL registration to participate, and those meetings can transition to SMARTfinder if they want to. Practicing mindfulness, in which you learn to focus on the present moment and build a stronger sense of self-awareness, can help you become more in tune with your needs. One small study published in the journal PLoS ONE found that moderate exercise curbed marijuana use and cravings. Most of all, she taught me that recovery works if we are able to be honest with ourselves about our own behavior.
