Marijuana Addiction Treatment

Marijuana addiction treatment is a vital step in marijuana addiction recovery. Marijuana addiction is the consequence of habitual marijuana use. It can be described as chronically making the decision to quit using marijuana followed shortly by a relapse due to overwhelming cravings for it. Marijuana is considered to be both mentally and emotionally addictive. Individuals addicted to marijuana tend to gravitate to others who share their common interest in the drug. They also tend to lose interest in activities that once meant a lot to them such as going out with friends and participating in sports.

There is more to marijuana addiction treatment than just ending marijuana use. Treatment for marijuana addiction also helps to restore the individual to their pre-drug using days and guides them to become a productive and functioning part of their family, workplace, and community. While in marijuana addiction treatment, recovering addicts learn about addiction, recovery, and relapse. They also address misguided beliefs about their self, others, and their environment. Attending a marijuana addiction treatment program helps the recovering marijuana user make lifestyle changes, manage their feelings, develop coping tools, and learn marijuana refusal skills. In addition, they learn to identify relapse warning signs and thoughts that may lead them to relapse in the future.

Many people chose not to enter treatment facilities when they battle marijuana addiction. However, this is often a poor choice because these facilities are very helpful in the recovery process. Marijuana addiction treatment provides a support system, as well as any medical and emotional attention the recovering person may need. Loved ones can also help by being supportive and available. Even though some consider marijuana withdrawal symptoms to be less severe than the symptoms of other drugs, the emotional and mental issues that come with marijuana treatment can last for more than 45 days.
There are some things that you can do on your own to help combat cravings for marijuana before entering treatment:

  • Take a walk every day. It can help to go with someone you care about.
  • Avoid people who use marijuana.
  • Keep a journal and log each day's events.
  • Listen to music to take your mind of marijuana cravings.

The length of time an individual needs to stay in marijuana addiction treatment varies greatly. However, research has clearly shown that the best marijuana addiction recoveries are based on an adequate amount of time in a treatment program. Generally, research has shown that for both outpatient and residential marijuana addiction treatment programs, a duration of 90 days or more is needed to see significant results. Unfortunately, many individuals who enter into marijuana addiction treatment drop out before achieving all the benefits that the treatment program has to offer.

Keep in mind, no single marijuana addiction treatment program is appropriate for all individuals. Matching treatment settings and services to each individual's particular problems and needs is critical to his or her ultimate success in ending their addiction forever. The many different treatment options available include:
1) Quitting on your own
2) Going to a therapist for help in quitting
3) Outpatient therapy
4) Inpatient treatment at a drug rehab
5) Long term treatment
6) 12 step groups, meetings
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