How to Get Help for a Marijuana Addict
Many people function under the mistaken belief that marijuana is a harmless drug, thus not only do many people use the drug expecting that no harm will come of it, but many family members may not recognize the red flags that can signify the need for treatment when marijuana abuse is an issue.
It’s not always easy to help someone who is struggling with marijuana to recognize the dangers associated with its use and accept treatment. The following steps are recommended to concerned family members who are attempting to guide their loved one into a treatment program that can help them heal:
- Recognize the dangers of marijuana addiction and do not undervalue the immediate need for treatment.
- Find a rehab program that is suited to your loved one’s rehabilitation needs.
- Stage an intervention for your loved one that offers them immediate entry into the chosen rehab program.
Marijuana Is Addictive
Not sure what to believe when it comes to the addictive nature of marijuana? Consider the following:
- It is believed that nine percent, or almost one in 10 people, who try marijuana will develop an addiction to the drug.
- When people begin to use marijuana during their teen years, those numbers rise; that is, one in six people who try the drug at a young age will ultimately develop a dependence upon it. That same study revealed that those who used the drug daily during their teens were between 25 and 50 percent more likely than non-daily users to develop a marijuana addiction.
- A study of twin pairs found that the twin who used marijuana before the age of 17 demonstrated higher rates of use of other illicit substances and long-term drug problems that lasted for the rest of their lives as compared to their non-drug-using twin.
Staging an Intervention
The first step in staging an intervention is to find the right drug rehab for your loved one. This means that you must locate the rehabilitation center that has the resources to address all the issues that may contribute to your loved one’s use of drugs.
This means that the chosen drug rehab should offer:
- Detox and medical care for underlying conditions, if necessary
- Intensive diagnostic evaluations to identify co-occurring mental health disorders, behavioral disorders and other issues
- Long-term psychotherapeutic care to address the addiction problem as well as any co-occurring disorders
- Assistance with job skills, education help, job placement, financial and budgeting assistance, and parenting classes on an as-needed basis
Once a spot has been secured in the appropriate program, it’s time to stage an intervention if your loved one is resistant to treatment. At an intervention, you can gather together concerned family members who are ready to lovingly confront your addicted family member with the single-minded goal of helping them to enter treatment.
Some tips include:
- Holding a planning meeting to ensure that everyone’s questions are answered
- Hiring an interventionist to assist you
- Packing a bag for your loved one so that he or she can leave for treatment immediately
- Remaining calm, nonjudgmental and focused on the goal of helping your loved one recognize the need for addiction treatment throughout the intervention process
Learn More About Black Bear Lodge Today
You can find out more about our unique, personalized marijuana addiction treatment program here at Black Bear Lodge when you contact us at 706-909-9811. Don’t wait. Call now.
Is Marijuana Really Addictive?
Marijuana is the substance most often used and abused in the United States, not including alcohol.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reports that 18 million Americans over the age of 12 said that they used the drug in the past month and that about 4.2 million Americans met the criteria for a diagnosis of marijuana abuse or addiction, a number that is higher than the number of people addicted to heroin, cocaine, painkillers, sedatives and hallucinogens combined.
Additionally, SAMHSA found that
- About 461,000 visits to the emergency room across the country were related to or caused by the use of marijuana in 2010.
- More than 872,000 people in the United States sought treatment for marijuana abuse or dependence in 2011.
- Use of marijuana among high school sophomores and seniors is higher than it has been in eight years.
- In some states, marijuana is the number one drug of choice cited by patients seeking drug abuse and addiction treatment.
Increased Potency
Why is it that the drug once touted as the peaceful drug in the 1960s and 1970s is now getting a much more negative reputation? What changed? According to a recent study, it’s the potency of the drug, which has tripled over the past 20 years. The plants that were smoked 40 or 50 years ago were far less overwhelming than the plants being sold today, which means that today’s smokers are having a much different experience. In fact, it is estimated that about one in 10 people who try the drug ultimately develop a dependence upon it.
Risks of Marijuana Abuse and Addiction
Marijuana is not a harmless drug, nor is it a drug that can be safely used recreationally. Rather, there are a number of documented risks in addition to the high rates of addiction among those who use the drug.
Some of the Risks of Its Use Include
- Respiratory illnesses and cognitive impairment are health problems that have been associated with marijuana use.
- Visits to emergency rooms increase when marijuana is in use.
- The earlier the first use of the drug, the more likely it is that an addiction to the substance will develop.
- Marijuana is the second most commonly cited drug of choice among those who go to drug rehab to get help breaking free from an addiction.
- Studies have shown that people who use marijuana may end up with an IQ that is as much as eight points lower as they age.
Is Medical Marijuana Addictive?
Though many prefer to view marijuana as a medication that can be helpful in the treatment of a number of chronic illnesses, the fact is that, like other legal drugs used to treat certain disorders (e.g., painkillers, sedatives, etc.), it can be extremely dangerous when abused. The problem is that, unlike other legal drugs prescribed for the treatment of medical ailments, those patients who have a prescription for marijuana are given almost no guidance or guidelines when it comes to how much marijuana they should take, in what amounts, or how often.
Additionally, there are a number of different types of marijuana that are sold for medicinal purposes and the patient cannot be sure how any particular strand will affect them until they try it.
All of this uncertainty and open-ended use of the drug can add up to an addiction relatively quickly, doing little more than compounding the underlying issue. If your loved one is struggling with dependence upon marijuana, don’t wait to guide them to a treatment program that can help. Contact us at Black Bear Lodge today at 706-909-9811.
Long-term Effects of Marijuana on the Brain
One of the greatest and most damaging myths circulating among the American public is the idea that marijuana use is harmless. Many people think of marijuana as a recreational drug, one that does not have a serious impact on a person’s overall quality of life no matter how frequent the use. The truth of the matter is, however, that marijuana is a drug just like any other and, like all other drugs, can have serious and lasting consequences. In fact, researchers are still discovering the many ways in which long-term marijuana use permanently alters and impacts the brain.
What Happens When a Person Smokes Marijuana?
In order to fully understand the long-term effects that marijuana usage can have on the brain, it’s important to first understand how marijuana functions and what it does to the brain and body in the short-term. Once marijuana enters the body, whether the person ingests it by smoking the drug or eating it, its active ingredient, THC, makes it way to the pleasure center of the brain. There, it causes the person to feel euphoric or high by causing the brain cells to release the feel-good chemical known as dopamine. Individuals come to crave the release of dopamine and will often use marijuana more and more often to experience this effect, thus proving that marijuana can be addictive.
In addition to its addictive properties, however, marijuana also causes some immediate and sometimes serious effects on the brain. While these effects will wear off as the drug does, they are generally a fairly good indicator of the permanent damages that can occur with continued use.
Immediate Effects of Marijuana on the Brain Can Include
- Confusion
- Panic attacks
- Increased anxiety
- Impaired coordination
- Impaired reaction time
- Fatigue
- Depression
Continued Use of Marijuana
It is estimated that one in 10 persons who try marijuana will develop a dependence upon the drug. Even those who do not develop a physical addiction but continue to abuse the drug regularly can experience permanent damage to their cognitive function; the more frequently a person smokes, the worse those damages are likely to be.
While research is still being done to understand the long-term or permanent effects of marijuana, there are certain known brain damages caused by regular use of the drug.
Some of These Damages Include
- Decreased ability to concentrate or stay focused on one task
- Impaired ability to learn or retain new information
- Memory problems
- Increased risk of mental disorders
- Lack of clear understanding
- Decreased ambition and motivation
- Impaired judgment
- Increased difficulty with making decisions
Other Effects of Marijuana
While marijuana can cause serious brain damage, it can also be damaging to other parts of the body as well. Just as cigarettes affect the lungs and throat, marijuana, when smoked, affects these areas as well and can lead to an increased risk for certain types of cancer. See more on the effects of marijuana on your body when using.
Marijuana users also tend to suffer from reduced immune system functioning; this means that they tend to get sick more often and have a harder time recovering when they do become ill. Furthermore, marijuana users are at risk of getting into a serious accident if they drive or engage in other risky behaviors while under the influence of marijuana.
The only way to eradicate the risks of these negative effects is to stop using marijuana. Unfortunately, once addiction has set in, treatment will be necessary. If marijuana dependence is an issue affecting your loved one, you can assist them in avoiding potential brain and health problems by contacting us at Black Bear Lodge today at 706-909-9811.
Marijuana Abuse, Treatment and Side Effects
Marijuana and its use for different purposes are common topics of debate across the country. As more and more states legalize the drug for medicinal use and, more recently, for recreational use, Americans are attempting to sift through the myths and propaganda from either side and determine the truth.
The fact is that an estimated nine percent of those who use marijuana for any reason will develop a dependence upon the drug, according to the journal Addiction Science & Clinical Practice.
Addiction to any illicit substance is devastating to the user, causing problems in every area of life, including:
- Physical health
- Mental health
- Social function
- Relationships at home
- Job and career
- Financial standing
- Legal standing
If your loved one chronically abuses marijuana, don’t take the issue lightly. There are treatment measures that can help someone unable to manage their use of the drug to learn healthier coping mechanisms and learn to live a drug-free life. Here at Black Bear Lodge, we can help. Call now.
How Marijuana Works
The active ingredient in marijuana is called delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, and this chemical takes effect in the brain almost immediately. When smoked, THC travels through the lungs into the bloodstream and to the brain where it attaches to cannabinoid receptors and alters the user’s ability to:
- Perceive time accurately
- Concentrate
- Think clearly
- React quickly
Effects can last for up to three hours when smoked or up to four hours if consumed in food.
Side Effects
There are a number of consequences of marijuana abuse, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). These can occur while under the influence of the drug, last well after the drug has worn off, or turn into long-term or permanent changes.
Under the influence:
- Loss of short-term memory
- Higher heart rate
- Impaired cognitive function
- Impaired judgment
- Psychotic episodes
Lasting after the drug wears off:
- Ongoing memory problems
- Ongoing difficulty learning and retaining new information
- Sleep disruption
- Difficulty relaxing
Long-term:
- Marijuana dependence
- Higher rate of bronchitis or chronic coughing
- Higher rate of schizophrenia among those who exhibit other risk factors for the illness
- Increased rate of mental health issues
Does Marijuana Abuse Cause Mental Illness?
There is usually no one specific cause for the development of a mental illness, but there are a number of mental health issues that can result from or be worsened by the abuse of marijuana, according to the journal The Lancet.
These issues can include:
- Later development of psychosis
- Worsening of mental health symptoms in those already living with a disorder
- Increased risk of the development of a number of mental health disorders (e.g., anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, suicidal thoughts, amotivational syndrome, and others)
Potency
Part of the problem with marijuana abuse is that the THC levels of marijuana have steadily increased over the past three decades, according to a study published in the Journal of Forensic Science What does this mean?.
- Though the effects of the version of marijuana commonly smoked in the 1970s may have been relatively harmless, today’s version of the drug is far more potent and potentially overwhelming to users.
- There are no long-term studies available to accurately determine how use of today’s marijuana will impact users after chronic abuse, especially if levels of THC continue to rise.
- Because the effects of the drug are so long lasting and intense, users are more likely to fall victim to an accident while under the influence or end up in the emergency room as a result of use.
- Use of the drug during the teen years when the brain is still actively developing can be far more devastating today than it was to users in past decades.
- The rate of addiction among experimental users may increase due to the higher potency levels.
Drugged Driving
Though the fact that alcohol use impairs the driver’s ability to respond effectively to unexpected situations on the road is well known, many don’t realize that using marijuana before driving can be just as dangerous. A study published in the journal Accident, Analysis and Prevention found that the diminished faculties of drivers under the influence of marijuana caused an increased risk of accident.
NIDA reports a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistic stating that drugs other than alcohol are a part of about 18 percent of car accident deaths. They also cite a survey that found that almost seven percent of drivers involved in car crashes had THC in their systems.
Does Marijuana Impair Cognitive Function?
Not only does marijuana have an impact on cognitive function while the user is still under its influence, but that impact lasts for days after the drug wears off, according to a study published in the journal Current Drug Abuse Reviews. The bad news is that adults continue to suffer from cognitive impairment for up to a week after using the drug, but the good news is that normal cognitive functioning often returns after a month or more of abstinence depending upon the length of time spent actively and regularly abusing the substance in large amounts.
Another factor in the long-term effects on users’ cognitive function is the age of first use. The earlier that someone begins using marijuana regularly, the more intense and long-lasting is the loss of cognitive ability. Of course, the earlier someone gets treatment to stop using marijuana, the more quickly they will return to a healthy state.
Marijuana Abuse and Addiction
Regular abuse of any drug, including marijuana, can ultimately lead to the development of an addiction to that substance. Characterized by both psychological cravings for the substance and physical symptoms (e.g., illness) when without it, addicts are unable to stop using their drug of choice for any length of time.
Those who are addicted to marijuana may:
- Lie about how often they use the drug or how much they use when they get high
- Be unable to do certain things (e.g., relax, enjoy themselves, go to sleep, calm down, etc.) without using marijuana
- Be disinterested in doing things they used to enjoy before starting to use marijuana
- Use other drugs in combination with marijuana
- Make poor choices while under the influence (e.g., miss work, avoid household management tasks like paying bills, have unprotected sex, ignore children, drive recklessly, etc.)
- Develop health problems related to their use of marijuana
- Continue to use marijuana despite the existence of any or all of these marijuana use-related consequences
When someone is unable to stop using marijuana even when they try despite the fact that their lives are changing in negative ways, it’s clear that addiction is an issue and immediate treatment is necessary.
Can Marijuana Abuse Be Treated?
Yes. Though the consequences of marijuana abuse may not be as varied or overwhelming as the consequences of addiction, those who need help getting back on track will benefit from learning the coping mechanisms taught in drug rehab. Additionally, addressing underlying mental health issues and trauma can decrease cravings for marijuana and prevent a return to marijuana abuse.
Treatment Options for Marijuana Abuse
Evidence-based treatment options can help those who struggle with marijuana abuse to become drug-free and stay that way for the long term. This involves accomplishing a number of steps that allow the patient to stabilize physically and mentally and then learning how to maintain a sense of balance going forward so they can avoid relapse.
Treatment options include:
- Detox. Some people experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop smoking marijuana. Especially if there are underlying medical or mental health issues, these withdrawal symptoms can cause complications. It’s important to have medical assistance at the ready.
- Evaluation. For many people, marijuana abuse is just one of many issues that require treatment. In fact, many people attempt to self-medicate social anxiety, stress, depression and relationship problems through use of the drug. Identifying these issues is the first step in treating them, and treating them can decrease the risk of relapse.
- Intensive therapeutic program. From personal therapy to group therapy to a range of alternative therapies, a personalized treatment program can improve the patient’s ability to manage stress, mitigate triggers to use marijuana, and learn how to avoid returning to substance abuse.
- Regular assessment and update. A treatment plan is created based on the needs identified through the initial evaluation, but over time, progress will create the need to update and change that plan. Some therapies may be intensified and others switched out for other options. Regular assessment is necessary to ensure that the patient is moving steadily toward stability.
- Treatment for co-occurring disorders. If there are other issues identified during the evaluation process in addition to substance abuse, these too should be actively addressed during the rehabilitation process. Some therapies perform double duty and help patients conquer both problems at once, and in many cases, specific and directed treatment will be necessary to effectively treat the underlying issue as well.
- Extensive aftercare. The longer the patient can stay actively enrolled in a range of treatment programs that allow them to continually progress along their path to recovery, the more likely it is that he or she will remain dedicated to sobriety for the long term.
Getting Your Loved One the Help to Heal
If your loved one is struggling with marijuana use and abuse, your family is not alone. According to the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, marijuana was determined to be the most commonly abused illicit substance in the country, with as many as 17.4 million Americans reporting use of the drug in the past month. The survey also found that marijuana was used by more than 76 percent of current drug users and the only drug of abuse for 60 percent of them.
Though the problem may seem overwhelming, especially when so many people are living with it, the fact is that effective treatment can give patients the tools to recover. Here at Black Bear Lodge, we offer an intensive, evidence-based treatment program that can help your loved one heal. Through the use of a personalized treatment plan that highlights therapeutic interventions chosen based on their ability to help your addicted family member heal, your loved one can not only put drug use of all kinds in the past but begin working toward a more balanced future.
You can help them on the road to recovery when you pick up the phone today. Call us at 706-909-9811 now and learn more about our program and determine what will work best for your loved one.
Mental Effects of Marijuana Abuse
In the public eye, marijuana is often seen as a fairly harmless, natural substance, especially when it’s compared to harder drugs like heroin, cocaine or meth. Many people equate smoking a joint with having a glass of wine or a beer — a simple ritual that helps you unwind after a hard day or take the edge off a stressful situation.
But cannabis is a drug that can have adverse psychological side effects, especially for individuals with co-existing psychiatric disorders. Whether you’re using marijuana on an occasional, recreational basis or using the drug every day, it’s important to be aware of the mental effects of cannabis.
Cannabis and the Mind
Marijuana, or cannabis, is a psychoactive drug. There are hundreds of active chemicals in marijuana, but medical research has focused primarily on the effects of cannabidiol and THC, or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. THC acts on cannabinoid receptor cells in the brain to produce the negative and positive mental side effects of marijuana. The sense of relaxation, giddiness or tranquility that you may feel after smoking pot are a result of the effects of THC on your brain.
But on the negative side, THC can cause a host of unpleasant or dangerous mental effects, including:
- Anxiety
- Paranoia
- Depression
- Mood swings
- Panic attacks
- Paranoia
- Memory problems
- Confusion
- Chemical dependence
Although cannabis is widely viewed as non-addictive, Harvard Medical School notes that one out of every nine users develops physical or psychological dependence on the drug. Dependence is characterized by a tolerance to the effects of THC, a preoccupation with using marijuana, and withdrawal symptoms when trying to stop using. Withdrawal from marijuana can cause irritability, depression, cravings, changes in appetite, insomnia and anxiety.
Even users who take marijuana to elevate their moods may find that the drug can turn on them, causing severe depression, anxiety or paranoia. In some users, marijuana abuse causes psychiatric symptoms that resemble schizophrenia. Marijuana-induced psychosis can cause delusional thinking, hallucinations, irrational fears, and bizarre behaviors. While not everyone who abuses marijuana will develop psychosis, the risk of severe mental side effects is greater than most people realize.
Marijuana and Mental Illness
Users with a history of mental illness have a higher risk of experiencing adverse mental side effects from marijuana, cautions the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). People who suffer from mood disorders, anxiety or a psychotic illness are especially vulnerable to the negative effects of THC. According to the Substance Misuse Papers, one research study showed that cannabis is the most widely abused drug among people with schizophrenia. Marijuana is often used as a form of self-medication to ease the symptoms of severe mental illness, such as anxiety, depression and paranoia. Paradoxically, marijuana can worsen these symptoms, as well as increase the risk of an acute psychotic episode.
Among many mental health and addiction treatment professionals, marijuana is viewed as a dangerous, potentially addictive psychoactive drug. Although marijuana has acceptable uses in the medical community, such as appetite stimulation and pain management, abusing this drug for recreational purposes can cause severe psychological consequences.
Treatment for Marijuana Abuse
If you’re struggling to overcome an addiction to marijuana, you don’t have to fight alone. Professional drug rehab programs offer detox services, intensive therapy, behavioral modification and alternative healing practices to help you regain your physical and emotional health. Black Bear Lodge provides holistic recovery solutions in a serene, spiritually inspiring setting in the foothills of northern Georgia. Contact us at 706-909-9811 to find out how we can help you break your bond with marijuana today.
Is Marijuana Getting More Potent?
A marijuana producer can make a product stronger through harvesting techniques. Snipping off leaves and grinding up stems of a marijuana plant can produce a product that isn’t quite as potent as a mix that contains the flowers that top each and every plant. But careful snips and judicious packaging choices aren’t the only tools growers have available to them, in terms of marijuana potency. They can also use crossbreeding programs and specific growing methods in order to make the entire plant just a little more powerful. Research suggests that many growers are taking advantage of these technologies, and the products they’re producing could be even more dangerous as a result.
Potency Increased Over the Years
A sophisticated study conducted by the University of Mississippi proves that marijuana potency has increased over the years. Here, researchers analyzed marijuana that was seized from the streets by law enforcement officials, and they found that the average potency of samples rose from 3.4 percent in 1993 to 8.8 percent in 2008. That’s a striking jump, but researchers had even more disturbing news to share.
In addition to tracking overall potency, researchers measured the percentage of marijuana seized that would be considered intensely potent. These are the samples that contained nine percent or more of THC, which is the active ingredient in marijuana. In 1993, 3.2 percent of samples met this criterion. In 2007, 21.5 percent did.
These two sets of statistics suggest that the average bag of weed sold today is more potent than bags sold in the past, and that some users are buying bags that would absolutely astound the drug users of previous decades.
It’s possible that marijuana-growing competitions have driven this demand for potent weed. In the Cannabis Cup competition, for example, enthusiasts are encouraged to experiment with their production processes and produce a product that’s a little different from the competition. Some strive for differentiation by making potent pot, and those potent strains achieve 25 percent THC, according to a report produced by CNN. This may not be pot that’s widely available on the street, but it’s clear that some producers know how to make it, and some consumers seem happy to try it.
Why Does Potency Matter?
If the average potency of marijuana is rising, this means that the average user is getting a bigger dose of a chemical that might:
- Speed up heart rate
- Impair driving abilities and coordination
- Disrupt memory
- Spark hallucinations
That’s dangerous, but the availability of super-potent marijuana might be even more alarming. People who buy weed from a new dealer might expect a low-intensity high, but if they get a newer, vamped-up product, they might be put on a rollercoaster of sensation that is far from pleasant, and there’s no real antidote experts can use to make a marijuana high stop.
Since marijuana is growing more potent, and since there seems to be no end to the boost in potency producers can generate, it’s time for all users to step away from this drug and get real help. At Black Bear Lodge, we’d like to be part of the solution. We have extensive experience in helping people to overcome their addictions, and our mix of therapy and alternative treatments might be just the thing your loved one needs in order to heal. Please call us at 706-909-9811 and our admissions coordinators can tell you more.
