maui recovery marijuana addiction

Marijuana Addiction

“The unfortunate truth is that the lack of serious, early consequences to marijuana addiction allows for a long, slow decline, often without recognition, resulting in later-­stage addiction before the problem is confronted. An individual may wake up years into this chronic illness without a reasonable understanding of how their life got so far off track. Often one has no major medical or legal problems, no sudden tragedy that drives the search for an answer. However, isolation from friends and family, loss of interest and lack of participation in those activities that used to bring joy, and the crushing weight of missed opportunities add up.” – Marvin D. Seppala, MD

What Is Marijuana?

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Marijuana—also called weed, herb, pot, grass, bud, ganja, Mary Jane, and a vast number of other slang terms—is a greenish-gray mixture of the dried flowers of Cannabis sativa. More potent forms of marijuana include sinsemilla (from specially tended female plants) and concentrated resins containing high doses of marijuana’s active ingredients, including honeylike hash oil, waxy budder, and hard amberlike shatter.

The main psychoactive(mind-altering) chemical in marijuana, responsible for most of the intoxicating effects, is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The chemical is found in resin produced by the leaves and buds, primarily the female cannabis plant. The plant also contains more than 500 other chemicals, including more than 100 compounds chemically related to THC, called cannabinoids.

Ways that marijuana is consumed:

  • Hand-rolled cigarettes.
  • Pipes.
  • Bongs, also known as water pipes.
  • Blunts (which contains marijuana rolled in cigar wraps.
  • Tea.
  • Edibles (brownies, cookies, candy).
  • Vaporizers.

Short-Term Effects:

  • Impaired body movement.
  • Hallucinations.
  • Mood changes.
  • Altered sense of time.
  • Psychosis.
  • Difficulty with thinking and problem-solving.

Long-Term Effects:

  • Impaired memory.
  • Slow learning functions.
  • Loss of mental ability.

Physical Effects:

  • Breathing issues.
  • Increased heart rate.
  • Damage to the immune system.
  • Intense nausea and vomiting.
  • Kills brain cells and damages the central nervous system.

Other Health Effects:

  • Lower life satisfaction.
  • Poorer mental health.
  • Poorer physical health.
  • Hard time maintaining relationships.
  • Less successful in academics or career.

According to the 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), “Approximately 4.0 million people aged 12 or older in 2016 had a marijuana use disorder in the past year, which represents 1.5% of people aged 12 or older.”

Marijuana is the most used illegal drug in the United States, with approximately 22.2 million users each month.

Marijuana Addiction Symptoms

As with other types of drug addiction, behavioral and physical signs can signal marijuana addiction.

Behavioral changes to look out for:

  • Cravings for the drug.
  • Spending money that should go to household expenses on drugs.
  • Cutting back on work, hobbies, or social activities.
  • Distorted perceptions.

Other signs of marijuana addiction include:

  • Red, blurry, bloodshot eye.
  • Extreme hunger, also known as “munchies.”
  • Dry mouth.
  • Constant, mucus-filled cough.

Available Treatment Options at Maui Recovery:

maui recovery CBT

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)

CBT is a type of psychotherapeutic treatment that helps people learn how to identify and change destructive or disturbing thought patterns that negatively influence behavior and emotions.

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maui recovery motivation interviewing

Motivational Interviewing

Motivational interviewing is a counseling method that helps people resolve mixed feelings and personal insecurities to find the internal motivation to break the cycle of addiction. It is known to be a practical, empathetic, and short-term process that considers how difficult it is to make these specific life changes.

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Transformational Addiction Recovery Program

Determining whether you are addicted to marijuana is no small task. Throughout most of the time you have spent using; you will have most likely been convincing yourself that you do not have a substance abuse issue and that you have the power to stop using marijuana whenever you want to. Because of this factor, it will become a complex task to admit to yourself that you have had a problem with this drug for a while now.

You will need to break through the thick wall of denial that you have spent months or years tirelessly constructing during your treatment time. Here at Maui Recovery, we want everyone to remember that there is no shame in admitting that you need help and that your state of being will likely begin to improve as soon as you start acting.

Even if you remain entirely unsure whether you or your loved one requires outside help, please feel free to reach out to us today!

15 Years of Healing and Treating

We know first hand the pain and suffering that comes from active addiction. We’re here for you





     

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