Author: Addictions Learning Centre

Marijuana is addictive. Unfortunately, mainstream media and the recent legalization of marijuana in Canada are passing the opposite message.

While it seems like marijuana offers you so much at the point of usage, you can get hooked. Controlled substances (or formerly controlled as is the case of marijuana), always have a risk of leading to a use disorder. Hence, if you don’t manage your usage properly, you can have a bigger problem on your hand than the initial one that led to use.

The concept of addiction, and the question of why and how marijuana addiction happens, is complex. With the vast available information, it’s easy to get lost in the whole matrix while searching for answers.

That’s why we’re here. With our years of experience dealing with marijuana abuse cases, we can provide answers to all your questions about the addiction potential of marijuana.

Everything to Know About Marijuana

Marijuana addiction is subject to several factors like age, which we will cover in this section of the article. However, there is a need to first understand Marijuana, its use, and the said addiction.

What is Marijuana?

Since the legalization of cannabis usage in Canada, a lot has changed. As of 2019, about 5.1 million people above the age of 15 now indulge in marijuana usage. This amounts to about 16.8% of the Canadian population. This leaves one to wonder what this substance is about, and why so many people are using it.

Marijuana is otherwise known as cannabis, a reflection of the plant from which it emerges – Cannabis sativa. In more urban parlance, marijuana takes up names such as weed, herb, pot, ganja, Mary Jane, grass, and bud. The names it is known by depends on the region of use.

Marijuana has a composition made of a mixture of different flowers of the same plant. And amongst the various drug substances out there, Marijuana has the most varied means of consumption. These differences in consumption methods influence the rate with which its effects kick in. This, among other reasons, is why users may prefer one method of consumption to another.

Different forms of Consuming Marijuana

The experience from the different use methods somewhat varies. However, they all result in you being high. Whether you’re using marijuana for medical purposes or leisure, the delivery method is an important point of consideration.

Smoking

This is arguably the most common method of using marijuana. These are the cigarette-like ones you see easily on the streets. For this method of consumption, the user wraps cannabis in tobacco rolling paper. You can also smoke marijuana in a pipe or a bong. (The bong is a filtration device, which makes use of water).

It’s also possible to smoke marijuana using a blunt wrap. A Blunt is a cigar in which you have emptied the tobacco content and replaced it with marijuana. In some cases, you can choose to make it a mixture of tobacco and marijuana. To smoke marijuana, you can also make use of bubblers. These devices have a similar size to pipe.

Marijuana addiction and abuse occur fast with smoking, with a risk for detrimental effects thanks to the smoke’s carcinogenic properties. Scientists continue to research the effect of smoking marijuana. However, as of now, the negative impact it has on physical health cannot be overemphasized.

Vaping

This is a newer method of smoking marijuana. This process involves vaporization, as the marijuana is heated to just below combustion. This releases vapour that can then be inhaled by the user. This process is less harmful than smoking, as the vapour contains less detrimental substances to smoke.

You should, however, note that this doesn’t mean vaping is without its adverse effects. Vaping is less dangerous than smoking, not non-dangerous.

Other than the relative perceived safety of vaping, there are other reasons people use it. One of these is the claim of a better high while vaping. Vaporizers are also known to produce less marijuana smell than smoking. Also, you can easily conceal the device from sight.

Edibles

These are marijuana forms you can add to your meals. The common ones are brownies, which have been around for a while now. Nowadays, you can add marijuana to different types of foods.

This is possible through the oil extract from marijuana which you can use to cook. You can also use this oil to bake, or just mix it with any other food you want.

These edibles are also made into capsules you can easily swallow. To this effect, you’ll see recreational marijuana vendors also selling marijuana-infused cookies, gummy bears, and granola bars.

Tinctures

This is most common with medical marijuana use. However, because of the intense high that comes with it, leisure users also abuse it. Taken in this form, marijuana is addictive, to a very high degree.

The process involves the infusion of marijuana plants with alcohol and/or water. Drops of this mix are then applied to under the tongue. This brings the marijuana near the veins and arteries. Hence, there is rapid absorption into the bloodstream.

Factors that Influence Marijuana Addiction

As you’ll recall, earlier in this blog, we established that some factors influence marijuana addiction. Marijuana is addictive but these factors play a role in how quickly addiction sets in. They also form a basis for the questions regarding marijuana dependence and addiction.

Age

Users who start before the age of 18 have a higher tendency of falling into the addiction loop. According to research, about 1 in 6 persons (below 18 years of age) get addicted to the substance.

Adults technically have a higher resistance to marijuana addiction. The rate of addiction is lower, as it is expected only of 1 out of 10 persons.

While age may seem to give reason to the continued use of the substance in adults, it isn’t safe. These figures are also changing. This is because the quality of marijuana products available today is higher. The substances are more powerful and potent, hence, increased susceptibility to addiction.

Over the past few years, the amount of THC in marijuana has increased. This increase reveals an increased effect of marijuana on the brain. Hypotheses have it that this influence directly links to addiction and dependence.

Biological Factors

The biological risk factors for marijuana addiction include genes, gender, and even ethnicity. Some people possess genes that leave them more predisposed to marijuana use.

Though, these genes are activated by environmental factors that will be discussed below. For someone that comes from a family of heavy marijuana users, falling into addiction is more than likely.

Environmental Factors

The environment plays a huge role in addiction. This is why one of the first steps for effective marijuana addiction treatment is a drastic change in the environment. One of the major environmental causes of marijuana addiction is family.

The type of home an individual is exposed to, especially as a child can determine if such a person ends up an addict. If a parent uses the substance, the child may indulge at an early age. This, according to the first factor stated above, is a terrible idea.

Peers at school can also be a determining factor for addiction. The curiosity and pressure that arise amidst friends can lead a teenager to want to try the first time. If such a teen now suffers from abuse, violence, or anxiety, marijuana will soon become a go-to relief. Marijuana is very much addictive in these cases.

Method of usage

There is one other method of usage that was not stated above. This is because it has the highest potential of leading to addiction. And with wrong use, it can be highly detrimental. This is the injection method of using marijuana. If you take it this way, marijuana is highly addictive. This is because it shoots straight to the brain within seconds of administration.

However, the downside of this intensity is that the feeling disappears within minutes. Hence, in the bid to experience the pleasure of injected marijuana more, subsequent use follows. This way, you can get addicted to marijuana before you know it.

Related Article: How to Talk to Your Teenage Children about Marijuana Use

How does Marijuana Addiction Occur?

We have been able to identify the conditions under which marijuana is addictive. However, this information still doesn’t do justice to why and how marijuana addiction happens. We have only been able to tell that ‘yes, marijuana is addictive if those conditions are fulfilled’

As with other substances, addiction occurs after repeated use. The only exception to this rule is opioids. In the case of marijuana, you need to have gotten to an irredeemable level of habit and dependence to be addicted.

Marijuana addiction is not common, but it can and does happen. As with other substances, the presence of marijuana in the body causes a release of dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is directly involved with the feeling of pleasure. The body produces it, and the central nervous system transmits it between nerve cells during pleasurable activities.

Beyond pleasure, it also plays a role in our thinking and planning. This is why marijuana users indulge when they feel down and hope to achieve clarity of thoughts.

However, with the continued use, the body gets used to the presence of the substance to achieve such clarity. Hence, you’ll find it difficult to achieve that level of high and ecstasy when you aren’t using the substance. This explains why marijuana is addictive – the continuous quest to attain a level of high.

Marijuana Addiction in Canada

This issue is worsening in Canada by the day. Since the legalization of the substance, Canada has risen through ranks to become one of the most marijuana-addiction-ridden countries in the world.

A study revealed that 83.2% of Canadians have at one time used the substance. This reality bites harder when you realize the majority of these users are teens and young adults.

Signs of Marijuana Addiction

You should know that the first step towards recovery is to recognize the presence of the problem. Different substances have differing addiction signs. Hence, there are no general signs to look for.

Below is a list of signs that point to a marijuana addiction. Once you notice any or a combination of these, as a marijuana user, seek marijuana addiction treatment immediately.

Increased tolerance for the substance

When one is addicted to a substance, they begin to need more of the substance to achieve highness. This is called tolerance. Your body builds tolerance over time.

At this stage, you begin to use more of the substance than you plan to. You may want to smoke just one wrap, but end up with three. You also feel withdrawal symptoms like loss of appetite, insomnia, irritation, and anxiety.

You spend more time high

What you spend your time on defines you. When you are addicted to marijuana, you’ll notice that you spend a lot of time smoking or using it. You’ll never seem to get enough of it. You are always looking forward to getting high. In most cases, you won’t be able to keep calm if you can’t find marijuana.

As a result of this, you have reduced the amount of time left to spend on things that matter. You’ll notice that your schedule has suffered a huge depletion of recreation and other physical activities. Rather than hanging out with your friends and family, you’ll prefer to stay alone to get high.

Despite the negative effects, you continue to get high

This is as destructive as it sounds. When you experience this sign of marijuana addiction, things are certainly bad. In this situation, you are aware of the negative impacts of the substance, but you continue.

Not only will it cause issues for your health, but it will also open you up to problems at work. When your addiction begins, you begin to care less about other important things. These acts of self-sabotage can be detrimental.

You see marijuana as an escape from problems

Life is generally plagued with issues. When you start seeing marijuana as your escape from such problems, you have a problem. For instance, when you have a bad day at work, if you feel that the only way you can handle it is by smoking, that’s a problem right there.

Searching for creativity and relaxation in highness

As an artist, if you depend on smoking weed to be able to fall in sync with your art, you are addicted. You also look forward to indulging in the substance as it is your best way to relax.

This is detrimental and in the long run more likely to make you violent. Not only will you not be able to get the relaxation you seek, but you’ll also be unable to attend to daily activities.

Negative Effects of Marijuana Abuse and Addiction

An addiction to anything is bad. Now, an addiction to a substance with known health effects is outright terrible. Marijuana has contents like delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). These substances result in a paradigm shift over time.

During early use, THC is responsible for you getting high. CBD on the other hand plays no part in highness. But it somewhat has a role to play in ensuring the balance of substance in your brain. You should know that leaving the health and function of your brain to these constituents is unhealthy.

These substances result in short and long-term detrimental effects. These health effects may vary from person to person, and occur at varying intensity.

Short-Term Effects Marijuana addiction

Marijuana is an addictive substance that can cause massive damage even in the short term. Some of these effects include;

Impairment of coordination

When you are high on marijuana, you’ll find it hard to coordinate your body. You wouldn’t be able to concentrate. Hence, you can’t operate machines or anything that needs your focus.

For these reasons, you are warned to not get high when you need to drive. Since coordination is impaired, you are at risk of having an accident.

You can’t learn or remember stuff easily

The presence of marijuana in the brain makes it difficult to concentrate. Your thinking is also impaired. It comes with a significant fall in your decision-making ability. Overall, this will affect your performance at school or work.

Your mental health suffers

Not only will marijuana cause you to get high, but it will also leave you in the valley of panic, anxiety, and ‘almost depression’ when you can’t use the substance. In some rare cases, it can trigger psychotic episodes for you. In the worst cases, it can get to the point of paranoia.

Long-term risks of Marijuana Use and Addiction

Marijuana is addictive and destructive. Not only in the short-term, but marijuana can also cause irreparable damage. Long-term in this case refers to several months and years. Examples of the long-term effects of marijuana addiction are:

Damage to the lung

Like cigarettes, marijuana dependence and addiction can cause damage to the lungs. The smoke from cannabis affects your lungs.

Terrible mental health

Let’s paint a picture for you. The consistent use of cannabis will lead to use disorder. This brings about withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop. Then, you continue with the use, and every other thing in life seems to be crashing.

Work, relationships, friends, family, and even finances start to drop. You continue using the substance at the expense of your family, friends, and money.

This collapse of your other worlds gets you anxious or depressed. Then to get away from this state, you use marijuana again. As such, the cycle continues.

There are many more issues that can arise from the use of cannabis. Each person experiences a different reality from another person. In summary, it’s impossible to provide answers to how marijuana addiction happens without stating the negative impacts. It’s all part of the reality of how marijuana addiction plays out.

Marijuana addiction is real, though it occurs less frequently than addiction from substances like tobacco, opioids, and alcohol. Marijuana addiction may take time to surface, but when it does, it technically takes over.

Before getting to this stage, if you use the substance, it’s best to evaluate yourself and seek help if necessary.

Related Article: Top Reasons Young People Use Marijuana

Final Take

Marijuana is addictive. The addiction does not occur as fast as some other substance. But when it does, it will cause serious damage. Hence, if you use the substance, don’t stop at knowing the signs of marijuana addiction. Get help.

The continuous use of marijuana, and other related substances, takes more away than it offers. Since being on this page, it means you have the will to know about yourself. This is a bold step.

But you should take the next step of checking out marijuana addiction treatment services near you. Speak to a specialist about how you can reclaim your normal life without the substance.

Don’t leave marijuana use to chance or self-control. Addiction can creep in when you least suspect. We at 1000 Islands Rehab Centre can help you cross this bridge. Contact us to speak to an expert today!

Learning how to recognize someone high on weed is a life skill in today’s world. Currently, many global nations like Canada and some US states have ended cannabis prohibition. Some other countries worldwide are also embracing marijuana as a medicinal drug and legalizing it.

With these developments, it’s become important to learn how to identify weed or marijuana addiction in someone you love. The first step to doing that? Recognizing someone who is high on weed.

Experienced smokers or marijuana users may find it easy to tell if someone is high. However, inexperienced people may not know how to recognize someone is high on weed.

In this article, you will learn how to recognize the signs that someone is high on weed. We’ll also discuss the key indicators to weed abuse and addiction as well as the necessary measures to curb it. Read on to discover so much more.

What Happens When You Use Weed?

Though marijuana is now legalized in Canada, there are still dangers attached to its abusive use. There is a high potential for the drug to become addictive because of its effects on the body.

When you smoke or ingest marijuana, you will begin to feel its effects within five to thirty minutes. On average, these effects can last for about two hours. The impact you’ll feel from taking weed is due to the way the substance acts on your brain.

Marijuana contains a psychoactive chemical known as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. When you ingest weed, your blood carries the THC to your brain. There, it reacts with your brain’s cannabinoid receptors.

Due to this reaction, you’ll experience a relaxing and calming effect. THC also triggers the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that causes pleasurable feelings. This is why the drug becomes so addictive.

What are the Methods for Using Weed?

Before discussing the signs of marijuana use, it’s important to understand how your loved one may be using marijuana. There are various methods through which most people used weed. These include:

• Smoking it (They May smoke it in a bong or use rollers).
• Taking it in food as edibles.
• Taking it in wax or hash form.
• Taking it in a vaporizer.
• Taking it in tinctures and tonics.

For those who take marijuana as edibles, it heightens the chances of suffering adverse reactions. This is because the body needs a longer time to absorb the THC present in those edibles.

This differs from what happens when you smoke it, where you feel the effects almost immediately. When you ingest weed via edibles, you may overeat to compensate for the long time it feels to get high. Doing this may lead to dangerous circumstances.

Related Article: Is Marijuana Addictive? How and Why You Can Get Hooked

How to Tell Someone is High on Weed

Weed is very addictive. Due to the euphoric, calming and relaxing feeling it gives, you may find yourself taking it again and again. With continued use of the substance, your body eventually gets used to the effects. When this happens, you’ll start taking even higher doses of the drug.

At this point, you are already addicted to marijuana use. Essentially, you have conditioned your body to the drug’s effects. Hence, when you lack the substance in your body, you will become unstable and unbalanced, seeking the drug like your life depends on it.

The problem with addiction is that a marijuana addict hardly knows they are dependent on the substance. Most of them struggle to come to terms with the fact and continue to delve deeper into abuse and addiction. Hence, their friends and loved ones need to be there for them to help them beat addiction, recover, and live a healthier life.

The first step to doing this is knowing how to recognize weed addiction. For you to do this, you must be adept at telling the indicators that a loved one is constantly high. This is not so easy at first, especially if you’re not used to such things. However, the tips in this article will make things easier for you.

The following signs show how to recognize someone is high on weed:

Withdrawal from others

It is common for someone high to withdraw from others and be alone. If your loved one who is usually socially active suddenly secludes themselves, it may be possible that they are stoned.

The voice tone

Sometimes, people who are high on weed find it hard to gauge the volume of their voices. Hence, they tend to talk louder or lower than they should normally do.

They give off strong scents

One key part of how to recognize someone is high on weed is by the pungent smell the substance leaves on them. While this is one of the signs to look out for, someone who smokes weed may use perfume or cologne to mask the strong scent.

Watch the eyes

The eyes are one of the indicators that tell someone is high. It is natural for your eyes to be constricted when you are in a well-lit room. However, the reverse is the case for someone who is high.

Instead of being constricted, a high person’s pupils become dilated in a lighted room. When in a dark room, such a person’s pupils become smaller.

Another way to recognize someone is high on weed using their eyes is by checking if they have bloodshot eyes. The presence of bloodshot eyes is like the easiest way to determine someone is high. However, bloodshot eyes can also mean someone is stressed or lacks good sleep.

Acting unusually

Another one of the signs a loved one is high on weed is if they begin to act unusually. Some of these unusual actions include delirious laughter, compulsive snacking, excessive eating, or violent behaviours. They may also act slower than normal and maybe unsure or unaware of their environment.

Losing focus during a conversation

If you are high on weed and are in a conversation with another person, it will be hard to maintain a normal conversation. A high person finds it hard to stay focused on a conversation.

One moment they are talking about how good a hockey team’s goalkeeper is. Within the same breath, they may start speaking about how fun skydiving can be.

Lost motivation or lack of energy

Being high can make a person lose motivation or interest in any activity. If you have a loved one who is passionate about a particular activity and they suddenly lose interest in it, it is one of the signs of marijuana use.

Besides the loss of interest, a high person loses motivation in doing anything and just wants to lay in bed all day. Hence, they tend to sleep excessively or display bad sleep habits.

Laughing inappropriately

Have you ever been in a conversation with someone, and they just start laughing at something that is miles away from being funny?

Being high on weed can cause you to laugh uncontrollably, even when it is inappropriate. Hence, if a person displays such behaviour, it is an indicator they are high on weed.

Feeling paranoid

Paranoia is a major way to recognize someone who is high on weed. If you or a loved one suddenly begins to feel paranoid and harbours thoughts that you are in danger, they may be high on marijuana.

Hence, if you are trying to find out if someone is high on weed, you need to watch for such behaviour, thoughts, or feelings.

Financial problems

Most weed addicts are constantly looking for money to buy the substance. Since they have conditioned themselves to use the substance, they continue to buy it.

This eventually leads to financial issues, as they invest so much in weed and forego other necessities of life. Such an individual may start borrowing money and end up owing multiple people.

Constant financial problems are a part of how to recognize marijuana addiction. If your loved one is constantly borrowing money or using important funds to buy weed, it means they are always getting high and are addicted to weed. They also need help because if they continue on that path, it’ll eventually lead to terrible consequences.

Mood Swings

One way to recognize someone is high on weed is if they constantly have mood swings. One minute they are happy and excited, and the next minute they are crestfallen and sad.

If you observe such behaviour in a person, it may be they are high on weed or using the substance. If this goes on for long, you should speak to the persona and seek marijuana addiction treatment for them after confirming they are using the substance.

Legal Problems

If you are constantly high on weed, you may find yourself in trouble due to your actions. You may be involved in street fights, club fights, or arguments.

You may also showcase violent behaviour. If you are arrested for such misdemeanours and find yourself in court, you’ll end up having legal problems and have to spend money on attorneys and settling court bills. If you have a loved one displaying such behaviour, it is wise to get them somewhere safe to prevent them from getting into trouble.

Owning drug paraphernalia

One way to recognize someone is high on weed is to find them in possession of drug paraphernalia. These include rolling papers, bongs, pipes, and other items used in storing or smoking marijuana. If you find these items and have noticed some unusual behaviour in a loved one, then it may be that they’re constantly getting high.

Staggered movements

For a loved one high on weed, they may walk staggeringly or without composure. Some other persons may walk very slowly, as though they are in a world of their own. You may also feel disoriented because weed makes you feel like you are in a dream state, making you unaware of your surroundings.

Check for signs of chronic drug use

If you notice unexplainable injuries on a person, it may indicate weed use. The person may also have open lesions and darkened veins. Such injuries and physical signs point to drug use.

These signs discussed are what to look out for when you suspect a loved one is high. However, you must note that not everyone reacts in the same way to highness.

Each person reacts uniquely to weed, and their reactions depend on several factors. Hence, if anyone is exhibiting these signs, it does not necessarily mean they are high. But the signs enumerated above surely give away a person who is high on weed.

Factors Affecting How You React to Weed

Your reaction to using weed may differ from another person’s reaction. These differences depend on the following factors:

The dose, strain, and potency of the weed used

If you smoke a weed strain that is stronger than the one another person smokes, chances are you’ll display more severe signs of highness than the other person. If you and another person smoke a weed strain of similar potency and strain, but you take larger amounts of the substance, your level of highness may be more.

The method of ingesting weed

The time in which you feel the effects of taking weed differs based on the method you use in taking it. Smoking is the fastest way to get THC into your lungs. Hence, you’ll feel the effects almost immediately.

When you chew weed or ingest it via edibles, it takes a longer time for you to feel the effects. However, these effects will be stronger and longer-lasting than other methods.

The number of times you use weed

If you use weed often, your body gets used to the effects and becomes tolerant to the substance. Hence, you may need more doses of the drug to feel the usual high you want to get. However, for a weed newbie, just a little puff of the substance can get you stoned because your body is not used to it yet.

Your age, body type, and gender

An older person may get stoned faster than a younger person. Females may also get high more quickly than men do, even with little doses of weed. If you are massively built, you may also take a longer time to get high than someone who is not. However, these conditions are not confirmed and vary among individuals.

Using weed with other drugs or alcohol

If you use weed with other drugs or alcohol, you may get stoned quickly. However, it can also lead to dangerous circumstances and is ill-advised.

Unpleasant Effects of Weed Use

Constant use of weed may lead to unpleasant effects that may become severe and life-threatening. These severe symptoms are also ways to recognize someone is high on weed:

• Anxiety
• Delusions
• Nausea
• Confusion
• High Blood Pressure
• Paranoia
• Racing Heartbeat
• Panic
• Hyperactivity
• Aggressiveness
• Cardiac Arrest
• Headache
• Stroke
• Chest pain
• Heart rhythm irregularity
• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Seizures.

It is not set in stone that everyone using weed will experience these negative effects. However, becoming addicted to the drug causes different issues for your health and eventually leads to severe consequences.

Besides health consequences, being addicted to weed also strains your relationship with loved ones, makes you less unproductive at work, and causes you to neglect your duties.

After learning how to recognize someone is high on weed (and eventually discovering that they are), you should take steps to get them the help they need. There is no use in finding out about a person’s weed use and not taking measures to help them, especially if they are loved ones.

Getting Help for Marijuana Addiction

Knowing how to recognize someone is high on weed or addicted to the substance is a small step in the right direction. If you or your loved one is addicted to weed, you need to take steps to get yourself treated.

However, the first step to finding help is admitting you have a problem. Once you come to that realization, you are well on your way to recovering from marijuana addiction and abuse.

Detox

The first phase of addiction treatment begins with detox. At this stage, your body weans itself of every trace of marijuana in your system. Depending on the severity of your addiction, you may experience some withdrawal symptoms.

These include:

• Irritability
• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Intense cravings for the substance
• Depression
• Agitation
• Extreme fatigue
• Mood swings
• Weight loss and reduced appetite.

Detox can last for a few days up to weeks, months and even a year, depending on the severity of your addiction. After detox, the next stage in marijuana addiction treatment is enrolling in a rehab program. There are two major types of rehab programmes. These are inpatient rehabs and outpatient rehabs.

Inpatient rehab

Inpatient rehabs address all areas of a recovery patient’s addiction. In these programs, there are structured treatments or therapies tailored to each patient’s needs. If you or a loved one joins this program, you’ll live in a substance-free facility and get access to daily therapeutic support and medical care.

Inpatient rehabs are best suited for persons struggling with chronic marijuana addiction. It’s also beneficial for patients with co-occurring mental and behavioural disorders.

Outpatient rehabs

Outpatient rehabs are more flexible than inpatient rehabs. Patients in outpatient rehabs receive similar treatments and therapies that exist in inpatient rehabs. However, they don’t stay in a facility. Instead, they live at home and continue with their everyday activities while attending weekly scheduled treatment sessions.

This treatment is recommended only for those with mild forms of addiction. During outpatient rehab, patients are exposed to everyday activities during treatment and are at risk of experiencing triggers. If managed poorly, these triggers can cause them to relapse. Commitment and discipline are key to making this rehab program a success.

During your marijuana addiction treatment, you’ll take part in several therapies and counselling to make you decondition yourself from drug use. With these therapies, medical professionals trace the root cause of your addiction and help you become independent of weed use. These therapies include:

• Cognitive behavioural therapy
• Biofeedback therapy
• Holistic therapy
• Dialectical behavioural therapy
• Experiential therapy
• Psychodynamic therapy
• Motivational enhancement therapy

Support groups

After you are through with rehab, you should join support groups. These support groups are beneficial and are critical in helping you remain on the right path after your recovery from addiction.

In these support groups, you will meet people who have also experienced similar situations. They will share their experiences with you, encourage and ensure you stay on the recovery path.

Some of these support groups include:

• 12-Step programs like Narcotics Anonymous (NA) and Alcoholics Anonymous.
• SMART Recovery
• Nar-Anon and Al-Anon.

It is also good to have addiction counsellors who provide recovery patients with unbiased support while receiving treatment. These counsellors create treatment plans and aftercare programmes suited to their patients’ needs.

Related Article: What to Expect During Marijuana Addiction Treatment

Conclusion

Since you are at this point in this article, you should now know how to recognize someone who is high on weed. Firstly, you learned what happens to you when you smoke weed. How your body reacts with continuous intake of the substance, eventually leading to addiction.

You also discovered the methods of taking weed. Afterward, you learned about the many ways you can tell someone is high on weed. You also read that there are factors influencing your reaction to weed use. Furthermore, you found out marijuana’s unpleasant effects.

All the information you know now is useless if you don’t take action through marijuana addiction rehab. If you or your loved one is always getting high on weed or struggling with addiction, you should find the help you need.

If you decide to do just that, look no further than our marijuana addiction treatment services. Here at 1000 Islands Rehab Centre, our addiction treatment experts will help you devise a custom treatment plan designed for long-term sobriety. Contact us today to discuss your options!

Although, it may seem like an uncomfortable prospect, you must talk to teenagers about marijuana use. You aren’t protecting them by keeping them in the dark. In today’s world, it’s impossible to keep teenagers in the dark about topics like this.

They have access to the internet. Or they may have friends or classmates that indulge in marijuana. Hence, the way to protect your teenagers is not by avoiding any mention of it. Instead, you need to get them to understand your position about marijuana use.

Initiating and engaging in this talk is easier said than done. Not only is it difficult to bring up, but it’s also sensitive. If you don’t do a good job, it may backfire.

You shouldn’t feel any pressure, as there is no perfect foolproof way to do it. In the end, it all depends on the kind of relationship you have with your teenager.

To avoid the conversation taking a wrong turn, we’ll provide you with general information that can help you get talking to teens about marijuana. This way, you can come up with a strategy that makes it easy for you to have this talk.

Marijuana Use Among Teenagers

According to an NCBI report, about 28% of the teen population that uses marijuana are Canadians. Since the legalization of marijuana in Canada in 2018, its use has been on the rise.

This is very worrying, as addiction and ultimately fatal issues result from the continuous abuse of marijuana. In light of that, you must talk to teenagers about marijuana use. It can end up being a vital step that stops your ward from falling into addiction.

There are different ways teenagers consume marijuana. The most common mode of consumption is smoking. Marijuana can also be consumed as an edible. As the years roll by, the concentration of marijuana strain per volume has increased astronomically. Hence, the efficacy of today’s marijuana supersedes that of the same strain a few years ago.

Marijuana has medical applications. However, this does not apply to teenagers. If for anything, the use of marijuana is detrimental to the health of teenagers. With teenage marijuana addiction, there is a cause for worry.

What’s more worrying is that the stigma that caused refrain for many persons in the early 2000s is no longer there. With the legalization of the substance, the moral acceptability of marijuana consumption is on the rise.

Before you talk to your teenage children about marijuana, it’s important to understand why they may want to use it in the first place. Two major factors lead to teenage marijuana abuse.

Peer Pressure

When children live in a family where there is a smoker, the risk of picking up the behaviour is high. Friends are also a major influence on whether your teenager smokes weed or not. If they have friends who do, thanks to the curiosity and the exploratory disposition of teens, they may try marijuana out.

Recent trends show that high school students are more likely to do without marijuana use. However, when teens progress towards college, they are more likely to start smoking marijuana. This is one reason why you should talk to teenagers about marijuana use.

Self-medication and psychological escape

Depression is a common mental health problem among teenagers. Worse, it can lead to marijuana abuse. According to an NBC News report, about 7% of depression is linked to marijuana use.

As a solace from depression, teens resort to this illicit drug to get ‘high’ and active. The repetition of this activity leads to addiction in no time. This “self-medication”, rather than getting expert help, is dangerous and a leading cause of cannabis addiction.

The issue that causes the use of marijuana doesn’t have to be depression. Sometimes, anxiety, abuse and other mental health problems can also cause it. This is one major reason why you need to master how to talk to teenagers about marijuana abuse.

Related Article: Top Reasons Young People Use Marijuana

Risks of Marijuana Use for Teenagers

If you don’t talk to teenagers about marijuana use, you may soon be getting more than what you bargained for. The risks of consistent marijuana abuse among teenagers are enormous. Unlimited marijuana use can result in terrible mental and behavioural conditions.

Thanks to the legalization movement in Canada, most teenagers now think marijuana is safe. This miscommunication can be damning if care is not taken. It should be said that legal marijuana use in Canada is not for those under 19. However, teens younger than this still use marijuana — without much reproach.

As a guardian or parent, dealing with a child that uses marijuana involves you effectively communicating the risks to them. Helping them understand the following risks is vital.

Reduced retention-ability

Teenage years should be full of active learning. The use of marijuana distorts the learning process for teenagers. With consistent marijuana use, the average teenager will find it difficult to be retentive.

Learning, generally, becomes arduous. You’ll notice this in their grades and results. They’ll fall below their usual standards and may find it hard to recover. This can ultimately go on to negatively impact their life career choices.

Addiction

Addiction is terrible, especially for teens. Hence, you should do everything possible to talk to teenagers about marijuana use.

After marijuana use, its psychoactive influence kicks in, releasing dopamine in the brain. This gets the user happy, active, and very aware.

This is what lures most users. However, after a while, this effect wanes. To achieve the feeling again, you’ll have to use the substance again.

In no time, addiction comes knocking. Your teenage children begin to need more of the substance to reach the same levels of high.

This is because the brain builds tolerance with constant use. Getting to this level of marijuana addiction may take a while. However, marijuana dependence and addiction occur faster in teens.

Poor life quality

Once addiction kicks in, quality of life takes a persistent nosedive. The plummeting quality of life gets worse as your teen starts to make all the wrong decisions.

This may lead to depression. And in a bid to escape the depression, they may use more of the substance. As such, the vicious cycle continues.

For teens, poor life quality may mean they start to lose good friends. Or, they may start to lose direction in life and exhibit rebellious behaviour. At this point, it’s best to take the bold step of working with marijuana rehab services to reverse this issue.

Mental Illness

This reality is sad, especially for teens. Consistent marijuana abuse has the probability of resulting in panic attacks. It can also come with conditions like hallucinations, disoriented thoughts and paranoia. None of these are good news.

Accidents

The number of Canadians that suffer auto-crashes due to drugs is skyrocketing. Teens are a larger part of this demographic. For teens, or anybody else for that matter, the influence of marijuana results in a lack of proper judgment. Coordination gets poorer and your alertness douses.

You become incapable of driving safely — an activity that requires you to have swift reactions. Teens are dying on the road under the influence of marijuana. Hence, it is time to talk to teenagers about marijuana use.

Signs Your Teen is Using Marijuana

It’s very easy to dismiss the signs of marijuana use and addiction as teenage tantrums. Many of the signs of addiction bear somewhat of a resemblance to that of puberty. Hence, you need to be extra careful and vigilant. Here are signs to tip you off if your teen smokes or eat weed:

Loss of interest

They begin to lose interest in things they normally hold dear. For instance, they may suddenly lose interest in the family Friday night movies.

It’s easy to mistake this as your teenage children growing up. However, the loss of interest may also be due to marijuana addiction.

Bad grades

Bad grades suddenly begin to surface in their results. When you confront them with this plummet, they’ll probably refuse to talk about it. You’ll probably notice your teen being lackadaisical about the drop in grades.

They change or lose friends

Teenagers are arguably the most social age group. They make friends easily. In the neighbourhood, your teen probably has numerous friends.

When you notice these friendships are changing, you should sit up and take notice. Teenagers who use marijuana will likely crave solitude. They’ll want to be alone as much as possible. This way, they can indulge in peace. As a result, they’ll spend less time with friends and family.

They stink of marijuana

To know what’s up with your teens, you may need to find out what marijuana smells like. Teens addicted to marijuana will surely have the scent hanging around them.

Change in personality

This is the most radical and easily noticeable of changes. Is your teen someone that was always happy and jovial, but is now dull and moody? Something may be wrong. Typically, teenage marijuana users and addicts experience a change in personality, appearance, and mood.

Tips to Talk to a Teenager about Weed (Marijuana)

Teens are arguably the most sensitive age groups to deal with as adults. They can easily snap at you, and storm out of the room. Or they can decide to clam up and venture no useful information. Hence, due to how delicate their age group is, knowing how to properly talk to teenagers about marijuana use is vital.

You should know there is no singular best way to go about this talk. As a parent, guardian, friend, or family member, you must know who you are dealing with. It helps to know and understand the peculiarity of the teen in question.

Most times, teens won’t admit they indulge in marijuana. This is understandable. The fear of getting punished won’t make them admit it. But if you are adequately armed with knowledge of marijuana usage indicators, you’ll know.

Once you cross the stage of knowing, here are tips to talk to a teenager about weed.

Don’t scare them off

A mistake most parents make when looking to converse with their ward is starting with “we need to talk.” This may seem harmless to you as a parent or guardian.

However, no child likes or wants to ‘talk.’ It’s a red flag they run away from. Hence, you need to be adept in the art of getting their attention, without asking for their attention.

Be as subtle as possible

When trying to talk to teenagers about marijuana use, whether they indulge or not, you need to be subtle. Going hard on them will get you nowhere. You need your teenage child to be as vulnerable and as honest as they can be.

Remember, talking to them can either make or mar the situation. For a teen that doesn’t use the substance, they may get curious after your ‘talk’ and try it out. It’s a dicey situation you must handle expertly.

Make sure it’s the right time

There is no rush to talk about marijuana. Even if you’ve confirmed your teens’ addiction, don’t rush things. Recovery is often a long-term journey.

You need to make sure the time is right. If the teen is high, wait till they are sober. If angry, wait till smiles return to their faces. Most of the time, your teenage child’s mood can affect how smoothly your talk about marijuana abuse goes.

Don’t be judgmental

The last thing you want to be during this talk is a judge. No one likes to be judged. Everyone feels insecure about many of their actions. Your teenagers are not excluded from this sentiment.

Once your tone tilts towards passing judgment, you’ll most likely never reach the desired destination. Hence, your talk should be more positive and expository, rather than conclusive and inferential.

Be calm

You may not achieve your aim on the first try, especially if the teen is already used to marijuana. Talking to teens about marijuana requires that you are cool, calm, and collected. They’ll fret, deny, and panic, amidst a million other things. You need to be the calm one. Losing your calm in any of these situations won’t get you anywhere.

Don’t be rigid

Most times, indulging in marijuana is simply an escape for the teen. There are probably bigger issues underlying their action. Hence, you must be willing to hear and respond to them. Once you can get them vulnerable and talking (if they are users), listen and be ready to change your mind about things. Be ready to help.

Be an example

There is no point trying to talk to teenagers about marijuana use if they know you use it too. You can’t tell them to avoid or quit what they see you do. It doesn’t even have to be marijuana.

You shouldn’t be a drug user if you are going to engage in this tough conversation with your teenager. Where substance abuse is concerned, you must be the pristine example of sobriety.

Be prepared

Teens are curious and most times argumentative. They have a knack for rationalizing bad behaviour. To get them to flip to your sphere of thought, you need to convince them beyond reasonable doubts. They’ll ask numerous questions in the bid to support their stance. Hence, you must have done your homework.

That’s why this article starts by exposing you to some facts about marijuana addiction and teens. Don’t talk to teenagers about marijuana use if you don’t have answers to the questions they’ll ask.

Be ready to get help

You never can tell what the result of the conversation may be. Things may prove beyond your control. Hence, getting help for teenagers with marijuana addiction becomes vital. You may hit the jackpot and your tee is on the same page with you. If this is the case, be ready to help them maintain that stance and understanding.

You shouldn’t let things get too late before you step in. This may result in huge marijuana rehab expenses. It’s best to nip things in the bud as soon as possible. Start by speaking to a marijuana addiction expert near you!

Related Article: Common Myths About Marijuana Abuse

Final Take

Getting to talk to teenagers about marijuana use is a delicate move. It’s sensitive, for both you and the teen in the question. Hence, you must reassure them you are on their side.

Furthermore, you must create a condition that’s conducive and allows them to be vulnerable. Achieving this is not a one-day job. The premise is on the trust and understanding between you and them. But it’s not too late to make them know you care.

Teenage years are critical to the overall development of your children. As such, it’s up to you to make sure they navigate these years with zero exposure to drugs.

If your teenage child has a marijuana addiction problem, it’s not the end of the world. Here at 1000 Islands Rehab Centre, our addiction treatment specialists have considerable experience working with teenagers. Let’s help put your kid back on the right path!

Not knowing what to expect during marijuana addiction treatment is why many addicts don’t sign up for rehab. Being an addict to marijuana is not a very pleasurable experience. While the first use of the substance may seem like heaven. The addiction that follows years of severe abuse is more like hell.

Marijuana addiction topples the life of the user, in all aspects. From worsening relationships with friends to losing hold of your finances, the list of side effects that come with a marijuana habit is endless.

If you’re reading this, you’ve probably taken the first step of admitting to yourself that you are an addict. This is great news, an achievement even. For many addicts, getting over the denial stage can be quite an accomplishment.

Now, you need help. But you are having some unresolved doubts. You are unsure of what happens during marijuana addiction treatment. The fear of uncertainty is real.

This is why we’ve come up with this guide. It will help you understand what to expect during marijuana addiction treatment. Through it, we will provide a comprehensive explanation of the different treatment exercises that form a part of marijuana rehab. Let’s get into it.

What is Marijuana Addiction?

Marijuana may not be instantly addictive as opioids, but when it does hook a fellow, it takes time to recover. This is not to scare you but to prepare your mind for the fact that the journey of marijuana addiction recovery is a long one.

As of 2018, Canada became the second country in the world to make marijuana use legal. This has caused the country to see a spike in cannabis usage. According to the CCSA, marijuana is now the second most abused substance in the country.

The cannabis plant is the source of marijuana. When this plant is harvested, it gets dried and ground. This is then made available for you to smoke. Though, smoking is not the only consumption process for marijuana. There are edibles you can chew, and they can also be injected into the body.

How Marijuana Addiction Happens

Marijuana is very psychoactive because it triggers the release of a substance called dopamine. However, marijuana doesn’t stop at this, it can also alter perception. This is why you and others turn to it when you have issues or feel stress. And since the world we live in can’t be devoid of stress and issues, you turn to the substance more frequently.

In the long run, the brain begins to get used to the substance. Then, your body begins to build a resistance. Such that, to reach the level of high you want, you need to consume more marijuana. In the long run, dependence will lead to addiction.

For the most part, overdosing doesn’t normally occur with marijuana. However, there is an increasing number of people that end up in the ER because of a weed habit. Most times, this is due to accidents that occur when they are high.

Signs of Marijuana Addiction

Marijuana can be very addictive. Since most users equate it as a cure for stress, it’s tempting to keep indulging.

Other causes of marijuana trace back to peer pressure. The company you keep can also be the reason you are addicted. Whatever the cause is, once marijuana addiction occurs, the stories are similar.

At first, you won’t accept you are addicted as most people do. You’ll believe you can stop using the substance whenever you want. Most times, this is a wrong affirmation.

So, before finding answers to what to expect during marijuana addiction treatment, how do you know you or a loved one needs rehab? Some symptoms are a key indicator of a worsening marijuana habit.

Just like other disorders, you may not experience all the symptoms mentioned below. However, if you experience at least two of the following within 12 months, the chances are high that you have an addiction problem.

• You continue to use marijuana even when it’s causing a strain on your social and romantic relationships. You even continue to use it despite physical harm.

• You strongly crave the substance frequently

• You start needing more of the substance to get high

• When you don’t use the substance for a while, you experience withdrawal symptoms. These include; mood swings, sleep disruption, severe headache, appetite disruption abs irregularities in weight.

• You stop doing the things you used to enjoy

• You just feel like using the substance all-day

• You ignore health conditions and keep smoking or eating it

• You are always getting high

• You go out of your way to get marijuana. This may involve you having to use money meant for other things.

So if you are curious about what to expect during marijuana addiction treatment, here is a little prelude to the main answer — it’s not going to be easy. But when you are with the right marijuana addiction rehab service, you can be sure they’ll make the process as easy as possible.

But first, we’ll explore the short and long-term negative effects of marijuana addiction on a person.

Effects of Marijuana Addiction

Understanding how marijuana addiction affects your life will help you become resolute in your decision to get help. Marijuana addiction is robbing you of life, your life.

Short Term Effects of Marijuana Addiction

As stated earlier, the effects of the substance on you may differ from that of your friend. Also, you may not experience all of these. But certainly, you’ll have noticed some.

• There is the risk of short-term memory loss

• You may also suffer from severe anxiety. In some cases, you may suffer paranoia.

• You may also start experiencing strange behaviours like seeing and smelling things that aren’t real. This is a situation known as psychosis.

• Panic is also a common situation that can occur

• You may also suffer from hallucinations

• You may lose your sense of personal identity

• There is also a reduction in your reaction time to situations and events

• There is the possibility of an increased heart rate

• You also have an increased risk of suffering from stroke

• Males also suffer sexual problems

• You suffer a loss of coordination

Long Term Effects of Marijuana Addiction

The answer to what to expect during marijuana addiction treatment should spur you to get professional rehab. Without it, you risk the following long-term marijuana addiction issues.

• The decline in your IQ. This is a situation that gets worse if your addiction started as an adolescent

• You can also suffer from an impairment of your thinking.

• You experience a reduction in how much you are satisfied with life

• The possibility of getting addicted to opioids.

• You may experience financial difficulties

• You experience increased antisocial behaviour.

Marijuana addiction, like any other, is as deadly as they come. The effects in the long term and short term aren’t just worth the investment you make into the drug with your hard-earned money. This is why the various marijuana addiction treatment methods are a lifesaver.

Related Article: Treatment for Marijuana Addiction: Why You Need to Stop Smoking

What Happens During Marijuana Addiction Treatment

Here’s a breakdown of the aggregate journey to marijuana addiction recovery and sobriety.

Acceptance

Accepting that you are addicted to marijuana is the first step towards recovery. However, you shouldn’t just accept that fact by yourself. You need to inform your friends and family. There is just one reason for this.

Taking the remaining steps towards marijuana addiction recovery requires ample support from friends and family. Your will alone won’t get you through the specialist’s door.

Because marijuana is now legal in Canada, you may wonder why you should bother giving it up. Yours is a personal journey. The need for recovery transcends what the law permits or not.

Consultation Session

Post acknowledgment, the next step is to speak with a marijuana rehab expert. You need to see a doctor for a proper diagnosis. This consultation session can also help you uncover any underlying condition you didn’t know about.

A marijuana addiction treatment expert will be able to gauge the extent of the addiction. Together with medical personnel, they’ll be able to test you for health-related problems.

The results of these tests and consultation sessions will form the bedrock of your marijuana rehab plan. You’ll be able to make critical decisions like whether to go with inpatient or outpatient rehab. Once the diagnosis is over, the first step that begins everyone’s marijuana recovery is detoxification.

Marijuana Detox

This is a treatment process that involves medical experts administering medication to get the physical elements of marijuana out of your body. This process has to be conducted under the strict supervision of a specialist.

During detoxification, you won’t be taking any more marijuana. This is called withdrawal. Withdrawal from rehab causes the body to react, in the following ways:

• Increased irritation
• Increased anxiety
• You won’t be able to sleep
• You’ll have a heightened craving for the substance
• In severe cases, it can lead to depression
• Insomnia can also result from marijuana withdrawal
• You won’t be able to experience pleasure without the substance.

Once detox is complete, the doctor will provide you with medications to combat these symptoms as you proceed into the next stage — therapy.

Marijuana addiction treatment methods

Rehabilitation can take different forms for different persons. It all depends on the peculiarities of the patient involved. Hence, it’s not easy to accurately preempt what to expect during marijuana addiction treatment.

The system of treatment an addiction treatment service recommends depends on how severe your addiction is. For persons with very severe marijuana addiction, an expert will most likely recommend inpatient therapy.

However, if your addiction is mild, you may be subject to outpatient therapy. The major difference between these two directions of therapy is admission into the facility. For inpatient treatment, you’ll remain in the addiction treatment center. You’ll be under the supervision of the healthcare professionals, in a controlled environment.

For the outpatient treatment, you’ll still be able to get to work and do other things. Although, you’ll have to see your designated treatment officer frequently during the week. The frequency of your visit to the marijuana rehab centre is based on the discretion of the expert.

Inpatient treatment is more recommended if you want to see fast results. The environment is controlled there. Hence, you will suffer less exposure to triggers and environmental cues that encourage addiction. However, inpatient treatment always costs more. But the use of this procedure for marijuana addiction treatment has a higher chance of success.

Getting Marijuana Addiction Treatment: What to Prepare For

Preparation is at the center of what to expect during marijuana addiction treatment. If you will be going in for inpatient treatment, there are only a few things you’ll need. The first being your clothing, as light as you can pack them.

You should also make sure your family is catered for in your absence. This is important if you are the breadwinner of the family. Notifying your family also brings about support, which you’ll need loads of, once you are admitted into the facility.

There are different grades of treatment facilities. The luxurious ones have more facilities and equipment that makes ‘life away from normal’ easier. However, even if you go for more affordable marijuana rehab services, you’ll still enjoy positive results.

You should also prepare your mind that inpatient treatment lasts between 30 to 90 days. When you are done with inpatient rehab, sober living homes are the next best thing to help you transition to normal life.

Inpatient treatment centers eliminate triggers during your stay. Hence, suddenly transitioning back into an uncontrolled environment can be overwhelming. Sober living homes serve as that transition center. You rent space in these homes, controlled homes, while you go about normal life activities again. The sober living homes are controlled and with caregivers at your arm’s length.

Cost of Marijuana Addiction Treatment

What a marijuana program looks like is dependent on the center you choose, and your treatment needs. These peculiar details will determine the experience you will enjoy during your treatment program. Similarly, it also influences the cost you’ll incur.

Thankfully, you can mitigate expensive bills with insurance or other government-assisted programs like Medicaid.

The breakdown of the cost for marijuana rehab is simple. The first stage of treatment is detox, and this costs between $1000 and $5000. For inpatient rehab, that already contains detox, the cost is about $6000 for 30 days.

Some facilities may however rise to $20000. If your program is going to run for between 60 to 90 days, the cost is about $12000 and $60000.

Outpatient treatments are cheaper and can cost $5000 for a 3-month’ program. Medications during treatment can rise to about $4700.

What to Expect during Marijuana Addiction Treatment

The process of addiction recovery is long and can seem somewhat impossible. You’ll experience both physical and psychological discomfort. Because you are conscious about quitting marijuana, the craving can somewhat become unbearable.

A lot is going to happen once you walk through that door to see a specialist. However, none of these things are worth being scared of. You may not exactly know what to expect during marijuana addiction treatment.

However, you need to be rest assured that it’s all about your recovery. Whatever happens, will lead to your wholeness and ability to live without drugs. These key points will guide your mental image of what marijuana rehab is:

Duration

This is the first thing you should know about marijuana addiction recovery.  One thing to have at the back of your mind is that recovery is a lifetime journey. While marijuana rehab programs themselves have a time cap, recovery is a never-ending journey.

From studies and observations, marijuana addiction treatment methods get administered for between 30 to 90 days. On rare occasions, however, it may last up to a year. You won’t know how long the treatment will last from the beginning. Your doctor may decide to extend you beyond the maximum point of this average if there is no improvement. If your condition improves, you may end treatment faster.

Therapy

Cognitive-behavioral (CBT) therapy is the most common form of therapy administered for marijuana addiction treatment. This may differ for you, as your therapist may employ other forms of therapy based on your condition. CBT therapy is a form of individual therapy.

Depending on the form of marijuana addiction rehab program, you may be put in discussion groups with other marijuana addicts in recovery.

Discussing in these groups gives patients a sense of community. This helps you better focus on your treatment as you’ll understand that you are not alone.

Visit from family and friends

If you are an inpatient, you’ll not see much of your outside family and friends. Since you need to focus more on your recovery, this distinction is important to control your exposure to marijuana.

However, there are visiting hours, which differ from facility to facility. You should find out about visiting hours before committing to a treatment. Regular visits from friends and family will help you with the confidence to go on with the treatment.

Cost

Technically, you cannot ascertain the cost of treatment from the beginning. Contingencies may occur and you’ll need to spend more. With the support of family and friends, you’ll scale through this.

One thing you should know is the cost of addiction treatment is always lower than the cost of sticking to addiction. If addiction treatment costs you $20000 in a year, a marijuana habit may cost you about double in that period.

Relapse

Relapse is a situation where start using marijuana again while you are in recovery. The percentage of relapse during recovery is between 40 to 60%.

This is more common for outpatients than inpatients. As an outpatient, you are still exposed to triggers even as you get treatment. As such, it’s easier for relapse to happen.

Medications

Medications are mainly administered during the marijuana detox process. Most of these medications won’t be sold to you over the counter. They are only prescribed by a doctor. And even when your medication runs out, you can only get another prescription from the doctor.

Standard practice will also have the doctor conduct a further examination to determine if you still need the substance. This is to prevent you from replacing your marijuana addiction with an addiction to the prescribed medication.

Your will

Beyond knowing what to expect during marijuana addiction treatment, you need to master how you’ll keep your willpower running. The recovery process can be exhausting, especially as you are cut out from society. In these periods, you need to be strong and maintain your focus. If you lose your willpower, the investment in recovery is a waste.

The 12-step program

This program was created by the founders of Alcoholics anonymous. It contains principles to help you overcome the problem of addiction.

The success of this program in its early days is why it’s being recommended across the world. You’ll get introduced to this program during rehab. It’s best if you follow through even after rehab.

Related Article: How Much Does Marijuana Addiction Rehab Cost?

Marijuana Addiction Rehab is Effective

Knowing what to expect during marijuana addiction treatment is one thing, starting and following through is another. No amount of knowledge will suffice without action. Take the first step towards recovery now by reaching out to any of our world-class marijuana rehab facilities.

Here at 1000 Islands Rehab Centre, our treatment experts have the experience, facilities and specialization to help you recover from marijuana addiction. Get started today!