Many people think that marijuana is not addictive, especially since marijuana has been legalized in quite a number of states. Treatment centers for marijuana addiction are very rare. This makes little sense considering the fact that THC, which is the active ingredient in marijuana, stays in your body longer than any illegal drug and the need to purge it from your system is therefore imperative.
THC can stay in a person’s body for up to sixty days after smoking “weed,” and the THC in marijuana is much stronger than it used to be as it continues to be produced worldwide.
It’s a Problem
So, how do you quit marijuana? Let’s start from the basic problem.
A person smokes weed. The inhaled smoke enters your lungs, and from your lungs enters your bloodstream. This gives you an almost immediate buzz or high, and continued smoking gives you the feeling of being stoned. Metabolites of marijuana store in the fat cells in your body for months, and this gives you cravings for more weed.
The problem with being stoned all the time it that it makes a person virtually worthless when it comes to productivity. While many agree that the need to smoke marijuana is psychological, science is showing that there are definite withdrawal symptoms for people quitting marijuana like lack of sleep, edginess, depression, stomach issues and more. How do you get away from this cycle and become marijuana free?
- The best course for a true marijuana addict is a rehabilitation facility, if at all feasible. They require the addict to be an inpatient for one, two or three months
- In the facility, you will go through detox, which isn’t exactly pleasant, and you will be removed from any source of marijuana
- You will have daily therapy sessions discussing the root of your addiction, and why the addiction has a hold on you
- You will be introduced to what a life without marijuana can be
- You, along with your therapist, will create a specialized care guide toward making you mentally healthy
- After you leave the facility, you will enter “aftercare,” which means that you will return to the facility to visit and checking in, and even to attend specialized group support sessions to discuss life on the outside, and help you deal with problems without the need to smoke marijuana
Many marijuana addicts express that they want to feel productive once again and the marijuana makes them completely oblivious when it comes to being responsible with daily obligations. The main reason that people go into inpatient therapy is for the medical support to get through detox period from marijuana and other substances.
Rehab or Detox?
Not every marijuana addict need to check into rehab. If you feel that you can detox from the drug and get better on your own, there are definitely a lot worse drugs to detox from. When you are detoxing, you should keep in mind that the peak of being uncomfortable will be on approximately the third day of the withdrawal and at home remedies can be taken to ease stomach pain and pain in general, like Aleve or Tylenol. Benadryl helps “take the edge off” as do some prescription medications, which means that you should consult with your physician if you choose to go this route.
Realize that the process is going to take a few days, but there is a definite end in sight. Drink a lot of water to stay hydrated and flush the toxins from your system. You will not be your normal self for a few days, but you can get through it and start a better life once you have come through this stage.
There are ways to quit marijuana, but it starts with you. You need to quit because you want to, and you need to decide if the reasons you want to quit are good enough. Then, you must take action—whether you feel you need professional help, or if you can handle detoxing on your own. This can be done, and you will get through it if you are determined to take back control of your life.
