You may be considering marijuana rehabilitation for a variety of reasons. Maybe you realize you have an unhealthy dependence. Maybe you are worried about negative short or long-term health effects. Maybe you are facing drug charges and need to correct your behavior. Whatever your reasoning is, here are four ways to approach rehabilitation.
1. Assessing the Addiction
The debate over whether or not marijuana is addictive is still going on. In order for a drug to be legally classified as “addictive,” it needs to be both physically and psychologically addictive. While definite facts about the physical addictiveness of marijuana are yet to be determined, there is no denying that marijuana can be psychologically addictive.
It’s possible to get addicted to any substance or behavior—especially when it triggers the release of pleasure or relaxation hormones. Marijuana does just that. Its active ingredient, Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), enters the bloodstream and is distributed to all parts of the body. When it enters the brain, it triggers the release of dopamine. The THC is stored in fatty tissue in other parts of the body.
The first step in marijuana rehabilitation is admitting that the drug use is addictive and is negatively affecting your life. Nobody can force you to get over an addiction—you have to be willing. Even if you aren’t concerned about the physical effects of your drug use, consider the legal implications. Although some states have legalized it, marijuana is still illegal in most states and can lead to job loss, school expulsion, and DUI charges.
2. Cleansing the Body
Although marijuana’s physical addictiveness is still up for debate, completely ridding your system of the drug can help you on your road to marijuana rehabilitation. Due to the fact that THC enters fatty tissue, marijuana is detectable in your system for 45 days if it is used regularly, and 90 days if it is used heavily.
There are a few different methods to help flush the drug from the system. These include saunas, good nutritional habits, and a solid exercise routine—things that are typically used to burn fat. When the fat tissue breaks down, the THC is released and can exit the system.
3. Examining the Behavior
Part of rehabilitating yourself from marijuana or any other substance is examining the reason for the dependence—whether that dependence is psychological or physical. If you have a propensity for addiction, then getting the drug out of your system will not be enough. You will also need to teach yourself to resist the cravings or urges to engage in the behavior you are addicted to.
Often dependence on any kind of addictive behavior or substance is a symptom of deeper problems like mental health issues. The high from using marijuana can be used as a way for people with depression or bipolar disorder to self-medicate. If you find that you use marijuana as a way to escape other problems, you can begin your rehabilitation by finding other, healthier ways to cope. Using marijuana leads to other health problems like decreased memory, nausea, dizziness, hallucinations, weaker immune system, numbness, and increased depression.
4. Evaluating the Influences
Once you have been completely rehabilitated and have chosen to stop using marijuana, you have to consider outside influences. If all your friends are still heavy marijuana users, you may have to find new friends. It’s easy to justify your actions and go back on your decision when you get around a group of people who want you to join them in their drug use. Even just being around people who are using illegal drugs can get you into trouble according to the Donnell Law Group in Markham.
Pay attention to the influences you have in every aspect of your life, and evaluate them in terms of healthy or unhealthy influences. As hard as it may be, cut yourself off from unhealthy influences, and seek out or cultivate the positive, healthy influences in your life.
Marijuana rehabilitation is just like any other process—it takes patience and time. Changing your behavior takes a lot of trial-and-error. As you approach your rehabilitation, find what works for you and stick with it. Don’t be afraid to seek professional help.
The post Four Approaches to Marijuana Rehabilitation appeared first on .
