Can you actually get addicted to marijuana? And if you can, what are your treatment options? Do people go to rehab for weed?
Learn more about our drug rehab programs in Georgia or call us now at 770-240-5699.
Is Marijuana Really Addictive?
The only reason someone would go to rehab for weed is because they had become addicted to the drug. This would be a self-evident statement for most other recreational substances, but some people continue to claim that marijuana addiction isn’t real.
Let’s clear that up right now. Yes, you really can become addicted to marijuana.
The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) is the standard reference book for mental health professionals and addiction treatment providers in the United States. The DSM-5 includes entries for 10 classes of substance use disorders, which is the formal term for addiction. One of these is cannabis use disorder, or addiction to marijuana.
Does weed pose the same risk of addiction that opioids, alcohol, and meth do? No, it doesn’t. But a lower risk is not the same as no risk at all.
Weed addiction symptoms
From a clinical perspective, addictions are characterized by the continued compulsive use of a substance, even after a person has experienced significant problems due to prior use of the drug.
For cannabis use disorder specifically, the DSM-5 includes 11 symptoms:
- Frequently using cannabis in greater amounts or for a longer period of time than you intended
- Having a persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to curtail your cannabis use
- Experiencing cravings or strong urges to use cannabis
- Devoting large amounts of time to activities related to the acquisition and use of cannabis
- Failing to fulfill your obligations at home, in school, or at work because of your continued cannabis use
- Using cannabis in circumstances that can be physically hazardous, such as when you also have alcohol or other drugs in your system
- Giving up or reducing your participation in important social, recreational, or work-related activities because of your cannabis use
- Continuing to use cannabis even after you’ve had a physical or psychological problem that was either caused or made worse by your prior use of the drug
- Continuing to use cannabis even after having social or interpersonal (relationship) problems that were caused or worsened by your prior use
- Developing tolerance, which means that cannabis doesn’t affect you as strongly as it used to
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop using cannabis, or continuing to use it in order to forestall the onset of these symptoms
If you have two or three of these symptoms, you meet the criteria for a diagnosis of mild cannabis use disorder. Having four or five symptoms is considered moderate cannabis use disorder, while having six or more is classified as severe cannabis use disorder.
Weed withdrawal
If you frequently use weed for an extended period of time, you can develop the following withdrawal symptoms if you abruptly stop, or if you’re prevented from acquiring and using it:
- Anger and irritability
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Restlessness
- Insomnia
- Vivid nightmares
- Appetite loss and resultant weight loss
- Various flu-like symptoms, such as fever, chills, headache, and stomach ache
Cannabis withdrawal symptoms aren’t usually as painful as what people endure during opioid or alcohol withdrawal. But weed withdrawal can still be highly uncomfortable, to the point that it prevents you from quitting the drug for good.
Do People Go to Rehab for Weed?
If you’ve read this far, you probably already know the answer to this question. But those who jumped directly to this section deserve the answer, too:
Do people go to rehab for weed? Yes, they do.
Once a person has become addicted to any substance (including cannabis), it can be quite difficult to stop using the drug through personal willpower alone. Addiction isn’t a moral failure or a character flaw. It is a chronic, progressive disease.
Does this mean that everyone who develops cannabis use disorder has to go to rehab? No, it doesn’t.
There are many paths that people have used in an attempt to get from active addiction to abstinence/recovery, such as:
- Going “cold turkey,” enduring the distress of withdrawal, and trying to build a healthier life for themselves by themselves
- Getting involved with a peer-led support group like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), and SMART Recovery.
- Receiving professional care in a rehab program.
Since today’s post is about going to rehab for weed, here are three of the benefits of choosing that option:
- Flexibility: As we’ll discuss in the next section, “rehab” doesn’t refer to just one approach. Within this general category, there are a range of programming options, so you can find the ones that work best for you.
- Personalization: Each type of rehab program can be further customized with a variety of therapies and support services to best address your specific needs and goals. Quality rehabs understand that drug treatment isn’t a one-size-fits-all experience.
- Expertise: In rehab, you will be cared for by trained professionals who understand the impact of addiction and the challenges of recovery. They can help you deal with the physical and psychological effects of compulsive substance use, and prepare you to overcome the obstacles that you will encounter as you work to maintain a drug-free lifestyle.
What Happens in Weed Rehab?
Effective treatment for cannabis use disorder can look quite different from one person to the next, depending on factors such as how the individual’s life has been impacted by addiction, if they have any co-occurring mental health concerns, and what type of program they are in.
Programming options for weed rehab can include:
- Detox
- Residential treatment
- Partial hospitalization program (PHP)
- Intensive outpatient program (IOP)
- Outpatient therapy
Some people only spend time in one of these program types, while others benefit from receiving care in several or even all of them.
Types of treatment
Weed rehab may involve an array of therapies and support services, such as:
- Medications for co-occurring mental health concerns
- Individual, group, and family therapy
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- EMDR and other trauma-focused therapies
- Yoga, meditation and other holistic therapies
- Red light therapy
- Relapse prevention education
Remember: There’s no such thing as a “perfect” type of treatment or course of care that works for everyone. What’s most important is finding the path that’s right for you.
Find a Weed Rehab Center in Atlanta
North Atlanta Behavioral Health provides personalized outpatient care for adults who have become addicted to cannabis and other drugs. We also help people whose addiction struggles are accompanied by co-occurring mental health concerns.
Our outpatient weed rehab in Atlanta, GA, offers treatment at the PHP and IOP levels. We’ll discuss the features and benefits of each option with you, so that you have the details you need to make an informed decision about your treatment.
To learn more about how we can help you or a loved one, or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Admissions page or call us today.
