Cannabis addiction & rehab

Cannabis has become steadily more potent over the last few decades, and as such, the high concentrations of THC can have dangerous consequences to a person’s mental health.

Cannabis facts

• Recent data suggest that 30% of those who use marijuana may have some degree of marijuana use disorder (1)
• Studies further suggest that 9% of all people who use cannabis will become dependent on it (2,3)
• Of those people who start using cannabis during their teenage years, 17% will develop a dependence or addiction to it (4,5)

If you are concerned about your own relationship with cannabis or perhaps you are worried about a friend or loved one, you may observe the following signs and symptoms of cannabis addiction.

Signs and symptoms of cannabis addiction:

• Frequent cannabis intoxication
• Using cannabis in dangerous situations such as driving or whilst operating heavy machinery (cannabis impaires motor skills, judgment and decision making)
• Withdrawing from family and friends
• Obsessed with finding and trying different stronger strains of cannabis, or mixing with medications or other drugs for greater effect
• Paranoia, anxiety and depression
• Becoming increasingly isolated and unmotivated
• Submerging within a cannabis culture to find acceptance
• Personal relationships suffering as a result of cannabis use
• Finances, work or school suffering as a result of cannabis use
• Increased risk taking whilst under the influence
• Appearing excessively agitated and anxious if unable to get cannabis
• Severe mood swings including aggressive outbursts, extreme euphoria, apathy
• Imapired memory – perhaps a difficulty in retaining new information, remembering appointments / arrangements or repeating things over and over
• Cravings for cannabis that are overwhelming
• Ruminating past events with a disinterest in resolving issues
• Defending or justifying cannabis use despite the apparent decline in mental, physical, social or emotional health
• Disinterest in family, friends, loved ones and things once found enjoyable
• Suicidal ideation or self harm tendencies

Any individual who is suffering from a marijuana addiction will be frequently, if not constantly under the influence of the drug. It can be helpful to know the signs of cannabis intoxication.

Signs and symptoms of cannabis use and intoxication:

• Fatigue, lethargy, apathy
• Dry mouth
• Bloodshot eyes
• Lack of interest in physical appearance
• Evidence of cannabis paraphernalia (i.e joints, bongs, pipes, scales, grinders)
• Overeating (marijuana stimulates appetite)
• Obsessive engagement in activities such as gaming, music or internet whilst under the influence (users lose track of time and can spend inordinate amounts of time doing one activity)
• Impaired memory
• Slurred or delayed speech
• Unusual euphoria
• Mood swings
• Poor attention span
• Difficulty with coordination and balance
• Increased heart rate
• Anxiety, paranoia

When addicted to cannabis users feel a compulsion to take cannabis despite the negative consequences the drug is causing in their life. Cannabis addiction often infiltrates all areas of the sufferers life including relationships, school / work, finances and mental and social health.

If you relate with these symptoms and are worried about your relationship with cannabis, Delamere can help. We provide specific cannabis detoxification programmes to help you stop cannabis initially. This is then followed by a bespoke residential programme to help you stay stopped in the long term.

In years gone by there was no such thing as a physical dependence to cannabis. This misinformation meant that people who were addicted to cannabis, sadly, mostly stayed addicted to cannabis.

Thanks to advanced scientific experimentation and research we now know that even when a drug is not knowingly physically addictive, in addiction the brain undergoes profound transformations that hardwire the sufferer to seek and take substances despite continuing harmful consequences.

Removing the drug is only the very tip of the iceberg when it comes to healing addiction. The brain remains in the same chemically altered and damaged state, induced by repeated abuse of a substance, activity or drug.

When cannabis use is stopped, an addicted brain will produce both physical and psychological symptoms as it tries to adjust to functioning without the drug it has adapted to being influenced by.

Addiction is a very complex disease of the brain that manifests in compulsive drug seeking and taking. In the instance of marijuana addiction, removing the drug does little to resolve the condition, it only stops it from further progressing.

A cannabis addicted brain will need intensive healing following a detox in order to stay cannabis free. At Delamere we achieve this through an individualised programme consisting of evidence based therapies, emotionally enriching and nurturing activities, holistic therapies and instilling new and healthier coping strategies and behaviours. It is important to treat all aspects of each individual patient – mind, body and spirit.

As you can imagine this is not an overnight process. Years of chemical damage to a brain cannot be undone quickly. It takes time, perseverance and commitment from the individual, but with the correct help and ongoing support recovery is entirely possible!

At Delamere, all of our treatments are comprehensively researched and based on positive, long-term outcomes. We deliver treatments such as CBT, psychotherapy, family intervention, one to one counselling and a whole host of holistic therapies to target the root causes of the problem within the brain.

We even extend our healing to our patients’ family, we understand that this is an integral part of their ongoing recovery back in the community.

If you have tried and failed to stop using cannabis, it is time to consider seeking professional help.

Delamere rehab Cheshire is a private clinic that specialises in treating marijuana addiction on a residential basis. Our programmes work by allowing patients to press the pause button and focus, without distraction, on getting well.

It is our belief that a problem with cannabis (or any other substance for that matter) always comes from somewhere. Successful addiction treatment is about three core elements:

1. Stopping the cycle of addiction safely and comfortably
2. Helping the individual heal whatever pain is causing them to escape themselves and reality
3. Instilling a set of tools to help maintain abstinence and encourage continued personal growth.

At Delamere we are proud that everything we do and everything we offer is hardwired to positive, long term outcomes.

By staying with us you can expect a deliberately immersive and intensive programme of activities and evidence based therapies, all of which are designed to help move your lifestyle beyond addiction permanently.

Our cannabis and marijuana addiction treatment programmes vary in length, although most people will stay for several weeks for optimum results. You can read more about our process here.

References

1. Hasin DS, Saha TD, Kerridge BT, et al. Prevalence of Marijuana Use Disorders in the United States Between 2001-2002 and 2012-2013. JAMA Psychiatry. 2015;72(12):1235-1242. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2015.1858
2. Anthony JC, Warner LA, Kessler RC. Comparative epidemiology of dependence on tobacco, alcohol, controlled substances, and inhalants: Basic findings from the National Comorbidity Survey. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol. 1994;2(3):244-268. doi:10.1037/1064-1297.2.3.244
3. Lopez-Quintero C, Pérez de los Cobos J, Hasin DS, et al. Probability and predictors of transition from first use to dependence on nicotine, alcohol, cannabis, and cocaine: results of the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC). Drug Alcohol Depend. 2011;115(1-2):120-130. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2010.11.004
4. Anthony JC. The epidemiology of cannabis dependence. In: Roffman RA, Stephens RS, eds. Cannabis Dependence: Its Nature, Consequences and Treatment. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press; 2006:58-105.
5. Hall WD, Pacula RL. Cannabis Use and Dependence: Public Health and Public Policy. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press; 200
6. National Institute on Drug abuse – NIDA