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Is marijuana addictive? The debate on this subject continues to rage on in the halls of major universities and treatment centers throughout the world. But while the technicalities of the issue are being decided, millions of individuals are exhibiting signs of addiction to a drug that many still mistakenly see as harmless. How can a drug that top anti-drug organizations agree damages the lungs and the brain as harmless? How can anything that keeps young people from achieving their true potential be seen as “not really a drug”?

Don’t tell the people who have engaged in drug rehab because of their marijuana addiction that it is anything less than life-threatening.

The following information provides a window into what individuals who do seek help can expect when they enter marijuana addiction treatment.

What happens During Marijuana Addiction Treatment?

There are several stages that comprise the marijuana addiction treatment process. Programs are different around the country, but throughout, these stages remain relatively unchanged.

• Stage #1: Marijuana Detox. The first step in any drug rehab process is detox. During marijuana detox the individual will stop smoking pot so that the toxins found in THC can leave the body. For many people who have been using marijuana habitually for a long period of time, this can be a difficult process that includes uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms such as depression, strong drug cravings and anxiety.
• Stage #2: Counseling. What most people fail to understand about drug addiction is that it is a psychological condition as much (if not more) than it is a physical issue. As such, individual and group counseling play a key role in helping the recovering addict overcome the mental hold that marijuana has placed over them.
  • Individual counseling. These are private one-on-one sessions in which the individual talks to a therapist about the reasons why they started smoking marijuana. Specifically, what aspects of their lives caused them to seek escape in the effects of the drug. Here individuals are given strategies for how to live their lives without marijuana -replacing the negative behavior with positive, healthier options.
  • Group counseling. In group counseling, the individual will meet regularly with a group of other recovering addicts to discuss their experiences, and help one on another find the strength they need to move in the right direction. It is possible that not everyone in the group will have a marijuana addiction per se, but everyone there will be in recovery from some form of substance abuse -and can bond over that fact.
• Stage #3: Aftercare. Once marijuana addiction treatment is over, and the individual returns to his/her day-to-day life, there is going to be a difficult period of adjustment. For many, smoking pot was such an integral part of their lives, that struggling to find an activity to replace it can often lead to relapse. Also, many individuals will quickly return to old social circles, where marijuana use may be encouraged. This puts a tremendous amount of stress on the individual who is trying to start their lives over without drugs. In both these cases, aftercare programs provide much needed assistance. Aftercare helps the individual stay on the right path following drug rehab, and provides them with the regular support they need to stay clean. The most common forms of aftercare are:
  • 12-step programs. Narcotics Anonymous and other 12-step programs offer regular meetings where the individual can go for support and sharing. The friendships made in these programs are an essential part of the marijuana addict’s continued recovery.
  • Additional counseling. Many individuals will return to the rehab facility for addition counseling. These sessions provide a regular “tune-up” and help keep the individual from reverting back into the secrecy and isolation of addiction.

Michael’s House offers marijuana addiction treatment as part of their residential drug rehab program. Located in Palm Springs, California, this residential rehab facility helps treat individuals who want to enact real change in their lives, and enjoy an existence free of the bonds of marijuana addiction. Contact Michael’s House today at 1-877-345-8494 for more information.