Overdose From Marijuana Use
A person can experience an overdose when he or she uses too much of the drug and the effects of it can be life-threatening. While there are no reports of adults or teens who had fatal consequences because of marijuana use alone, too much consumption of marijuana is known to cause uncomfortable and intense side effects.
People who used marijuana that have high THC have reported that they experienced paranoia and anxiety. Others had hallucinations, delusions, and other psychotic reactions.
Psychotic reactions can happen whether marijuana is smoked or eaten. But emergency medical staff have been seeing more and more cases of patients being admitted because of eating too much food containing marijuana.
Usually, young people dont know much about the marijuana edibles and how long it takes before the effects kick in. In doing so, they eat more to get that high. Consequently, they experience intense reactions because theyve taken too much of the drug.
How Long After Stopping Weed Does Memory Improve
Memory begins to improve two days to one week after a person stops using marijuana. It is during these times that brain receptors start to return to normal function. Brain receptors are responsible for regulating neurological processes such as memory, learning, motivation, pleasure, and fine motor control.
Four weeks to several months after quitting marijuana, brain receptors have returned to normal function. Attention span, mental acuity, and memory improve a lot during this time.
Follow Up And Aftercare
Recovery is not achieved the moment you walk out of a treatment facility; on the contrary, true recovery is only just beginning when you leave rehab, and you should see it as a long-term maybe even lifelong process to which you will need to remain committed day in, day out. In order to optimise the environment in which recovery takes place, good rehabs typically provide up to one years free aftercare at the end of residential treatment. Aftercare includes various elements including scheduled appointments back at the facility ; a commitment to attend support group meetings or counselling; phone and/or email consultations; and potentially much more. Each aftercare plan will be drawn up based on how the individual has responded to treatment so far, and their specific requirements and difficulties; one persons aftercare plan may be very different from anothers, though both will have the aim of ensuring the greatest possible support during the challenging period after treatment.
Don’t Miss: How To Stop Junk Food Addiction
Getting High Becomes Priority
How you spend your time is indicative of your possible dependence on the drug. If you spend a lot of your time getting high or waiting for the time when youll smoke another joint or looking for your drug of choice, that is a clear and obvious sign that you are addicted to it.
When your drug use becomes your priority and it begins to eat up a big chunk of your time, its vital to seek help and start marijuana addiction treatment.
You may also notice youve stopped doing the activities you once enjoyed. This may include;recreational outings, playing sports or spending time with your loved ones. Instead, you spend your time with people who are also using marijuana so that you can get high together and feel that youre having a good time.
Work or school can also become affected. Since using marijuana has become your priority, you no longer give importance to other things in your life such as your job or attending your classes. This can have very serious consequences down the line such as failing your courses or getting fired from your job.
Tip 7 Get Rid Of All Vape Gear
Having anything related to vaping around only tempts fate. Make sure to cleanse your home, car, work, and all personal effects of anything to do with cigarettes or vapes.
Immediately after making the decision to quit vaping, get rid of all electronic e-cigarettes, vaporizers, vape juice refill cartridges, and anything else that might make you think about it.
You are a non-smoker now and you dont need anything related to vaping, so be clear on your decision and get rid of all vape gear.
Living a vape-free/smoke-free life gives you a newly found freedom. But dont confuse freedom and compulsion, they are two different things. Remember you made the wise choice to stop vaping, so take a moment to congratulate yourself every time you think about it.
Also Check: Is Drug Addiction Grounds For Divorce
Why Do People Smoke Weed Is It Habit
Alcohol or cocaine addiction is more common, but a person can get hooked on marijuana. This means that the person cannot stop using it .;
People use weed for various reasons. These include:
Social Use
For some, using weed is a rational option to improve the quality of their lives. Others use the drug recreationally. For teenagers and young adults, its a way to fit in with the crowd. People of this age are easily known to give in to peer pressure.
Adults typically use weed for stress relief. The results of a study backed this up. It says that stress relief can be achieved as long as cannabis is used in low and monitored doses.
Medical Use
There are medical benefits associated with the use of weed. For example, it has been linked to the management of mental and physical problems and in preserving health.
The Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of marijuana for two rare and severe forms of epilepsy: Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome.
Research is ongoing on marijuanas possible benefits in treating the following conditions:
- Alzheimers disease
Treatment For Marijuana Abuse And Addiction
This usually focuses on changing your behavior. Options include:
Talk therapy: Cognitive behavioral therapy works well for a lot of people. It helps you understand the thoughts and behaviors that lead to your drug use and replace them with healthier ones.
Motivational incentives: Sometimes called âcontingency management,â this is when you give yourself a reward for staying drug-free. Youâll work with a mental health therapist or addiction specialist to set your goals and rewards.
Motivational enhancement therapy : This is designed to help you commit to changing your behavior. It usually involves only two to four sessions, and your counselor will work with you more like a partner than an expert. Itâs often used along with the other types of therapy.
Medication: The FDA hasnât approved any medicines to treat marijuana abuse, but studies are being done to see if ones used for sleep, anxiety, and other issues may help. If you have a psychological condition like anxiety or depression, treating it with medication may help you stop abusing marijuana.
Your doctor can help you decide which treatments would be best for you.
You May Like: How Do People Get Addicted To Drugs
Where Do I Go From Here
Getting started with SMART Recovery is easy! If you would like to get started right away, you can join our online support group where you can read, share and learn from our worldwide community of members at any time of the day or night. You can also find a local SMART Recovery meeting, or, if we dont have any meetings in your area yet, you can join us at one of our online meetings.
If youd like to have printed material to refer to, you can purchase the SMART Recovery Handbook.
References
Get Help For Withdrawal Symptoms If Needed
Not everyone experiences cannabis withdrawal symptoms, but for those who do, they can be pretty uncomfortable.
Common symptoms include:
- fever, chills, and sweats
- low appetite
Withdrawal symptoms generally begin a day or so after you quit and clear up within about 2 weeks.
A healthcare provider can help you manage severe symptoms, but most people can handle symptoms on their own by:
- drinking less caffeine to improve sleep
- using deep breathing and other relaxation methods to address anxiety
- drinking plenty of water
If you use a lot of cannabis and smoke regularly, quitting abruptly might be difficult. Slowly reducing use over time may help you have more success and can also help decrease the severity of withdrawal symptoms.
Here are some pointers to get you started:
You May Like: Am I An Addict Test
Recognising A Devils Weed Addiction
Most people find it hard to accept when they lose control of their use of a specific substance, and devils weed use is no different. Just because it is something that grows naturally, it does not mean it is harmless and it does not mean that you cannot become addicted to it.
Allowing your use of it to spiral out of control means that the risk of addiction increases. You may not even realise that you have developed an addiction until you try to quit using devils weed and find that you cannot. This is because your body will have become dependent on it and you feel as though you need it to function properly.
Recognising a devils weed addiction means analysing your use of it and being completely honest with yourself. Have you tried to quit but found yourself going back to it time and time again? Or have you promised yourself that you would only use a certain amount but found that once you started, you couldnt stop.
If you have realised that you experience physical or mental symptoms whenever you need devils weed, it is likely to be the result of an addiction. These are withdrawal symptoms and are your bodys response to the effects of the drug wearing off.
Finally, if you know that using devils weed will have negative consequences for you and your loved ones yet you still use it regardless, it is more than likely that you have a major problem and need help to quit.
Why Does Marijuana Cause Withdrawal Symptoms
Marijuana is the name for dried extracts from the plant Cannabis sativa. This plant contains delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol , and terpenes, with THC contributing to the primary psychoactive effects associated with marijuana use.
THC defines the potency of marijuana, while terpenes define the aroma and flavor. The more THC the marijuana contains, the greater the effect of marijuana on the brain.
Using marijuana regularly means that the brain and body get used to a regular supply of THC. When this supply is stopped, the body takes some time to adjust to not having it. This causes uncomfortable physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms.
Once the brain and body have adjusted to not having THC, the physical withdrawal symptoms will stop. People may still experience psychological cravings for marijuana for some time, however.
Over the years, based on samples of confiscated marijuana, potency has steadily increased. The THC content has risen from around 3.8 percent in the 1990s to 12.2 percent in 2014.
This indicates that the current effects of marijuana, including withdrawal, may be more extreme compared with their effects in previous decades.
The mood difficulties and physical discomforts of withdrawal peak in the first week of quitting and can last up to 2 weeks.
Though the physical effects of marijuana withdrawal will stop after the drug has left a persons system, the psychological symptoms can last longer.
Some current treatment options include:
Read Also: Can You Get Addicted To Vyvanse
Cannabis Addiction Rehabs And Confidentiality
Every rehab prioritises confidentiality, as their clients need to feel entirely confident that their treatment will remain private. If you have special concerns regarding confidentiality, speak to staff at any facility which you are considering attending about their confidentiality policies and safeguards.
Find The Help You Or Your Loved One Needs
It can be overwhelming to feel like you are caught in a struggle with marijuana. Concern about withdrawal symptoms may even lead you to delay quitting marijuana. You dont have to do it alone. Withdrawal does not need to be a roadblock to your recovery from marijuana. Our caring experts at The Recovery Village can help you detox gently and put you on the road to a new life without marijuana. Contact us today to learn more.
You May Like: How To Help Someone With Weed Addiction
How To Detox From Marijuana
Luckily, there are plenty of easy over-the-counter or at-home remedies that you can use to lessen the symptoms of marijuana withdrawal. These include:
- Regular exercise to help alleviate symptoms of depression and anger
- Hot baths or showers to help decompress during moments of anxiety
- Eating bananas and leafy green vegetables to replace the potassium that the body has depleted during periods of night sweats.
- Eliminating caffeine intake until withdrawal-induced insomnia is no longer an issue. Drinking a glass of warm milk before bed can also help with falling asleep.
- Cutting out fat from your diet during moments of difficulty with digestion.
Although marijuana withdrawal is unpleasant, the process is pretty mild compared to kicking harder drugs like meth or heroin. With a proper treatment plan and strong support network, you can stop smoking pot and regain control of your life.
If youd like to know whether your insurance may cover the full or partial cost of rehabilitation at one of American Addiction Centers various rehab centers across the states, simply fill in your information in the form below.
Detection Windows For Workplace Drug Testing
Workplace drug testing usually involves either urine or hair analysis, although some employers may request an on-the-spot blood or saliva test.
Urinalysis
Urine analysis detects the body has processed carboxy-tetrahydrocannabinol , a metabolite released after tetrahydrocannabinol . Urine samples are the most common type of test used to detect drugs in the workplace as it has a broader detection window and is relatively affordable. According to Mayo Clinic, THC-COOH is detectable in urine for the following amounts of time after the last use:
- Occasional users : 3 days
- Moderate users : 5 to 7 days
- Chronic users : 10 to 15 days
- Chronic, heavy users : 30 days or longer
Blood Tests
Blood tests detect active levels of THC in your bloodstream and are the best indicator of recent cannabis consumption. In simpler terms, it tells the test taker how long marijuana stays in your blood. However, due to a lack of clear evidence, blood tests cannot currently be used to indicate impairment or distinguish whether a persons behavior is, or was, impacted by marijuana. THC will show up in a blood sample within 2 to 12 hours after the last consumption. However, metabolites can be detected in the blood for up to 3 weeks, as fat tissues gradually release THC back into the bloodstream. Detox kits and detox drinks help in speeding up the release into the bloodstream.
Oral Tests
Hair Tests
Also Check: Can You Get Addicted To Nicotine
How To Get Rid Of Meth Addiction
With the above, theres no doubt that;there is a point where meth addiction recovery;is essential. And thats why were here. Well tell you how to treat meth addiction.
However, while its not impossible,;meth addiction treatment;involves a long process. Even more, itll need quite an effort from the user and their loved ones. In light of that, heres a step-by-step;guide to quitting meth.;
Your Next Steps Toward Quitting
Any kind of drug addiction can be a problem, and that includes marijuana. Marijuana Dependence is a real condition that often coincides with mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. Many people struggle with this dependency and need assistance to end their use. Inpatient treatment is an option for this type of use and, depending on your circumstances, may be covered by insurance.
Recommended Reading: Why Are Prescription Drugs So Addictive
How Long Do Metabolites Stay In Your System
Compared to other drugs, marijuana has one of the broadest detection times. It can take up to 30 days for a one-time cannabis consumer to test completely clear for THC, while a heavy cannabis consumer can test positive for up to 90 days after the last consumption. However, the exact length of time THC remains detectable with your system depends on a variety of factors, including:
- Dosage
- Exercise
How Much Will You Cut Down
Now that you know how much you smoke, ask yourself what is realistic as a goal for cutting down?
For example: Will you be able to cut down to 0.5 grams of weed a day during the week and 1 gram on the weekends?
Write down the amount you want to cut down gradually. Setting realistic goals is important in this step.
You might be tempted to say you will cut more and end up not doing it.
This negative consequence may harm your confidence in yourself, so it is better to set a realistic goal than to set something impossible.
Also Check: How To Help An Addict In Denial
First Learn About The Conditioning And Triggers
When you want to quit, you will realize it is often much more challenging than you expect even to reduce or stop using any type of substance.
Since it becomes habitual, dependency can develop over time.
Your mind begins to expect certain substances, specifically at certain times of day, with certain people and in certain environments.
For example: You may have a close friend who always smokes weed with you. So when you see him/her you automatically crave weed.
This is called conditioning. In this scenario, the meeting with your friend is a trigger.
Being aware of conditioning and triggers is important because you will use this information to your advantage to recover from weed for good.
While outlining your quit plan, you will decide on your approach by considering your conditionings and triggers.
That being said, if you are reading this article, you have likely already attempted to quit smoking weed or at least are preparing yourself to do so.;
Below we have outlined steps you can take into consideration in this process.
