Cannabis Addiction Treatment
Before learning about cannabis addiction treatment, we should first know what cannabis is and what happens to a cannabis addict. Cannabis is a flowering plant whose flowers, stalks, leaves or sap may be consumed or burnt to inhale the smoke as a drug addiction practice. Cannabis is differently termed as marijuana or hashish.
According to a report submitted by United Nations, cannabis is the world’s mostly used illicit drug. It contains high amounts of a chemical compound THC or Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol which is actually responsible for the side-effects of cannabis addiction. The other elements in cannabis that are partially responsible for the addictive effect include cannabidiol, cannabinol and tetrahydrocannabivarin.
Cannabis can be used as a depressant, stimulant or as a hallucinogenic drug. The impact of cannabis actually encompasses all the above three properties. The impact of cannabis is most when it is smoked because smoking allows THC to reach the brain faster.
The mostly used parts of the cannabis plant for addictive purpose include the cannabis weed or pot and the hashish. Weed is the flowering tops of the plant that are first dried and then burnt to give out the smoke. Hashish on the other hand is the pure resinous part of the plant. The resin is mashed with the use of a press or simply by hands.
The oily sap contained in the resin gives it a sticky, jelly-like consistency. Before using, the hashish is given the shape of a brown cake or slice simply by pressing with palm. Hashish is high in THC content and concentration in comparison to cannabis weed.
Effects of cannabis addiction on the body:
Inhalation of the smoke given out by burning cannabis allows the body to absorb a maximum of 25% THC while when consumed, the body takes in only 6% of THC. To feel the power of THC, the addict has to take a dose of at least 10 milligrams of the cannabis. THC is fat soluble and thus easily enters the fat cells and blood stream of an addict and causes a hike in the body’s level of toxins which may ultimately show up through a number of skin related issues or hair problems.
Among the other effects of cannabis on our body, we have the following ones:
- Rapid heartbeat
- Decline of pressure in eyeball
- Alterations in blood pressure
- Dry mouth
- Hot or cold sensation in hands or feet
- Partial memory impairment (more precisely short term memory and the working memory are affected)
- Flaccidness of muscles
- Pinkish discoloration of the white portion of the eyes
- Drop in concentration level
These effects are temporary. They subside after 2-3 hours.
Effects of cannabis addiction on mood:
Under the effect of cannabis, an addict can experience either a gush of euphoria or a persistent flow of negative thoughts. Actually the state of mind the addict was in at the time of using the drug just gets intensified. The euphoria may then trail in to a feeling of intense calmness or the negative thoughts may start worsening. The sense of shapes, colors and smell gets intensified and acquires an unusual dimension. The addict may indulge in bouts of laughter or express a sudden urge to eat sweets or desserts.
Hallucination or the conviction of the existence of things which actually do not exist may occur to the addict. Also the addict may suddenly panic, become anxious or confused. Cannabis’s effect on mood shows up within 2-10 minutes of smoking and reaches the climax between 30-60 minutes. If one consumes cannabis, the effect on mood shows up within 1-2 hours. Generally mood swings back to normalcy after a period of 2-3 hours.
Actually the effect of cannabis whether on body or mood, depends on the amount of cannabis taken, the way it is taken and the physical constitution of the addict.
How do you know you are a cannabis addict?
You are a cannabis addict, if you have the following signs and symptoms:
- Putting off all other important work just to find time for cannabis
- Making all sorts of weird excuses in order to use cannabis
- Spending money to get the dope when other important expenses like paying rent, paying for food, health etc need to met
- Always remaining preoccupied with the thoughts of using cannabis and showing an indifference towards friends, family and loved ones
- Retreating into a cocoon of your own where only you and your cannabis find a place
- Craving for the next one short after one round of doping.
The above signs would declare that cannabis has gained control over your life and you are nothing better than a cannabis addict.
What symptoms does cannabis withdrawal produce?
Breaking the addiction becomes quite difficult due to a number of withdrawal symptoms. The trouble caused by cannabis withdrawal symptoms often makes an addict revert to his or her addiction. Some of the cannabis withdrawal symptoms are: insomnia, irritability, nausea, vomiting, flu-like symptoms, restlessness, aggressiveness, headache, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, tremors, anxiety, unusual dreams, throwing up of black or yellow substances with cough, impaired focus, hangover like feeling, oblique pattern of thinking, excessive fatigue etc.
How to treat cannabis addiction?
At the centre of all cannabis addiction treatment lie the addict’s own willpower and determination to ward off the leaning towards cannabis from his or her life. There can be the following treatments for cannabis addiction:-849
- Behavioral treatments like motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, contingency management etc may be used to deal with cannabis addiction. Many rehabilitation centers mete out behavioral treatment for cannabis addiction through skilled psychotherapists. In short, behavioral treatment holds an important place in the field of cannabis addiction treatment.
- Medications too find a place in cannabis addiction treatment. Though there are not too many medications for treating cannabis addiction, some common ones are Carbonate, Buproprion and Nefazodone. These medicines have shown proven results in countering the harmful impact of cannabis on human body.
- Cannabis addiction treatment also includes some home treatments to aid cannabis detox and withdrawal symptom management. Some of the home treatments for cannabis addiction are given below:
- Take hot baths or sweat in a sauna to detoxify your system
- Cranberry juice could serve as an effective body purifying drink. It would lessen the severity of cannabis addiction effects.
- Work-outs and deep breathing would help the addict combat tumultuous emotions.
Thus the above article tells us in details about cannabis addiction and cannabis addiction treatment.
