Cannabis Addiction Treatment
Speak to a clinician on all aspects of Cannabis Addiction Treatment ,withdrawal, detox, rehab, admission, counselling, therapy, cost, location and availability, rehab, and ongoing support.
Cannabis Addiction Treatment
If Cannabis use has become difficult to control, or stopping leads to withdrawal symptoms, the next step should be a clinical assessment rather than trying to stop suddenly.
Find Me a Rehab provides completely free and totally confidential advice on Cannabis Cannabis addiction treatment, detox and rehabilitation, with support from experienced addiction clinicians.
We do not provide treatment directly.
Our role is to understand what is happening, explain suitable options and signpost you to an appropriate service.
This can include registered residential rehabilitation, outpatient support or local authority funded (free to use) services, depending on your needs.
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Find Out MoreWhen Cannabis Use Becomes a Problem
Cannabis is an illegal drug which people use to help them relax.
Some people can become very heavily reliant on Cannabis to the point that they can not function without it.
When they use it they can not function, normally, and the after effects mean they are not able to carry on with their normal life for many hours or until the next day.
Cannabis use can excaerbate already underlying mental health conditions and there is a strong link between Cannabis use and a much higher risk of developing a severe mental illness such as Schizophrenia.
Signs that it may be time to seek help include:
* Using ever increasing amounts of Cannabis
* Finding it difficult to cut down or stop
* Overwhelming urges to smoke Cannabis
* Spending money you can not afford on Cannabis
* Continuing to smoke it despite the problems it is causing
* Feeling unwell when you can not get hold of Cannabis
Why You Should Not Stop Smoking Cannabis Suddenly
Cannabis affects certain receptors in your brain. This is what causes the effects that it has on the body.
In time, your brain becomes used to it being there and will adjust to it.
This is known as tolerance.
When this happens, you will need more and more cannabis to have the same effect as when you first started.
If you stop smoking Cannabis the brain will readjust but can not do so immediately.
While it scrabbles to fix itself if will send out incorrect chemical messaging.
This is what causes the symptoms of Cannabis withdrawal which can include:
* Crippling anxiety
* Severe sleep disturbance
* Extreme restlessless
* Uncontrollable irritability
* No appetite
Because of the way Cannabis is metabolised in the body, it can take a day or two before you experience these symptoms.
While these symptoms will, in time, go away, the problem is that trying to deal with them, on your own, is extremely problematic.
When you experience withdrawals, your brain will tell you what you already know: That the quickest way to stop them is to smoke more cannabis.
While a Cannabis overdose is not fatal it can put you at very serious risk of dangerously high blood pressure, a heart attack or severe psychological distress leading to suicidal thinking and acting out.
A common symptom of consuming too much Cannabis is a phenomenon known as "whitey" or "white out" where the user experiences:
* Severe dizziness
* Extreme nausea
* Loss of consciousness
This can be extremely dangerous.
Get The Help You Need Today with Cannabis Addiction Treatment
Call and speak with an experienced addictions clinican with over thirty years experience treating people overcoming addiction and supporting long term recovery.
Contact UsWhat does Cannabis Addiction Treatment Involve?
Treatment starts with an assessment.
A clinician will usually need to understand how much Cannabis is being taken, how long it has been used for, how it is taken and how much you spend on it (this helps to determine usage).
It is also necessary for the clinician to know what other drugs you may be using, how much alcohol (if any) you consume and any prescribed medication you may be taking.
Where dependence is present, treatment will usually include a period in a rehabilitation centre, under the supervision of an addiction clinician where medication can be provided to reduce and stop the withdrawal symptoms.
Treatment at home is possible where Cannabis use is sporadic and the person is not physically dependent.
For most people, a structured residential programme is the most appropriate treatment.
Find me a Rehab can help you explore residential rehab options where there is 24/7 nursing and support staff cover, seven day a week therapy groups overseen by qualified therapists and an addiction clinician will oversee your care.
You will recieve therapy, medical care, relapse prevention skills and they also provide aftercare for 12 months post discharge.
Most treatment centres operate on either a 12 step or SMART group therapy model.
However, while, as clinicians we always reccomend a group therapy approach, we appreciate that there are some people who would prefer not to do this.
There are a small number of centres that use an entirely individual therapy approach. We can signpost you to one.
Cannabis, Alcohol and other drugs
Mixing Alcohol and Cannabis together can be very problematic. Both increases the effects of the other.
This can lead to a phenomenon knows as "greening out."
When this happens your judgement can be sevrely impaired.
The combination also interferes with the way alcohol is absorbed in your body meaning you will experience the effects more slowly, but for much longer.
One of the more dangerous aspects of using Alcohol and Cannabis together is that Cannabis stops the process of vomiting which is a natural bodily reaction when you drink too much alcohol.
Because this reaction is turned off, you will absorb the alcohol, into your blood stream, meaning you run the risk of acute alcohol intoxication.
This could lead to a medical emergency or fatality.
Cannabis will increase the effects of Benzodiazepines whichh can render you unconscious and it also causes problems if you are addicted to Heroin/Opioids as it makes it far more likely you will experience breathing difficulties, coma or a fatality.
Many chronic conditions, that are managed with medications, can be affected by cannabis use. This can range from blood thinning medication to medication for epilepsy.
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Find Me a Rehab is a wholly clinician led advisory , signposting and referral service.
The service is completely free to use and entirely confidential.
It's clinicians have experience across private rehabilitation, outpatient services, NHS and local authority funded (free to use) services, prisons, private hospitals and other treatment settings.
Find Me a Rehab states that it only signposts clients to legally registered services. If private treatment is not the right option, the team can also provide information on free to use services.
You can learn more about Find Me a Rehab and how the referral service works before making an enquiry.
Get help with Cannabis Addiction Treatment
You do not need to decide on a treatment plan or choose a rehab centre before asking for advice.
Start by explaining how much Cannabis you are using, what type you use and how often you use it. It also helps to explain what happens if you stop using Cannabis or reduce.
Information on underlying medical and psychological conditions, as well as prescribed medications is also needed.
Contact Find Me a Rehab for free and confidential advice about Cannabis addiction, treatment and suitable referral options.
Call 0333 041 9922 or email info@findmearehab.net The helpline is open 24/7, every day of the year.
Michael Imonirhua
Michael has been a qualifed substbance misuse practitoner since 2007.
He overcame his own addiction and thrives in recovery by using is lived experience to enhance his work with clients.
He is extremely passionate about person centred care having experienced the drawbacks of traditional community service provision.
Michael holds diplomas in:
* Counselling
* Conflict management
* Group work
* Cognitive behavioural therapy
* Advanced group facilitation
Michael maintains a busy caseload of clients who are overcoming addiction as well as those seeking treatment for PTSD, tramua and other mental health conditions.
In addition Michael is a skilled and experience educator and trainer aside from his role as clinical director of a private treatment service in London.
Frequently Asked Questions on Cannabis Addiction Treatment
Unsurprisingly, we get asked a lot of questions, to make things easier for you, we have included some of the most common one below.
Can I get a home detox for Cannabis?
Possibly.
It depends on how much you use, how strong it is, how often you use it and the effects it has on you.
If you use Cannabis infrequently and the after effects are not too drastic then you may be able to have treatment as an outpatient.
This can be individual therapy sessions (with an addiction specialist therapist) as well as an appointment with an addiction clinician for some medication to help you.
The overriding determining factor is safety.
If the risk is too high then you will need to arrange residential treatment.
Is there a detox for Cannabis?
Not in the traditional sense.
As clinicians, when we talk about detox for Cannabis we mean a period , under medical supervision, where medication can be given to lessen the effects of withdrawal.
This is normally given, as and when, required but can be essential as Cannabis withdrawal can seriously spike your heart rate and blood pressure.
Without the correct medication and medical monitoring, this can be very dangerous leading to an acute medical emergency or fatality.
How do you know if someone is dependent on Cannabis?
As with all substances there are telling signs of when dependency has set it. Common, amongst those who find it difficult to stop using Cannabis are the following:
* Despite trying to stop, or reduce use, the user is unable to
* Even though the person using Cannabis knows it is problematic and is affecting them, they can’t stop using it.
* Having to smoke more to get the same effect
* Loosing interest in work, family life, social activities
* Withdrawal symptoms
How does Cannabis affect the brain?
Cannabis can have both short term, and long term, effects. In the short term, the THC in Cannabis passes from a persons lungs and into the bloodstream and thus carries the chemical to both the brain and other organs in the body. If it is taken in the form of a brownie or biscuit, it takes longer to be absorbed into the body: up to an hour.
The THC acts on specific brain cells receptors that will react to THC like chemicals. Cannabis over activates parts of the brain that have these receptors. This is why people feel “high” and report the following:
* Seeing brighter colors
* Having an altered sense of the time of day
* Mood changes
* Slowing down of body movement
* Unable to solve simple problem solving
* Problems with memory
* Seeing things that others can not (hallucinations)
* Believing you are being watched and/or followed (delusions)
* Psychosis
Is it possible to overdose on Cannabis?
Yes.
While Cannabis, itself, may not prove fatal, using it on top of other medication, especially alcohol, can cause an extremely dangerous reaction which can be fatal.
Aside from that, using very large quantities of Cannabis, alone, can render you unconscious. Because of the way Cannabis works, it can totally relax your gag and vomit reflexes meaning you can choke.
Is Cannabis addictive?
Cannabis, itself may not be addictive but using it can become addictive.
While there are those who use it infrequently, heavy users may find that , if they stop using it suddenly, they will experience the following:
* Lack of sleep
* Very poor appetite
* Heightened anxiety
* Strong Cravings
* Very short fuse
* Significant reduction in motivation
How long does it take to recover from Cannabis addiction?
Cannabis withdrawal goes in four phases.
The first phase is known as the the Onset phase and starts within a day of your last Cannabis use and can last up to three days.
The main ingredient of Cannabis is fat soluble so it takes some time before Cannabis in your system starts to wear off.
Between 24 and 72 hours (one to three days) you will start to feel restless and agitated as well as irritable with a lack of sleep and appetite.
After three days, the symptoms will peak. You may also experience headaches, stomach aches and a tremor.
From day three to irritability, anxiety, insomnia, cravings, decreased appetite, and mood swings are at their highest. Physical symptoms such as headaches, stomach discomfort, and shakiness may also appear.
After the first week you will start to feel better. However, lack of sleep will persist and you may have distressing dreams and nightmares.
After a month, most of the symptoms will have gone but poor sleep may continue to be a problem.
After six weeks, some of the lingering symptoms, such as low energy and low mood (as well as brain fog) should start to improve.
All of this is scientific and nothing to do with willpower or the lack of it.
Does Cannabis cause psychosis and Scihzophrenia?
Current research shows that While Cannabis does not cause Schizophrenia itself, it puts you are far greater risk if you have a genetic pre-disposition to Schizophrenia.
What this means is that, if you have the genetic programming that might cause you to have Schizophrenia, using Cannabis can activate it and make you very unwell.
Cannabis use, itself, can cause some people to have hallucinations, paranoia and delusions.
Can I go to rehab for a week for Cannabis addiction?
Possibly.
There are a small number of rehab centres that will accept clients for 7 days if the admitting clinician is in agreement.
Safety is the overriding factor and a 7 day admission will be considered if the clinician is satisfied that, on discharge, you are not going to be in a state of acute withdrawal.
Normally, 2-4 weeks would be the usual treatment period.
Do I have to do groups in rehab for Cannabis?
No.
While, as clinicians, we always recommend a group therapy approach, we appreciate that some people would rather not do group work.
There are a small number of centres that provide treatment on a purely individual therapy basis.
An individual therapy approach centre costs slightly more due to the increased therapist staffing numbers.
Questions on Cannabis Addiction Treatment?
if you find yourself in need of assistance at any hour, we're here to support you around the clock.
Whether it's the dead of night or the crack of dawn, our team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, ready to lend a helping hand whenever you require it.
So, if you ever find yourself in a pinch or simply need someone to talk to, don't hesitate to reach out.
We're committed to being there for you whenever you need us, no matter the time.
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