Marijuana Drug Rehabs

Marijuana drug rehab programs are more needed that ever throughout the United States, with several million people currently being classified as marijuana users. Marijuana has often been referred to as a "gateway drug," as many individuals that have sought professional treatment for addictions to various other types of "harder" drugs have often reported experimenting with marijuana first. Many marijuana users choose to accept the false belief that the drug is virtually harmless; the actual truth is that marijuana is reported to be a mind altering drug that has the potential to create many negative effects on the body.

Marijuana abuse can cause impaired coordination, and many other types of problems that are commonly associated with learning and memory. A large body of research has determined that the chronic use of marijuana can adversely impact learning and memory for up to several weeks after the acute effects of the drug have worn off. Chronic marijuana use has also been reported to alter the brain, by affecting the pleasure centers and regulatory systems; additionally, brain imaging studies of regular marijuana users have shown consistent alterations.

The immediate side effects of marijuana use may include bloodshot eyes, an increase in the user's appetite and dry mouth, which will generally disappear within a few hours. Most people are unaware that marijuana use can potentially increase an user's heart rate for up to 4 hours, and this can cause the individual to experience acute anxiety. It is also estimated that marijuana users have over five times the increase in the risk of a heart attack for up to two hours after smoking the drug; this cardiovascular risk could be related to the palpitations and arrhythmias that are reported to be potential side effects that are commonly associated with marijuana use. A quality marijuana drug rehab can educate a person in regard to all of the potential side effects that are directly related to the use of the drug.

The effect of marijuana on the lungs can be especially detrimental, as users commonly inhale the unfiltered smoke deeply into their lungs, and they will often hold it there as long as they can stand it. Because of this action, the marijuana smoke is in contact with lung tissues for extremely long periods of time, which can irritate the lungs and have a negative impact on their functioning ability. Scientist that have examined human lung tissue that has been exposed to marijuana smoke for a long period of time have reported the presence of precancerous cellular changes called metaplasia.

Individuals that use marijuana on a regular long term basis may develop a dependency to the drug, and have an extremely difficult time in limiting their use, without the professional assistance of a marijuana drug rehab program. Drug rehab programs across America have reported having a greater number of clients that are admitted for an addiction to marijuana, than for any other type of illicit drug. Current research that was conducted by the National Institute for Drug Abuse (NIDA) indicates that marijuana addiction accounts for over 20% of the admissions to drug treatment centers in the U.S. over the decade.

Although each marijuana drug rehab program may offer various different approaches, most drug recovery centers will include the following treatment components:

Marijuana drug rehab detox - In order for an individual to be successful in finally overcoming their addiction to marijuana, they must first go through the detoxification. Once a person abruptly stops using marijuana after long term regular use of the drug, they will begin to experience uncomfortable drug withdrawal symptoms. The most common marijuana withdrawal symptom is a general feeling of anxiety and restless, along with an intense craving for the drug. Marijuana withdrawal symptoms can also include nervousness, depression, sweats, chills, nausea, and diarrhea.

Marijuana drug rehab counseling - The types of counseling that are most often used in treating individuals with a long term marijuana addiction will generally include individual, group or family counseling. With individual counseling, the recovering addict may attend private sessions with a trained counselor in order to help to them to get to the root causes of their marijuana addiction problem. Drug recovery programs may offer group sessions that can include role playing with peers at the treatment center; this particular component of a marijuana drug rehab program can help the individual to be able to connect emotionally with others that have experienced similar circumstances. In this type of a drug treatment setting, individuals can unite in order to develop healthy strategies to help maintain their sobriety upon leaving the safety of the drug rehab center.

Social education classes can help the individual to be able to relate to other people in much healthier ways. Counseling can also help a person to begin take a honest look at the triggers that served as a cue for their marijuana use, and develop strategies to avoid these particular danger zones. Group counseling at a marijuana drug rehab facility often opens the door for the former addict to talk openly and honestly about the fears that they have in regard to leaving the treatment center and living without the crutch of their marijuana addiction.

Aftercare - This component of a marijuana drug rehab program will generally consists of follow up calls in which the counselor continues to encourage the individual to keep practicing the relapse prevention techniques that were learned in treatment. These calls present the perfect opportunity for the counselor to be able touch base with the individual post treatment and to encourage a dialogue where the person can communicate honestly about the successes and struggles that they have experienced in as they are restarting their lives.

Marijuana drug rehab programs have helped millions of people who have become addicted to the drug to finally be able to regain control over their lives that their addiction to marijuana had previously taken away.