The most commonly abused drug in the United States today is Marijuana. This drug is a shredded mixture of green and brown flowers, stems and leaves from the plant Cannabis sativa, which produces the chemical THC. Typically users smoke the drug in hand-rolled cigarettes called joints, but some also smoke out of pipes or water pipes called bongs and in cigars called blunts. Combining the marijuana with the residue of nicotine in the cigar can create a harmful mixture. It can be also be used to brew tea and at times it is mixed into food for oral consumption. The smell of marijuana is very distinct and can be easily pin-pointed due to the sweet-and-sour smell it creates.
When marijuana is smoked, the THC passes rapidly through the lungs and into the person’s bloodstream. When it is passed into the bloodstream, it carries chemicals to the brain and other organs in the body. The THC then acts on the sites in the brain known as cannabinoid receptors, starting a series of cellular reactions that then lead to the “high or euphoria” that the individual experiences when using marijuana. Most cannabinoid receptors are found in the part of the brain that triggers pleasure, thinking, concentrating, and memory, as well as, sensory and time perception and coordination. A person who smokes marijuana daily may be functioning at a less than average intellectual level all the time.
Long term use of marijuana can lead to addiction to the drug, with increased drug seeking and abuse regardless of the harmful effects that it may cause. Using the drug can affect a person’s home life, family life, work, school, and recreational activities. Withdrawal symptoms from marijuana include: irritability, decreased appetite, irritability, anxiety, and cravings. Marijuana use can also be associated with increased levels of anxiety, depression, and even schizophrenia. It also has physical effects on the human body including increased heart rate, lung irritation, lung cancer, chronic cough, increased phlegm production, and frequent chest illness and infections.
At the Freedom Center, we take into consideration the emotional and mental components and not just the physiological and psychological aspects of addiction. Our success rates are much higher than the traditional drug rehab. Unlike the common rehab facilities out there, we do not rely solely on the 12-Step Program, nor do we only use education and psychological tools to help our clients heal from their addictions. No two addicts or the effects of marijuana addiction are the same; we customize our rehab program to each client. In marijuana drug rehab, the detoxification stage is not the most pleasant step but it is believed that this is the best option for achieving a healthier lifestyle so that they can be functional member in our society and can overcome the difficulties of returning to their communities where they are faced with the easy availableness of the drugs.
At our rehab facility, we teach our clients to be accountable for their own behavior and take responsibility for their actions. We also thrive to teach the individual how to heal their emotional wounds which affect them just the same as the physical ones. A key goal at our facility is to approach the culprit of their addiction; a lot of individuals that become addicted have experienced some kind of traumatic experience in their life that has led them to their addiction. We assist the client so that they can work towards healing their mental make-up while enhancing their self-esteem at the same time. If you are currently faced with marijuana addiction, it is time to get help. Don’t wait because help is just one step away.
