Cannabis is a plant that, when dried, is referred to as marijuana. It contains a chemical called THC that has many mind-altering effects. Cannabis is one of the most used drugs in the United States. Of adults ages 18 to 25, 35.4% of individuals used cannabis in 2021. However, cannabis use is not only tied to young adults; individuals of all ages use marijuana and can become addicted to it. Seeking treatment at a reputable treatment center in Riverside, CA, such as pH Wellness, can help you change your life for the better.
Understanding the Impact of Cannabis
Cannabis can be used in many ways, including being smoked or eaten. THC has both short-term and long-term impacts on the brain and body. It interacts with a specific cell receptor, and therefore, cannabis impacts the part of the brain that has the most THC receptors. Short-term effects of cannabis include:
- Altered senses and sense of time
- Hallucinations
- Changes in mood
- Difficulty thinking
- Changes in body movement
- Impaired memory
- Delusions
Cannabis also has significant long-term effects. For teens, THC impacts brain development and, therefore, has a considerable effect on their mental abilities. The long-term effects of cannabis include:
- Breathing problems
- Heart problems
- Severe nausea and vomiting
- Paranoia
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Dependence and Addiction
Marijuana use can and often does cause both dependence and addiction. Between 9 and 30% of individuals who use marijuana develop marijuana use disorder. However, teenagers are at a much higher risk of developing cannabis addiction. If you begin using marijuana before 18 years of age, you are four to seven times more likely to develop dependence and addiction.
Dependence and addiction are a result of THC interacting with the receptors in the brain. When your body becomes accustomed to THC in your system, your body reduces the production of the proteins that interact with these receptors in a healthy brain. As a result, you will feel negative symptoms when you stop using marijuana. These include grumpiness, sleepiness, anxiety, and cravings.
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Treatment Options: Cannabis
While THC is addictive, there are treatment options that can help. Healing from marijuana use disorder requires healing physically and building new patterns. At pH Wellness, treatment helps clients to make changes in their lives, learning how to repair the damage caused by marijuana and move forward with their lives.
Healing Physically
Detoxification is the first step to healing. During detoxification, you stop using marijuana. As a result, you feel withdrawal symptoms. The withdrawal symptoms are unique to your history of marijuana use and your body chemistry. However, in detoxification and treatment, you are kept comfortable. The staff at pH Wellness is educated in addiction to marijuana and can provide you with the tools you need to get through this initial healing phase.
After detoxification, it is important to rebuild your physical health. This helps you to minimize the long-term effects of THC on your brain and body. Exercise and good nutrition can make a significant impact on regaining your health. At pH Wellness, you have access to holistic interventions, including a gym and nutritional program.
Personalized Care
If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use disorder, contact us to speak with a caring intake specialist.
Building New Patterns
Marijuana addiction is a physical dependency. However, it is also a result of habits and patterns in behaviors. While these patterns are unique to you, they commonly include cannabis being used to cope with mental health challenges or to fit in and find belonging. Regardless of the specific patterns, it is important to break down patterns that have played a role in your cannabis use. Then, you need to build new patterns that help you to remain sober after treatment and give you healthier ways to cope with challenges in your future.
Building new patterns is difficult. In treatment, therapy and support groups play an important role in meeting this challenge. During therapy, you can work with a clinician who helps you break down your current patterns and choose a new direction. Support groups offer you a chance to vocalize and share these challenges while stirring new ideas for you as you seek ways to change your life.
Benefits of Seeking Treatment for Cannabis
Marijuana use has many negative impacts. Using marijuana impacts your brain chemistry and can lead you down a path toward using more substances that negatively impact your life. Other common effects of cannabis include:
- Lower life satisfaction
- Poor mental health
- Physical health challenges
- Relationships issues
When you seek treatment for cannabis, you help yourself to build a new way forward in your life. This new path will lead you toward increased well-being, enhanced motivation, and improved cognitive functioning. As a result, you are more likely to find joy and satisfaction in your life in a way that is not possible with cannabis use.
Cannabis Treatment at pH Wellness
At pH Wellness, cannabis addiction treatment is approached with compassion and professionalism. You are treated as a unique individual and, as a result, are given personalized care and consideration. The treatments offered are evidence-based and provided with you in mind. This means they are directed to help you heal and are not part of a one-size-fits-all treatment program.
In addition, the environment at pH Wellness is supportive and non-judgmental. Struggling with cannabis addiction can feel embarrassing. However, at pH Wellness, you can trust that we are here to help and support you and give you the tools you need to succeed and heal.
If you are struggling with cannabis addiction, don’t wait to make a change. Call pH Wellness at (888) 707-3880 today to take the first step towards a future free from addiction.
