The decision to go to rehab for marijuana addiction is an individual, personal one not to be taken lightly. Addiction can have serious consequences for a person’s life, finances, work and social functioning. When a person’s life is such that it is no longer possible to achieve personal goals, attain happiness or function normally, it may be time to consider rehab.
Marijuana Addiction
Marijuana has grown in potency over the last two decades. In 1983, studies demonstrated the average potency of marijuana samples was less than four percent. The sample contained four percent THC – tetrahydrocannabinol which, by 2008, the average of THC increased to more than ten percent in some samples. Marijuana grown hydroponically in Canada and the US registered 25% or higher. Addiction has a new face with the potency increasing and legalization on the horizon. The road back to a life without addiction involves learning skills to overcome problems as a result of or occurring before use of marijuana.
Signs of Marijuana Addiction
When a person is addicted to marijuana, some of the following signs may be present which indicate it is time to consider rehab. Although it is a personal choice, marijuana addiction can destroy a person’s life, finances, relationships and family connections as well as bring consequences to a person’s health, education and work opportunities. Here are some signs it may be time to consider rehab:
- Increased isolation including smoking more alone
- Difficulty getting by or imagining life without marijuana
- Using marijuana to escape life, problems or other issues
- Marijuana has become a coping mechanism for dealing with unwanted feelings
- Failure to keep promises to cut back or control use of marijuana
- Memory, concentration and motivation are lagging (others may have noticed or said something about it)
- When getting low on marijuana, anxious or nervous feelings arise with worries about how and where to get more
- Planning life around using marijuana, getting it or finding places to buy more
- Friends and relatives have complained about damage marijuana use is causing loved ones
Additional Signs
A person who smokes marijuana and becomes addicted experiences physical and emotional changes in behavior. Some of the following are examples of ways a person’s body and mind change:
- Tolerance builds to where a person needs increasing amounts of marijuana to feel the same ‘high’
- Withdrawal symptoms occur when a person does not smoke marijuana (insomnia, anxiety and loss of appetite are common signs)
- Marijuana use becomes out of control even after attempts to cut back
- Increasing amounts of time are spent using marijuana than doing anything else (school, work, socializing)
- Friendships may be chosen based on who is using marijuana
- Daily activities such as going to school or work become more difficult and the person becomes less productive as addiction becomes stronger
- Legal consequences may have occurred or issues completing school work or not showing up to work consistently
If you demonstrate some of the above signs, it may be time to seek help. There is hope, Hired Power can help. Call today XXX-XXX-XXXX for information on kicking the marijuana habit.
