Cannabis Rehab Changes Lives

Government estimates suggest that more than 2 million people in the UK routinely use cannabis as a recreational drug. That is a pretty alarming number. Cannabis is right up there with alcohol as one of the leading substances abused by both young people and their adult peers. From our perspective, it seems as though more people than ever before are reaching out for help to find cannabis rehab opportunities.

Cannabis rehab is offered at many rehab centres throughout the UK – and it can definitely change your life. If you find that your use of the drug is beginning to take control of your life, it’s time you stop using it. Marijuana is addictive, despite what you may have heard, and long-term use can lead to significant physical and mental problems. Why keep using a drug that is only going to harm you in the long run?

As an advice and referral service, our priority is to help all of our clients understand their problems and find treatment solutions for them. To that end, we work with an extensive list of rehab clinics and counsellors all over the UK. Our experience allows us to refer each client to the treatment provider most appropriate; we are not locked into referring to just one or two clinics.

If you have finally had enough of cannabis, please contact us on our 24-hour helpline. You can ask questions, get sound advice, learn more about cannabis rehab, and even get a list of treatment options in your local area.

Cannabis Detox Is Different

One of the first things people think about when the topic of drug addiction comes up is the detox process. We typically associate detox with an agonising experience that includes severe withdrawal symptoms destined to make patients miserable. Where marijuana is concerned, there is both good and bad news relating to detox.

First the bad news: detox is necessary if you want to be free of the effects of marijuana permanently. THC and some of the other compounds in marijuana can make their way deeply into body tissues and fat. It can take days to weeks for the body to fully cleanse itself of those substances. That cannot happen unless the user stops using.

As for the good news, cannabis addiction detox does not result in the same severe withdrawal symptoms other drugs cause. That’s not to say that withdrawal symptoms don’t exist, but they are minor by comparison. The most common withdrawal symptoms associated with cannabis are:

• a general ill feeling (may include headaches, chills, and fever)
• irritability, anxiety, and depression
• restlessness
• marijuana cravings
• fatigue and sleeping disruptions
• loss of appetite (can include weight loss).

All of these withdrawal symptoms are easily managed under the care of professionals. Therefore, we encourage anyone attempting to kick a marijuana habit to utilise the services of a private or NHS clinic. Medical supervision certainly makes the process easier and more manageable.

Psychotherapeutic Rehab Required

There are two types of dependence associated with psychoactive drugs. The first is physical, which is normally not a problem with cannabis, while the second is psychological. It is the psychological dependence that creates the real issue for cannabis users. Unfortunately, psychological dependence is usually harder to break than its physical counterpart. This is why psychotherapeutic rehab is often required.

Psychotherapy is especially important with cannabis because of how the drug affects the brain. Long-term cannabis use tends to lead to impaired cognition and memory loss, making it harder to understand how damaging marijuana is the longer one uses it. Psychotherapy aims to address the mental issues so as to help the patient begin making wise decisions that will prevent future relapse.

One example would be cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). This therapy was originally developed to treat certain kinds of mental illnesses by identifying incorrect thought patterns and correcting them. Scientists and medical professionals eventually discovered that CBT was very effective for drug treatment as well.

CBT is a goal-oriented therapy with a defined start and finish. It is not an open-ended therapy, which tends to be its strength. The therapist and patient establish a number of goals to be achieved at the start of therapy, then work their way through those goals until each one is accomplished. The average CBT treatment can be completed in about 12 to 15 sessions.

Effective psychotherapeutic rehab for cannabis involves helping the user identify those thoughts and emotions that trigger the desire to use marijuana. Certain environmental conditions are also identified as well. Then therapists work with their patients to develop strategies to avoid those triggers and environmental conditions. In so doing, they empower the recovering user to live a life free of cannabis.

Rehab a Phone Call Away

Now you know some of the basics of cannabis rehab. We invite you to read some of the other articles we have relating to cannabis abuse and addiction if you have any further questions. If not, the only question remaining is what you will do with the information you have already learned. Do you need cannabis rehab? Are you ready to get the treatment you need to overcome?

Rehab is just a phone call away. We offer a 24-hour helpline staffed by trained and knowledgeable counsellors more than capable of helping you find and access a treatment programme. Whether you would be best served by outpatient or inpatient treatment, we cannot say here, but we can help you figure it out when you call and speak to a counsellor.

Marijuana can ruin your life if you continue using it long enough. But it doesn’t have to. You can make the decision to stop using the drug at any point. Then, if you need help, there are professionals out there ready and waiting to provide the treatment you need. With the right kind of psychotherapy and support services, you can get to that place in your life where you no longer want or need to use cannabis. That is a great place to be.