Although many programs claim to “deal with your feelings,” Chapman House actually developed the process! You will know how to deal with your feelings when you complete our program.
Marijuana, also known as “cannabis,” “weed,” “pot,” and “reefer,” is the most commonly abused illegal drug in the United States and the most commonly abused drug overall behind alcohol and tobacco.
Marijuana contains compounds called cannabinoids, chemicals that bind to cannabinoid receptors in the brain. Some of these cannabinoids, such as THC, are psychoactive, meaning they produce a psychological effect or “high.” Other cannabinoids such as CBD do not produce the “high” associated with THC.
According to a 2015 survey by the Substance Abuse Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, more than 11 million adults between the ages of 18 and 25 used marijuana in the past year. The 2018 Monitoring The Future survey by the National Institute on Drug Abuse reported that nearly 1 in 16 high school seniors reported daily use of marijuana.
As of 2019, 11 states, including California, have legalized marijuana for recreational use. In these states it is legal to purchase, possess and grow.
Despite individual states de-criminalizing marijuana, possession is not completely risk free. Marijuana is still considered an illegal substance under federal law, in the same category as heroin and LSD.
It is important to note that although many states are legalizing marijuana, this does not make the drug any less dangerous.
There are several different ways marijuana can be used.
A particularly dangerous way of taking marijuana is called “dabbing.” The marijuana plant produces a waxy, oily, honey-like resin commonly referred to as “hash.” Hash contains a significantly higher concentration of THC than the plant material, making it much more potent.
The production of hash also requires the use of butane, a flammable compound found in lighter fluid. Several people have been admitted to the emergency room for burns acquired while making hash.
When smoked, marijuana is quickly absorbed from the lungs and into the bloodstream, where the user feels the effects almost instantly. Some of the effects include:
Marijuana’s effects can be addicting, leading to a substance use disorder. In the context of marijuana abuse it is known as “marijuana use disorder.”
While marijuana is not often perceived as an addictive drug, research has shown that 9-30% of users may be dependent on marijuana and meet the criteria for marijuana use disorder.
Early use has been associated with marijuana use disorder. Those who begin using before the age 18 have been shown to be 4-7 times more likely to develop a marijuana use disorder.
Treatment of marijuana addiction focuses primarily on behavioral modification therapies. Addiction treatment may occur in a treatment center or in an outpatient setting where the user regularly schedules appointments.
Some of the following strategies are often employed in treating marijuana addiction.
There are no FDA-approved medications for treating marijuana addiction, however medications may be used to combat symptoms of marijuana withdrawal, which may help prevent relapse. Since insomnia is often a common symptom of marijuana withdrawal, sleep medications such as Ambien may be used short term.