Many people consume marijuana for medicinal and recreational purposes. Although this substance is less addictive than other drugs, such as cocaine, over time it can over-stimulate the nervous system and lead to drug addiction. Regardless of whether or not you are "addicted" to weed, stopping using it can offer you benefits that will affect your overall well-being.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Give Up Marijuana
Step 1. Make the decision to quit
Make an honest assessment of marijuana use: Ask yourself how much you need to consume and how often. These questions can help you make the decision to stop using them easier.
- If you have doubts about this habit, it may be more difficult to make the decision to quit, even knowing it would be the best thing to do.
- It is easy to minimize or underestimate the level of addiction to marijuana. Ask a friend or family member for an objective opinion about your use of it.
- By surrounding yourself with different groups of people, you will be able to better understand the extent of your addiction.
Step 2. See a doctor
If you have decided to stop using this drug, you may not know exactly how to do this. Make an appointment with your family doctor or other health professional, talk to him about your decision to stop using marijuana and the various solutions to succeed.
- Medical professionals who can help you are your family doctor, a drug addict, a drug and alcohol counselor, as well as a psychiatrist or psychologist.
- Your GP may refer you to an internist or other doctor who specializes in drug addictions. You can also consider seeing a mental health professional who can help you manage the emotional aspects of stopping cannabis use.
- Be completely honest with your doctor (s) about your drug use; this way, it can help you find the most effective treatment for you.
- Make a list of all the medicines, vitamins, supplements, or other illegal drugs you are taking. Remember that the doctor is there to help you, so it is vital that you are absolutely sincere.
- Ask them what the different treatment options are and how to get the urge to use the drug under control.
- Expect your doctor to ask you specific questions about use, previous attempts to quit, withdrawal crises, and supportive people around you.
Step 3. Plan a therapy
You need to work with your doctor to formulate a treatment plan that fits your needs. Make sure you choose the option or solutions that make you feel most comfortable. Among the various therapies are mentioned:
- Therapeutic programs for chemical addictions. They offer sessions to cope with addiction and prevent relapses; therapy can be in hospital, outpatient or long-term hospitalization.
- Detox or withdrawal therapy. Helps to quit smoking cannabis quickly and safely; the treatment can take place during a hospitalization, with outpatient sessions or with a prolonged stay in hospital.
- Psychotherapy. This treatment can help manage the psychological need to take the drug and provides strategies for preventing possible relapses. It can also help you recover interpersonal relationships that have worn down due to drug use.
- Mutual-help group that often takes advantage of the 12-step program. The therapist is often able to help you find such a group in your area.
- A combination of these treatments can be the best way to break your cannabis smoking habit.
Step 4. Find support from family and friends
In addition to professional help, it is important to have strong support that can help you during the treatment. Close friends and family members can help you cope with tough times, like withdrawal attacks, and can prevent you from relapse.
- Be honest with them and ask that they stay close to you; in this way, you show all your commitment and effort to stop the habit.
- Ask trusted friends and family members to accompany you to doctor's appointments or support group meetings.
Step 5. Limit your exposure to temptation
Get rid of or steer clear of those elements in life that remind you of or induce you to smoke weed to minimize the risk of "missteps".
- Throw away and discard any marijuana left in your home or other places you frequent, such as the gym locker room. Don't think about the money you spent, but how beneficial this gesture can be for your health; don't even think about reselling it, because it's illegal.
- Delete the names of the drug dealers from the cell phone; this also means reducing the time you spend with some friends, especially if they are cannabis consumers or suppliers.
Step 6. Avoid high-risk situations
Certain circumstances may favor some relapses more; stay away from places or people that could tempt you to still use cannabis.
- Don't go to parties, public places, or other social gatherings where you know you meet people who smoke. If you don't want others to know why, you can simply say that you already have other plans for that day.
- Spend time with friends who use marijuana in places where there is no temptation to smoke it. You can ask them not to bring the weed, because you are trying to quit.
Step 7. Evaluate alternative assets
In all likelihood, you have other interests and passions besides cannabis; try to spend more time on these hobbies or consider new solutions. By doing this, you can distract yourself from withdrawal symptoms and the temptation to consume it again.
Step 8. Commit to your rehabilitation journey
It is extremely important to stick to the treatment plan and therapy prescribed by your doctor. Even if you think that still smoking marijuana can alleviate withdrawal symptoms or is not all that harmful, abandoning the recovery path can have serious legal and health consequences.
- Keep going to the doctor, get help from the support group, and take your medications to make sure you don't fall back into temptation.
- If something is causing you discomfort or stress, talk to your doctor or consider other options that can help you stay away from drugs.
Step 9. Recognize and monitor withdrawal symptoms
When you stop using marijuana, it's not uncommon to feel sick from lack of it; identifying them can effectively help you keep them under control and minimize the risk of having some "failures".
- The main symptoms of cannabis withdrawal are: irritability, anxiety, depression, insomnia or restlessness, fatigue, decreased appetite and weight loss. Other secondary symptoms include stomach pains, sweats, fever, chills, and headaches.
- You can control these disorders in a variety of ways, including reducing your weed intake gradually or by taking medications, such as lithium carbonate or bupropion. Be aware that there is little evidence to show the physical and pharmacological benefits of medications for marijuana withdrawal symptoms.
Step 10. Seek help if you fall back into the habit
If you have any relapses, you need to find help right away to avoid the risk of overdosing or giving up treatment.
- Call your family doctor or therapist as soon as possible if you are tempted to use cannabis again. If you are unable to contact them, seek immediate urgent care at the nearest emergency room.
- You can also contact your tutor, support group or family members to find the right support in the event of a relapse; they are all able to help you hold out until the time you can go to the doctor.
Part 2 of 2: Knowing the Effects of Marijuana Use
Step 1. Read up on the topic
There are many misconceptions about marijuana, which is the dried part of the hemp plant. By informing yourself about its consumption, you can better understand the resulting addiction and respect the treatment plan with greater care.
- In Italy, as in Europe and Western countries, marijuana is the illegal drug consumed most frequently among different demographic groups.
- The increase in its use for medicinal purposes and legalization in some states has led to the belief that it is risk-free.
- The only way to obtain medical cannabis in Italy is to buy it at the pharmacy by presenting a medical prescription. This is the sativa strain, which contains chemical cannabinoids, although to this day it is still subjected to other research; There are not yet enough studies to determine the medicinal efficacy of marijuana smoke.
Step 2. Be aware of the risk of addiction
Many people believe that this drug does not cause addiction, as it does with cocaine or heroin; however, current research has found that 1 in 11 consumers become addicted.
People who use it are unsatisfied with their lives, have uncertain mental and physical health, poor academic and professional success, as well as greater problems in the field of social relations
Step 3. Recognize your risk factors
Anyone can become addicted to marijuana, but some people have certain characteristics that increase the chances of developing a drug addiction. Knowing your risk factors can help you avoid using them or prevent you or a loved one from relapse. Risk factors for marijuana abuse and addiction are:
- Family history of addiction;
- Sex - men are more likely to fall into the habit;
- Mental disorders;
- Peer pressure;
- Lack of support from friends or family
- Anxiety, depression and loneliness;
- Taking other medications or drugs that are addictive, such as stimulants, pain relievers, or even cocaine.
Step 4. Recognize the complications that arise from drug use
Smoking or otherwise using marijuana can cause complications that are harmful and dangerous to general well-being. Knowing about them can help you reduce the risk of using them, relapsing, or even suffering from serious health problems. Among the complications that may arise consider:
- Contracting some communicable disease, such as sexually transmitted diseases or HIV;
- Cause fatal accidents;
- Committing suicide
- Create problems in family relationships, at work or at school;
- Having legal or financial problems.
Step 5. Learn about the effects of cannabis on the brain
Its use causes cerebral consequences both in the short and in the long term; knowing them can first of all discourage you from using them or having relapses, factors that endanger your well-being.
- Short-term effects include impaired senses and reduced ability to move, think, remember details, or solve problems.
- However, marijuana also causes lasting effects in the brain, especially among young people, including: impaired thinking, memory and learning ability, inhibition of brain development. It can also cause attention, organization and planning problems.
Step 6. Check the physical effects of cannabis use
In addition to a neurological impact, the herb also causes physical effects that can seriously harm your health. Getting to know them can help you stick to your treatment plan more and strengthen the motivation that drives you to quit. Marijuana use can:
- Cause breathing problems similar to those of smokers, including lung cancer
- Increase heart rate and risk of heart attack;
- Cause disability in the fetus if you are a pregnant woman;
- Lead to hallucinations, paranoia and aggravate symptoms of schizophrenia;
- Affect blood sugar, which can be dangerous for people with diabetes;
- Reduce blood pressure;
- Increase eye pressure or cause dry eyes
- It can also increase the risk of bleeding if you are taking certain medications, such as aspirin, blood thinners, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen, and naproxen sodium.
