What is Cannabis?

Cannabis is a cannabinoid drug derived from a plant that contains a psychoactive cannabinoid called THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and a non-psychoactive cannabidiol (CBD). Cannabis is what is known as marijuana. It can be consumed by eating foods mixed with it, smoked, or vaped. It’s reported that the manner in which it’s consumed impacts the effects of the drug on users. The most common form of cannabis is the dried flowers (buds) and leaves of the plant that are smoked in a joint or a bong. Edibles are also a form in which you can find cannabis. In this form, the drug is added to foods or baked goods and then eaten. Cannabis concentrates are becoming more and more popular among users. They have higher concentrations of THC. In this form, extracts (also called dabs or wax) are smoked using a bong or vape pen. When marijuana is consumed in edibles the effects typically take between one and three hours to reach their full effect. Impatient users may think that they didn’t eat enough to reach the effect they are looking for, and then eat more, only to find later that the effects are too strong. With edibles, it is often difficult to regulate the amount consumed. When marijuana is smoked or vaped, users usually feel the effects right away. Of course, there are health concerns regarding the smoking of marijuana, especially the long-term effects.

What is a Cannabis Rehab in Arizona?

While many people believe that cannabis isn’t an addictive drug, the number of people who enter drug treatment for marijuana addiction indicates otherwise. However, the fact that marijuana has become legal to use in many states, medicinally or recreationally in some states, makes it more difficult to get addicted people to go to drug rehab that can help. Cannabis users often tout the notion that marijuana is a harmless drug and that their concerned family and friends simply don’t understand the benefits. Additionally, they are likely to feel validated by the increasing legalization of the drug. But just because marijuana is legal, it doesn’t change the underlying chemistry of the drug and the reality of the addiction it can cause. Alcohol and prescription drugs (like opioids and benzodiazepines) are also legal, yet no one disputes the fact that they are addictive. Unfortunately, legalization is making it easier for people to obtain marijuana and become addicted. One of the largest demographic groups that this is affecting is young people, aged 18-25. It’s been determined that this age group has a higher risk of developing a marijuana addition than those who begin using the drug later in life. Cannabis rehab is often recommended for people who are abusing or are addicted to marijuana. The goal of rehab is to provide clients with the tools needed to cope with life and triggers to use without the drug. Therapy is often the foundation for marijuana addiction treatment. It can help provide problem-solving skills, lifestyle management, and relapse prevention. Rehab also provides clients with peer support from other people who are in the same boat.

What Are the Risks of Cannabis Abuse?

While using cannabis may not seem as dangerous or harmful as some other drugs you hear about and it may even be legal in your location, there are some serious negative risks to consider. The biggest of which is addiction. Cannabis use can cause negative consequences to your health and your life in both the short-term and long-term, and it’s more than the stereotypical apathy and munchies. It can affect your work and school in the short-term. One study found that employees who had a positive drug test for cannabis suffered 55% more accidents, 85% more injuries, and 75% more absences than their drug-free coworkers. In other reporting, a review of 48 different studies by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) found that marijuana use is directly related to reduced educational attainment (the reduced chance of graduating). Even though the high from cannabis doesn’t last very long, the effects on your memory can last days or weeks, even if you stop using. That means that the impairment you have when you’re using can continue to have adverse effects on your daily life for a relatively short period of time. The long-term effects of cannabis use are more serious. It could affect your cognitive abilities, especially if you started using it when you were a teenager. Cannabis affects brain development (memory, learning, thinking), and can last for a much longer period of time, or even permanently because it prevents the brain from developing the necessary connections for cognitive functions. In other words, if you start using cannabis before your brain is fully developed (usually in your mid-twenties), and you continue to use, by the time you become an adult and your brain is finished developing, it may be too late. In fact, in a study performed in New Zealand, cannabis users who began using as teenagers and continued into adulthood suffered a 6 to 8 point IQ loss. Using marijuana regularly can also affect your health, both physically and mentally. Any type of smoking is detrimental to your respiratory function, including smoking marijuana. You may have a chronic cough, excessive phlegm, more frequent lung ailments, and a higher risk of lung infections. It can also cause cardiac issues because marijuana raises the heart-rate for up to three hours after smoking. Cannabis use can also lead to mental illness in some long-term users, including:

Paranoid feelings
Distorted perception
Hallucinations
Worsening symptoms of existing mental illnesses, like schizophrenia
Anxiety
Depression
Suicidal thoughts (typically in younger users)

What Are the Benefits of Cannabis Rehab?

Anyone who is suffering from addiction to drugs, including cannabis, will benefit from attending a treatment program at a rehab. Most people who go to rehab have tried time and time again to stop using on their own, only to relapse and begin using again. The healing environment and support that rehabs offer make it much more likely that you can successfully stop using and achieve long-term recovery. When you attend cannabis rehab, you will learn new coping and life skills that help you learn to deal with life without drugs. Additionally, you will receive counseling that gets to the underlying issues that cause you to use. You will be taught relapse prevention techniques that will help you know what to do when your inclination is to use cannabis. Rehab gives you all the tools you need to have a happy, drug-free life.

Who Should Attend Cannabis Rehab in Arizona?

Many people who attend rehab for cannabis use have a fairly long history of using, as well as a long track record of trying to quit on their own. While cannabis rehab may seem appropriate for people who have been using for a long time, it’s also very useful for even new users who are having trouble quitting by themselves. To put it simply, there isn’t a right or wrong time to fight back against an addiction to marijuana. The drug is powerful and can lead to addiction. Getting help may be the most effective way to stop your marijuana use.

What to Look for in a Cannabis Rehab in Arizona?

Once you’ve decided to seek treatment for an addiction to cannabis, you have to choose which rehab to attend. It’s important to consider a variety of factors as you conduct your search. Here are some of the questions to ask to help you narrow down your list of treatment programs:

What type of accreditation and licensure does the treatment center have?
What credentials, licensure, and educations do the clinical staff members have?
Is there a detox program available if needed?
How long is the program?
Is there aftercare available?
Is there any family program or participation in the program?
What is the cost of the program?
Does the program accept your insurance?
You may have more questions than those listed above. Don’t be afraid to ask them. Knowledge is power and you will feel more comfortable if you have a thorough understanding of the program.

How Can Stonewall Help with Cannabis Addiction?

At the Stonewall Institute in Phoenix, you can attend outpatient cannabis rehab while still maintaining other important parts of your life, like work, school, and family responsibilities. Our experienced staff will make sure that you are a good candidate for outpatient treatment and that you receive the highest quality of care. If you are suffering with an addiction to marijuana, or any other substance, we can help. If it’s determined that outpatient treatment is the right level of care for you, you will work with Master-Level Licensed Counselors who use the latest evidence-based treatment modalities, ensuring that you will receive an insightful and effective rehabilitation process. Please contact us at (602)-535-6468 and a member of our intake team will help you get started. We will work together to create the right treatment to get you on the road to recovery.