Cannabis addiction

Addiction is a mental illness with a genetic component, but it is also affected by behaviour. Addiction is characterized by an uncontrollable, drug seeking and use behaviour despite dangerous consequences which can be long-lasting. Currently, there is no specific way to cure addiction but instead, the patient requires lifetime treatment, coupled with lifetime behaviour change. While most dependence treatment programs set self-restraint as an aim, a relapse is not a reason to abandon a patient as hopeless. 

 Marijuana has some medicinal value yet it is known to be one of the most abused drugs with major side effect worldwide since it contains chemicals which act on your central nervous system and can change your mood or consciousness if used in high doses. Heavy use of marijuana may lead to complications such as retardant brain development. People who started using marijuana at a young age may have trouble with remembering, learning and thinking normally. A mother who uses marijuana while pregnant might cause complications to the unborn child which may include slowed development and brain damage. 

Like any other drug, if marijuana is used for a long period it can be addictive and when you withdraw from its intake major symptoms such as insomnia, decreased appetite, anxiety and irritability may occur. Marijuana contains cannabinoid chemical which has two major components that are THC and CBD which are used to in the right doses to treat nausea caused by chemotherapy and add desire for food in patients who have extreme weight loss from AIDS. 

Treatment of addiction 

Cannabis dependence is highly individualized and regularly involve the support of the individual’s community or family. Treatment is intended to help addicted individuals completely stop drug seeking and use behaviour. The treatment process might take a period since the short term is not sufficient for addiction treatment. 

A patient suffering from withdrawal side effects can be given medications to help reduce the symptoms. The first method of treatment to a cannabis addict is detoxification the approved medication for withdrawal is lofexidine which is a non-opioid medicine designed to reduce withdrawal symptoms. The patient is also counselled to enable behaviour change and prevent a relapse. 

Behaviour therapy can help in motivating people to participate in drug treatment and improve communication which offers better coping mechanisms in case a relapse occurs.  

Many treatment regimes both individual and group therapies to enhance social reinforcement and help enforce a non–drug-using lifestyle. 

If cannabis is used for the right purpose can provide good medicinal effects which are helpful to those who use it but if misused it can be dangerous hence causing irreversible effects. Just like any other addiction seeking assistance is the first effective step to quit cartridges from Kush Oil