Can Marijuana Lead to Drug Addiction?

Marijuana is one of the most popular recreational drugs available in the U.S. today. Many states now have medical and recreational marijuana laws in place as more evidence comes out about its beneficial properties and lower risk of forming an addiction. While marijuana drug addiction is possible, its beneficial properties far outweigh the risk of addiction for many people. Drug addiction treatment provides support for men and women struggling with an addiction to marijuana or other substances.

At Arkview Recovery, we help men and women struggling with marijuana drug addiction through our private and comfortable treatment center in Harrisburg, PA. Patients will participate in behavioral therapy through group and individual settings to develop coping skills to break their addiction and lead healthy and productive lives. To learn more about marijuana and drug addiction and get started with recovery, call 717.744.0756 today.

Understanding Marijuana and Drug Addiction

All drugs, including alcohol, have a physical effect on your body that changes your brain chemistry and creates, at a minimum, a physical dependence. Even if the person micro-doses, taking tiny but consistent doses, over a long period, they are still at risk of their use turning into a substance use disorder.

Now that marijuana is legal for medical and recreational use in most states, those who choose to use cannabis need to understand how it affects them physically and mentally. Potency levels are higher than in the past, and, for first-time users, it can create an intense high that is very appealing and may lead to drug addiction to marijuana.

Some men and women will be more susceptible to forming a marijuana drug addiction if they struggle with depression or other mental health disorders. If they start mixing antidepressants with cannabis, it can create a more intense high and may lead them to find more potent drugs. At Arkview Recovery, we can help if you cannot stop using cannabis, even if you want to quit. Depending on the severity of the drug addiction to marijuana, our patients will either participate in residential or outpatient treatment programs to begin their recovery.

Recognizing the Signs of Drug Addiction to Marijuana

If you suspect a friend or loved one is abusing cannabis, there are specific signs that you can look for to indicate they have a problem. People who struggle with addiction will go to great lengths to hide it, even if they are unaware they have a problem. Having a conversation with them about their marijuana abuse can help before they switch to harder drugs and create a more serious problem.

Signs of drug addiction to marijuana can include:

Always talking about marijuana or wanting to do things where they can smoke
Having red eyes or dilated pupils
Inability to stop using marijuana even if they want to quit
Losing interest in activities they used to enjoy
Withdrawing from friends and family
Building their life around smoking all the time
Growing financial difficulties
The first thing they do in the morning is smoke

Arkview Recovery Center: Providing Men and Women with Effective Treatment for Marijuana Drug Addiction

At Arkview Recovery, we help men and women struggling with addiction to marijuana and other substances. When you first arrive at our treatment facility, therapists and medical staff will perform a complete evaluation to determine your current physical and mental health and the severity of your addiction. They will create a treatment plan based on your unique symptoms that include several types of therapies, such as: