When the physical and psychological symptoms get bad enough, you might return to using the drug to find relief. For most people discontinuing their marijuana use, withdrawal symptoms will usually last for around one to two weeks. However, some people may continue to experience these symptoms for several weeks or even months, a phenomenon known as post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS). To quit smoking marijuana, you need to choose an approach that works for you.
What Happens After a Marijuana Detox
When you are quitting marijuana, you may find that getting regular exercise can be helpful for various reasons. No matter what strategy you decide to use to stop smoking marijuana, several techniques can help you stick to your goals. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you do make a mistake and smoke again. Research has found that it usually takes people a few tries before they marijuana addiction are successful.
Recovery Advocacy
Supervised medical detox may be recommended to manage any potential withdrawal symptoms. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasn’t approved any medications for marijuana withdrawal, specifically. But researchers are actively studying medications for medically assisted withdrawal (MAW) of marijuana. Not everyone who uses marijuana experiences withdrawal when they stop using it. In addition, the severity of withdrawal symptoms can vary widely from person to person. In an analysis of studies of more than 23,000 people, researchers found that 47% of people who used marijuana regularly experienced withdrawal symptoms.
- If you can’t seem to quit weed cold turkey, you may want to seek professional help to cease marijuana use.
- Cannabinoid metabolites can remain detectable in urine even after long periods of abstinence.
- Someone participating in a contingency management treatment plan might, for example, receive vouchers for restaurant gift cards, movie tickets, or an entry for a prize drawing with each negative test result.
- After picking up some new coping techniques or getting through the withdrawal period, you might find it easier to revisit certain friendships or places.
Effects of Marijuana
Additionally, because it impairs judgment and motor coordination, marijuana use contributes to a greater risk of injury or death while driving a car. Data analysis suggests that marijuana use more than doubles a driver’s risk of being in an accident. On a related note, the combination of marijuana and alcohol increases driving impairment more than either substance alone.
Then challenge yourself to increase that period of abstinence next time. Research suggests it often takes multiple attempts to quit successfully, so take heart. After picking up some new coping techniques or getting through the withdrawal period, you might find it easier to revisit certain friendships or places. Try experimenting with a few options, and don’t beat yourself up if you have trouble sticking to your new routine right away. If you’re looking to cut out cannabis — for whatever reason — we’ve got you covered. Maybe you occasionally get some weird side effects, like paranoia or cotton mouth, but for the most part it calms you down and improves your mood.
John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE is board-certified in addiction medicine and preventative medicine. For over 20 years Dr. Umhau was a senior clinical investigator at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). By Toketemu OhwovorioleToketemu has been multimedia storyteller for the last four years.
Is Marijuana Addictive?
Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a drug must have well-defined and measurable ingredients consistent from one unit (such as a pill or injection) to the next. Those who receive treatment for a marijuana addiction are predominantly individuals who have chronically used marijuana on a daily basis. These are people who have tried to quit on their own many times but couldn’t do it alone. Marijuana addiction, also called cannabis use disorder, affects people from all walks of life. 10% of people who take Marijuana in any form end up getting addicted to it. Recognizing the need for treatment is an important step toward recovery.
Some research shows marijuana use can be linked to altered memory, paranoia, short-term memory impairment, delayed brain development, and cognitive decline. “One of the best predictors of how successful people are at quitting smoking is how many times they’ve tried before,” Dr. Streem says. “Studies show that the more attempts you make, the more likely you’ll succeed in the future.” So, set another quit date as soon as possible and start again. Changing a habit is challenging, so don’t get down on yourself if you slip up. Even if you don’t succeed the first time, you learn something important about what was missing in your strategy.
What Will Happen After I Complete the Marijuana Addiction Treatment Program?
Marijuana is legal recreationally in 18 states (approximately 36% of the country) and medicinally 36 states (72% of the country) which has ultimately resulted in a widespread public acceptance. As a result, the majority of people do not believe that marijuana is an addictive substance when in fact, its symptoms are just less intense and present differently than other, “more intense” drugs. Just like with alcohol intake, it’s important to be fully educated on the symptoms, effects, and risks when assessing the consumption of yourself or someone you love. Misconceptions about the addictive nature of marijuana shouldn’t stop the people who need treatment from receiving it. If you’re feeling angry and anxious after you decrease or stop your use of marijuana, you may be experiencing withdrawal.
