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Around the country, marijuana is still the most often used illegal drug. The majority of marijuana addicts are younger people- over forty percent of high-schoolers have tried it. Marijuana is truly a “gateway drug”, it beign the first illegal drug that most people try. As of 2007, the most recent year for which data is available, there were almost three million illegal drug users in this country- and more than half of them started with using marijuana.

There’s a common misconception that marijuana is a safe drug, and that it’s not addictive. Nothing could be further from the truth- marijuana abuse and addiction are almost as prevalent as the abuse of opiates and alcohol. Of all admissions to drug rehab centers in 2007, sixteen percent were for marijuana addiction.

Abuse and marijuana addiction aren’t the same thing. Marijuana abuse is smoking for a non-medical reason, and addiction happens when the user needs THC (marijuana’s active ingredient) to function normally. Marijuana addicts need more and more of the drug to get the same high. A marijuana “buzz” can last up to eight hours, during which time the addict can’t drive or operate machinery safely, and their thought processes are impaired.

Studies show that there’s a connection between marijuana addiction and depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. It’s not really known whether continued marijuana use causes mental problems, or simply makes an existing mental problem worse. Especially in younger marijuana addicts, constant use can lead to a severe psychotic reaction.

Research shows that marijuana addiction and use cause changes within the brain, similar to those seen in users of other drugs. Withdrawal from marijuana can cause a stress response, and decreased dopamine production, which can lead to irritability. While detoxing from marijuana use doesn’t usually produce the painful withdrawal symptoms seen with other, harder drugs, that doesn’t mean that the symptoms are any less real or treatable.

According to NIDA, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, studies show that very few drug addicts start out without trying alcohol, tobacco, or marijuana first. Marijuana addiction can lead to other addictions, possibly because the THC alters the brain’s chemistry.

The abuse of, and addiction to marijuana are getting worse in the United States. Studies by SAMHSA show that both marijuana abuse and addiction have risen steadily over the last decade. First time users are on average, almost eighteen years old- very bad news for parents of older kids. The younger a child is the first time they use, the greater the likelihood is that they will end up with a marijuana addiction. Marijuana abuse and addiction are a serious matter- rather than treating it like it’s not that big of a deal, the addict and their family needs to get help as soon as possible. Don’t try to treat a marijuana addiction on your own. Go to a doctor for an evaluation, and they will be able to determine what treatment program suits your needs best.

Drug Enforcement Agnecy (DEA) – http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/index.htm
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA) – http://www.samhsa.gov/
National Institue of Health (NIH) – http://www.nih.gov/

Drug Rehab

The aim of any good drug rehab is to help the person beat their addiction. However, not all addicts remain abstinent. In these cases, the drug rehab is there to help them reduce their drug abuse gradually. In this article, you’ll learn about some of the different options an addict has when they’re ready to get help.

In 2007, a little over twenty million Americans were addicted to drugs and alcohol. Without proper treatment, many of these people will end up abusing drugs more and more, with some committing crimes to support their drug habit. It’s been estimated that drug abuse and addiction costs this country almost two hundred million dollars per year. This number is a total of expenses from health care, lost wages, and the courts.

Every drug rehab is a bit different, but all effective treatment programs have a few things in common. The most important part of any treatment is the patient’s level of commitment to it. No two people handle treatment in the same way, which makes it important for addicts to find programs that work for them. Not every addict is in drug rehab by choice- some are forced into treatment through the criminal justice system. A 2002 survey showed that almost 52% of incarcerated women and 44% of men in prison were addicted to some kind of drug.

Many people that enter drug rehab programs also have mental health disorders that make the addiction even harder to treat. For a mentally ill person in rehab, they need a combination if behavior modification, psychotherapy, like antidepressants and mood stabilizers. There are also medications to help minimize withdrawal systems for both drug and alcohol addictions.

When you’re choosing a drug rehab, you should consider a few things- what drug you’re addicted to, your age, your health status, and your history. If you have tried and failed to complete drug rehab in the past, you may need a different program than someone who’s in rehab for the first time, and sometimes being around other people in a similar situation can make the urge to do drugs even worse. More severe drug and alcohol addictions may warrant a longer treatment, or even a stay at a residential drug rehab center. These places seek to help the addict slowly adjust to life after drugs.

Drug addiction isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a real disease, and it needs to be treated like one. The best drug rehab is tailored to the needs of the client, with a mixture of support, counseling, and medical treatment. Some people may even need to try more than one drug treatment center, and many people need more than one form of treatment in order to attain and keep a drug-free lifestyle. If you haven’t found the right drug rehab yet, don’t give up. Get an evaluation from your doctor, they will be able to help you find an effective treatment program.