How to Help Someone Who is Addicted to Marijuana

how to help someone with marijuana addiction

Self-help strategies are important, but https://ecosoberhouse.com/ sometimes you might need a helping hand. Reach out to your doctor or find a mental health professional who specializes in treating addictions. Your healthcare provider may prescribe medications to treat co-occurring mental health disorders. For example, they might prescribe antidepressants to treat symptoms of anxiety or depression. There are currently no FDA-approved medications for the treatment of marijuana use disorders, but research in this area is ongoing. Clinical trials have shown that buspirone, an anti-anxiety medication, can reduce cravings and drug use and decrease symptoms of irritability.

Outpatient Program (OP)

how to help someone with marijuana addiction

Their work performance or school grades suffer, they neglect their responsibilities at home, and encounter more and more relationship difficulties. They may even lose their job, drop out of school, or separate from a long-term partner. BetterHelp is an online therapy service that matches you to licensed, accredited heroin addiction therapists who can help with depression, anxiety, relationships, and more.

how to help someone with marijuana addiction

Understanding your loved one’s substance abuse

Enabling behaviors are anything you might do to make it easier for your loved one to continue using substances. For example, you might call into their job for them when they’re too drunk or high and tell their supervisor they’re sick. You might continuously provide them with money to get drugs or alcohol. Or you may provide emotional enabling such as siding with them when their partner is upset about their substance use. Attacking, blaming, or labeling your loved one will likely only make them feel more defensive and reluctant to accept help.

how to help someone with marijuana addiction

How to Stop Smoking Marijuana

how to help someone with marijuana addiction

These myths can prevent someone from seeking help when they need it most. By attending support groups with your friend, you’re offering accountability. It’s is weed addictive easy to say you can skip this one meeting, but it is more difficult when you know you’d be letting someone down.

  • Please Call Us today if you or a loved one needs help and we will walk you through the first steps, such as verifying your insurance coverage.
  • In the case of marijuana, changing laws and legalization may hinder your loved one’s ability to see that there’s any issue with their drug use.

With these guidelines, you can learn to support your loved one’s efforts, set the necessary boundaries to preserve your own health and welfare, and find some stability for both yourself and your loved one. Having marijuana addiction in your children, spouse, or other loved ones causes difficulty for you to live in healthy ways. You also need support, and to have the opportunity to discuss the problems of living with a loved one’s addiction. Some options are support groups for friends and family, and therapy.

Once you decide to stop smoking weed, your first decision is to pick which approach is right for you and your needs. While some people may find giving up marijuana easier than others, your own experience may depend on whether you have developed a dependence or addiction to the substance. While marijuana (also known as weed) is sometimes portrayed as relatively harmless, research has shown that it can have a number of negative effects on health. In addition to these health risks, there is also a potential for dependence and addiction. Loved ones — especially partners, parents, and children — of people with substance use disorder often develop codependency.

  • Physical symptoms often accompany behavioral changes, providing further indicators of marijuana use disorder.
  • Consider attending support groups for weed addiction together to provide mutual support and encouragement.
  • Your motivation could easily be the driving force for your friend to continue battling the cravings and getting past those hurdles.
  • Don’t be too hard on yourself if you do make a mistake and smoke again.
  • Emphasize that you care for the person and are worried about their well-being.
  • It is important to remember that addiction is a disease that greatly affects the addict and those who love the addict.

In recent surveying, one third of 10th graders and 44% of those in the 12th grade reported having used the substance in their lifetimes, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Acknowledge and celebrate their achievements along the way, no matter how small. Recognizing their progress can reinforce their motivation and boost their confidence to overcome marijuana addiction. If you’re smoking lots of cannabis, life can feel a bit all over the place. Marijuana (also known as Weed or Pot) is the most frequently abused drug in the US and makes up 17% of admissions to treatment programs1.

  • Whether it’s illegal substances or prescription medication, you can’t force anyone to stop abusing drugs.
  • Marijuana misuse turns into addiction when you can’t stop using the drug even though it’s affecting things like your job or your relationships.
  • It’s easier to cut down or give up cannabis if you have some support.
  • Getting rid of the drug itself is crucial, but you should also eliminate any pipes, bowls, bongs, vapes, and related products.
  • Like other opioids, it blocks pain in the brain while boosting feelings of pleasure, creating a strong sense of euphoria that attracts users.

Impact on Daily Life

Remember, when you’re helping someone on their journey to recovery, every little bit counts. By offering encouragement, guidance, and practical assistance, you can help your loved one find hope and healing in their battle against being addicted to cannabis. And as they take steps towards a brighter future, you’ll be there, cheering them on every step of the way. Supporting a loved one through addiction and recovery is emotionally taxing.


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