Marijuana

Marijuana is the most frequently consumed illicit substance in the United States, and of all the narcotics, marijuana is outpaced in consumption only by alcohol. Marijuana is so common that it has become part of the American culture, portrayed in movies, television, and novels as an acceptable recreational drug. Efforts to legalize marijuana are gaining momentum nationwide, and some states allow marijuana to be used for medicinal purposes. Habitual marijuana users often compare their use of marijuana to someone drinking a six pack of beer, and sometimes lament that they cannot indulge themselves more openly.

For all these reasons, marijuana use is often seen as less harmful that the use of "hard" drugs such as heroin or cocaine. In fact, some users even attempt to make arguments that smoking marijuana actually has health benefits that make it preferable to alcohol.

But marijuana is not a harmless substance; and marijuana addiction can be every bit as debilitating as any other form of dependency. The psychoactive substance in marijuana is tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC for short. Chronic use of Marijuana leads to massive consumptions of THC, which alters the brain chemistry and neurological organization of the human body. This leads to decreased memory retention, paranoia, and in extreme cases psychosis or psychotic breakdown. Further, marijuana is a carcinogenic, which means it is a known cancer-causing agent.

Combatting marijuana addiction can be especially difficult since chronic users of marijuana will often refuse to believe that marijuana is addictive. While the physically addictive attributes of marijuana and THC are limited, the mentally addictive qualities of marijuana are profound. As with alcohol, marijuana is a commonly used escape method, a form of self-medication for existing behavioral or mental disorders, and in some circles a social rite of passage. The mystique and social tolerance of marijuana make it easy to find and use, and this ease of access further inhibits the ability of addicts to defeat their dependency alone.

Marijuana rehab begins with knowledge, and the Axis marijuana rehabilitation center works to counteract addiction by dispelling the pop-culture myths and urban legends surrounding marijuana, providing addicts with current and cogent medical information on the effects of long-term THC exposure. Further, participants of our marijuana substance abuse treatment program are reminded that whatever their beliefs on the harmlessness of marijuana, it is still an illegal substance, making possession and use of it a punishable by incarceration.

As with any form of substance abuse treatment, the Axis marijuana rehabilitation center provides counseling in both individual and group settings, allowing the addict to understand the effects that marijuana addiction has not only on themselves, but across a broad spectrum of users. Comparing pop legends with the tragic addiction stories of real people is eye-opening, allowing the addict to see and understand the repercussions of substance dependency in any form.

Finally, since marijuana is often such a socially acceptable outlet, as well as a social bond within certain circles of friends, ongoing individual and group counseling sessions are an integral portion of a successful marijuana rehab program.