Marijuana rehabilitation centers, or marijuana rehab centers, are treatment centers designed to wean marijuana users off the drug and point them toward an addiction free life. The rehabilitation process usually includes detoxification, counseling and aftercare. Many of the treatments offered in the centers are based on behavioral therapy, the 12-step program used by Alcoholics Anonymous, art and support groups. Treatment should follow an individualized plan based on level and type of addiction.
Some of the symptoms of marijuana addiction include the person affected needing a larger amount of the drug to experience the effects, and withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, insomnia, cravings and aggression when use has been curtailed. The addict may decide himself that he is smoking too much and needs to cut back. The first step in treating marijuana addiction is the selection of a suitable rehab center. Initial contact is usually made via a telephone call, during which the steps involved in the treatment process should be discussed.
While marijuana is reputed to be among the least harmful drugs, it is responsible for more admissions to rehab centers than any other type of drug. The most effective marijuana rehab centers create individualized plans for the treatment process based on the level and type of addiction. Therapies include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy, 12-step support groups, art therapy and support groups. Programs can take anywhere from one month to three months to complete, depending on the initial level of addiction.
Behavioral therapies are based around the idea of developing strategies to replace counterproductive behaviors with beneficial ones. One very popular therapy is CBT, a goal-based talk therapy focusing on changing the thought processes that lead to maladaptive behavior like drug taking. The 12-step group is based on the original therapy developed by Alcoholics Anonymous that has been adopted by many marijuana rehab centers.
Many people admit themselves or are admitted to marijuana rehab centers because they use more than one drug, or there are concurrent mental health conditions such as depression. In situations such as these, the approach is usually multidisciplinary, as there is no point in treating one problem without simultaneously treating the other. In cases where the problem concerns only marijuana, the person affected may choose to receive outpatient treatment instead. An important part of the process includes relapse prevention plans, which aim to provide strategies to avoid re-addiction. Better communication skills and coping mechanisms are required to ensure that the original destructive behavior does not recur.
