Many recovering addicts claim that the hardest part of cannabis addiction treatment is the first few weeks, and there is absolute truth in this statement. Before exploring the subject, however, it is important for us to first understand what we are talking about. Cannabis, popularly known in different parts of the world either as ganja, weed or marijuana, is a drug derived from the leaves of the hemp plant Cannabis Sativa. Throughout history, there have been many different purposes for which this plant has been used, varying from medicinal to religious purposes. In the recent past, however, the drug has been used more and more for recreational use, which has led to an increased number of people getting addicted to it.
All about cannabis addiction treatment
Studies have shown that cannabis addiction is not as difficult to break out of as the addiction to alcohol or nicotine (found in cigarettes.) The treatment process of this addiction follows a general series of steps quite similar to the steps taken to treat most other drug addictions. All these steps are more behavioral than medical, since there is no direct medical cannabis treatment plan for cannabis addiction.
Marijuana detox cleanse
The first step, and usually the most important, is realization and admission by patients that they are addicted to the drug and that they need to seek medical and professional help. This realization is what sets the treatment process in motion and may very well involve a holistic detox cleanse. The next step is for them to seek professional help. Asking a family member to assist in finding help is usually a bold step that many recovering addicts say has helped them most, since it helps them feel loved and cared for. Most professionals use different types of behavioral treatments to treat the addiction, the most common being motivational enhancement therapy.
Motivational enhancement therapy is a treatment method that uses motivational phase-based therapy sessions that help patients explore and change their behavior to correct an addiction they have. When treating cannabis patients, the first phase involves building a patient’s motivation to change. Treatment begins with simple positive statements that patients make to the effect that they need to and have to change. The therapist listens with empathy, questions the patient and then gives them some sort of feedback based on their assessment.
It is important for the patient to listen to this assessment so that they understand how serious (or not) their addiction is and what they need to do to correct the situation. In this entire process, the therapist makes sure the patient remains reaffirmed and reassured that it does not matter how serious their addiction is, they can fight and beat it. As expected, many patients resist recommendations given to them by therapists, giving excuses why they should or should not do one recommendation or another. Therapists must continue to stress the importance of the treatment, reaffirming and reassuring the patients. They also try to help reframe how the patients look at themselves, changing their perception of themselves.
The second phase involves strengthening the patients’ commitment to change. The therapist asks key questions, discusses the treatment plan over and over again with the patient and reaffirms the fact that the patients have a right to free choice. The patient has the right to choose what to do or not to do. The only thing the therapist has to highlight is the possible consequences the course of action the patient takes may have. A lot of advice is important for patients, since they trust the therapist to prod them in the right direction.
The last phase usually involves follow-up strategies that addiction therapists use to make the changes a patient has made permanent. If this treatment plan, as well as others that exist is followed correctly, they can successfully fight addiction to cannabis.
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My name is Art. I help people to recover.