4 Marijuana Addiction Treatment Options You Should Know
With recreational marijuana legalization quickly becoming the norm in states across the country, it’s important to know the signs of marijuana addiction as well as ways for you and your loved ones to get help.
“In terms of effective treatments, if you're struggling with an addiction to marijuana, you're going to be looking for the same evidence-based behavioral treatments that are effective for other substances, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, twelve-step facilitation, mindfulness-based relapse prevention, and motivational interviewing,” Aaron Weiner, MD, a physician at Bridge Forward Groups, tells WebMD Connect to Care.
According to a study entitled “Marijuana Dependence and Its Treatment” published in the journal Addiction Science and Clinical Practice, these are four marijuana addiction treatment options that have proven successful.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
The main goal of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is to teach you how to identify and prevent potential behaviors that can cause marijuana use. Therapy is focused on knowing all the steps/actions/behaviors you take between not using marijuana and deciding to use it.
You will also learn how to evaluate the situation using the potential outcomes. For example, “What could happen if I do smoke marijuana?” or “ What could happen if I don’t choose to smoke marijuana?”
Motivational Enhancement Therapy
Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) is focused on finding ways for you to be motivated to stop using marijuana. The program may focus on the external results of not using marijuana…
- Do I want to look better?
- Do I want to have more energy?
Or you may focus on the internal results…
- How do I want my loved ones to think of me?
- How will my family or friends feel if they know I am addicted to marijuana?
The effectiveness of motivation techniques used will depend primarily on you since everyone has different motivations for wanting to do or not do something.
Contingency Management
Contingency Management (CM) focuses on awarding you incentives for achieving certain goals within the program. For example, three weeks of negative urine tests may result in you being awarded $100. CM reinforces positive behaviors with rewards to ensure a clear connection between not using the drug and being rewarded/fulfilled.
Support Groups
As with any task, the more people you have working with you, the better chance you will have at succeeding. Support groups for Miaruana addiction are available from the traditional 12-Step Programs like Marijuana Anonymous to alternative programs like SMART. Each support group offers different methods of achieving the same goal, so there are options for everyone.
Currently, no medication can treat marijuana addiction, so the purpose of marijuana addiction treatment is changing your behaviors, choices, and approach.
Get Help Now
If you or a loved one is struggling with marijuana addiction, WebMD Connect to Care Advisors are standing by to help.