How to Quit Smoking Weed: Steps to Stop
It could have been in high school. Could have been at that party in college. Or maybe it was out of curiosity or to calm down after a rough week. Approximately fifty percent of all high school seniors admit to having tried marijuana at least once. Sometimes, curiosity leads to addiction. With so many jobs and even certain educational programs performing regular drug screenings, the need to quit smoking pot is very real, but not always easy.
Work and education are just two reasons to quit. Health is also a major concern. Smoking just one marijuana cigarette has four times the amount of tar deposited on the lungs compared to a filtered cigarette Smoke from marijuana has over 50% more cancer-causing agents than tobacco smoke. Regular marijuana use can also lead to higher rates of depression and thoughts of suicide
Quitting is the easy decision. Following through is much more difficult. The first thing is to find support. Without a support system, failure is almost certain. Support from a spouse, parent, child, friend, or anyone who can go through the whole process without judging. There can be more than one person but a single person who can help with paperwork, can be on call 24/7, and can provide a positive environment is best.
Next is a plan. If marijuana addiction is bad enough, an inpatient treatment at a hospital or drug treatment center might be best. If it’s occasional use, an outpatient program usually works. Many drug programs follow the 12 step alcohol addiction program including a sponsor and end up with similar results. As a bonus, the sponsor can work with the support person during recovery.
One of the most difficult steps is deciding on whether or not to have family involved. Some marijuana addicts prefer to only allow professionals to assist with the process while others find having family involved works best. There are programs out there that offer both alternatives.
Another thing to look for is a program designed to deal with marijuana and not another drug or just drugs in general. Finding treatment specifically for marijuana helps with the typical stereotype that marijuana is not a harmful drug and allows the addict to focus. For the addict using more than just marijuana, there are programs for that too. A little research is all it takes. The support person can really be useful here because they will look for what’s best, not what’s easiest.
Dealing with life after addiction can be almost as rough if not more than treatment itself. The key is to eliminate the source of addiction. Some recovering addicts will need to change their entire lifestyle including work, housing, and possible even friends. Other won’t have to be extreme. Again, the support person comes in handy here by assist with new housing or even helping look for a new job. Some of this can even be done during treatment.
Marijuana addiction is not a joke nor should it be treated as one. Making the decision to quit smoking pot and getting proper treatment is always the first step and a life changing decision. Following through and continuing a drug-free lifestyle is the hard part. Support is the key. With support, any addiction can be overcome.
I quit smoking weed after 5 years and it took a lot of willpower and also thinking about my 2 kids to keep my resolve. I took an anti-anxiety drug for a while to use something legal but because prescription anxiety drugs can be addictive I got off that too. I am now an exercise addict so get my high that way but it’s healthier.
Hey,
Did anyone see in the news that they are thinking in California about prescribing marijuana to kids with adhd. Are they kidding me? It also said some parents are making pot cookies and pot brownies for kids with autism! I guess some people are saying that ritalin and aderall aren’t great for adhd anyway. Only in California.
thanks for the post!
No, Ron. I didn’t hear that. hmmm…not sure how I feel about that. I have heard of medicinal uses for marijuana. I am sure there is someway to combine the uses of this drug (in a pill form) to help these children. Having them light up is NOT an option of course.
The bad effects of marijuana are also social. People can be happy just hanging out alone watching movies and then you develop a bit of an isolation mode of living as you get too much in your own head.
i stopped smoking a couple of months ago and it was very difficult to stop my cigarette cravings. nicotine patches helped me a lot to quit smoking.
….
Yes, that is tough. People around you should have more respect to smoke right in front of you especially since you are pregnant. Your fiancee should know better too, hopefully you guys don’t smoke in front of the baby or even in the house. I guess the only thing I can say is try to avoid places or people that smoke but I guess that is kind of hard being they are your friends. Tell your fiancee to go outside when he wants to smoke. For yourself try buying some suckers instead of the cigarettes.