Over the years, research has shown that about nine percent of people who take marijuana develop an addiction to it. To make things even more troubling, the overall marijuana addiction rate increases among those who started using the drug at a young age.

When an individual takes marijuana consistently, it leads to abuse and addiction. Although that sounds like it might only be an issue for the person suffering from this condition, addiction to marijuana is actually a major concern for society as a whole.

Fortunately, it is often diagnosed in early adults and adolescents. But assistance and treatment are incredibly important because dependency on marijuana can negatively affect the health, finances, and other aspects of an individual’s life.

Various treatment options are available for people experiencing marijuana addiction at AspenRidge Recovery. These programs use valid approaches to help individuals stop marijuana abuse and dependency. To know more about it, contact us today at (855) 281-5588.

Is Marijuana Addictive?

Marijuana is addictive. Reports say about 30% of people who take the substance end up with various marijuana use disorders, but the overall number of people addicted to marijuana is not certain. However, statistics from people dependent on the drug can be used as an estimation.

People exposed to marijuana use early in life are more likely to experience marijuana use disorder than others. The cause of this disorder is dependence which happens when an individual experiences some symptoms because of not taking the drug.

How Long Does It Take for Cannabinoid Receptors to Return to Normal?

Dependence is also when an individual cannot stop using a drug despite the harmful effects it causes to the person. The cannabinoid receptors are involved in different roles in the body.

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active compound in marijuana, stimulates the neurons to produce more dopamine to give a rewarding effect. Therefore, once people stop using it, it produces withdrawal effects.

Research shows that the cannabinoid receptor returns to its normal state if an individual does not take marijuana for 48 hours. After four weeks, the individual starts functioning normally. Below are some of the withdrawal symptoms an individual can experience:

• Nausea
• Irritability
• Craving marijuana
• Restlessness
• Body pain, especially in the abdominal region
• Loss of appetite

Marijuana Addiction Causes

The causes of marijuana vary from one individual to the other. One of the major risks of marijuana addiction is mental health problems. People with mental health issues tend to resort to drugs when experiencing anxiety, and with time, dependence sets in. Other mental health-related problems that can cause marijuana addiction are:

•  Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
•  Depression lingering for a long time
•  Schizophrenia
• Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Marijuana Addiction Treatment in Colorado

It can be difficult for people with marijuana addiction to stop their intake because of society’s increased acceptance of the drug. However, because of the harmful effects that addiction to this drug poses, an individual will benefit from marijuana addiction treatment.

The major addiction treatment intervention involves inpatient and outpatient programs. The type of treatment an individual with marijuana addiction needs varies. Often, it depends on the extent of addiction and whether the environment will make it easy for the individual to quit taking the drug.

What Marijuana Addiction Treatment Entails

The treatment of marijuana addiction depends on some factors, including frequency of intake, the environment, and the degree of addiction. In addition, most people with marijuana use disorder live with serious mental health problems. Therefore, the treatment is unique to each individual. Hence most treatment centers offer the dual diagnosis.

Dual-Diagnosis Treatment in Colorado

It is common for individuals with marijuana use disorders to experience mental health issues. This situation happens because marijuana can make the individual experience symptoms of mental health problems. Also, individuals with mental health problems can abuse marijuana to treat themselves or help themselves out of that challenging state.

Marijuana Effects

Marijuana addiction can have numerous effects on an individual. Some of the effects of marijuana are:

• Psychosocial effects
• Erectile dysfunction
• Delinquency
• Mental health problems
• Suicidal thoughts
• Chronic and persistent cough
• Decreased production of dopamine
• Early school dropout
• Lung damage
• Increased risk for chronic diseases such as heart attack, stroke, and high blood pressure.

Does Marijuana Affect the Brain?

Marijuana use affects brain function and worsens it when frequently used. For individuals that just recently started taking marijuana, it affects their attention, movement, and thoughts. These are short-term effects. It also affects brain development in kids when exposed to the usage early in life.

Memory problems are one of the long-term effects of consistent intake of marijuana on the brain. It prevents the brain from working by making it temporarily inactive to pick up and save new information. It alters normal brain functioning and contributes majorly to memory loss.

Marijuana Addiction Programs in Colorado

The first step to recovery is to admit that you need help. AspenRidge Recovery has marijuana addiction treatment programs to help you on your way to recovery. We believe that each individual is unique, and we have treatment programs  for each person. Below are some of the treatment programs:

Partial Hospitalization Program (Day Program)

Day Program includes over 30 hours of treatment each week for about 30 days for people with marijuana addiction and mental health problems. The program has group therapy and individual therapy sessions. In addition, it is a medication-assisted treatment program.

Day Intensive Outpatient Program (5-Day IOP)

This program includes about 15 hours of weekly treatment for about two months with medication-assisted care. It also involves group therapy and one-on-one therapy sessions.

Evening Intensive Outpatient Program (5-Day IOP)

Evening Intensive Outpatient Program involves about 90 days of care for in-person and online clients. It involves weekly group therapy and biweekly one-on-one therapy sessions. The program is also a medication-assisted treatment.

Outpatient Program (OP)

The outpatient program includes a 90 minute therapy session, which is once a week.

AspenRidge Colorado Recovery Center

Get treatment for yourself or loved ones with AspenRidge recovery. Also, people struggling with addiction should get help at a Colorado marijuana addiction treatment center as soon as possible. AspenRidge Recovery has centers in Fort Collins, Denver, and Colorado Springs, all in Colorado.

In addition, there are different marijuana addiction treatments made to suit each person. For questions, clarifications, and to know more about AspenRidge Recovery, contact us today at (855) 281-5588.