| Marijuana is a dangerous addiction that affects and | | | | confident in being able to shake off their addiction, |
| threatens the physical, emotional and professional well | | | | but it is not so easy. The starting point is always the |
| being of an individual. Its ill effects have made most | | | | addicts inclination to leave his addiction and his |
| countries ban its import except for therapeutic use. | | | | willingness to accept help. The treatment has to be |
| Yet it is smuggled through mysterious channels and is | | | | customized to his needs and requirements, and |
| available to addicts at phenomenal prices. Marijuana | | | | requires a lot of family support and encouraging signs |
| addiction is awful, as it becomes an all-consuming | | | | like reemployment opportunities and other feel-good |
| passion, leaving room for little else in the addict's | | | | factors. The process is long drawn and requires |
| mind. It alters the way his mind functions and makes | | | | medication as well. Residential programs are available |
| it incapable of rational, intelligent thinking. Hence | | | | in many centers that have perfected techniques of |
| treating this addiction is crucial. | | | | de-addicting patients. |
| Treating the addiction to marijuana does not simply | | | | But both in-house and outpatient programs need a |
| entail getting the addict to stop smoking it. It is a | | | | minimum 90-day period to show significant |
| process of education where the addict has to be | | | | improvement in the patient. It is not unusual to find |
| taught about its ill effects, short term, which he must | | | | addicts leaving before completing the treatment and |
| be experiencing, and long term, which will ruin his life | | | | then falling back into the marijuana trap. This makes |
| and that of his family as well. The three-step | | | | the rehabilitation program even more difficult. Family |
| knowledge he needs is about addiction, recovery | | | | support to work as a preventive for this would be |
| phase and the relapse. It is also important for the | | | | ideal and could motivate the addict to complete his |
| family to understand the reasons that pushed the | | | | treatment join back where he left off at home, as a |
| addict towards marijuana, as often negativism, low | | | | parent and possibly at work as well. |
| self esteem, lack of confidence lead to a low sense | | | | As in the case of other addictions, marijuana |
| of self worth and there is a need for an emotional | | | | addictions also need to be treated sensitively, with |
| anchor, which appears in the form of marijuana. It | | | | family support and tenderness. Educating the addict |
| gives them the ability to feel good and be happy for | | | | about times ahead, the prospect of enjoyment even |
| sometime, till it becomes obsessive. | | | | without marijuana, reinstilling confidence and making |
| Marijuana addicts need to know how the drug works | | | | them feel responsible, all contribute to strengthening |
| and how it affects their bodies. New addicts feel | | | | their resolve to fight this addiction. |