The world is waking up to the wonders of weed. However, can this miracle drug make you an addict?

Drug addiction is a real problem in the modern world. With the statistics suggesting that as much as 5% of the world’s population could be dealing with addiction, now is the time that we started to pay attention to it. Cannabis is more widely used now than it ever has been before. But with any drug, if we increase the usage, we also increase the likelihood that we are creating more addicts.

The question is whether or not we can actually become addicted to cannabis. Many of those who wished the drug to be legalised claimed that cannabis was non-addictive. We can already dismiss this out of hand. Why? Because gambling is not a substance that you can be addicted to – and yet we can still become addicted to gambling. Sex is not a substance, yet we can still become addicted to it. We can even become addicted to the glass of water we have each morning when we wake up.

What Defines an addiction?

To define whether we can become addicted to cannabis, we must look at what the parameters of addiction are. Addiction is defined by more than one method. If you physically cannot get through a day without relying on the thing that you’re addicted to, then you need help. If you fall into this category, please see Help4Addiction for more information.

Addiction is categorised by a strong physical need, urge, craving or even dependency on a substance. Addiction does not have to apply to a substance. As we mentioned above, you can become addicted to actions. When we’re addicted to something, our brains give off dopamine when we receive it. In the case of gambling, for example, our brain gives off dopamine as a reward when we win. We must keep gambling until we get that high.

Can You Become Addicted To Cannabis?

If we are talking about cannabis as an addictive substance, there can be no doubt denying the can lead to problems. It is not necessarily the substance, but it is the action of taking the substance which releases the reward hormones in our brains. If there is this reward for the action, we will remain addicted. Studies have shown that cannabis addiction is possible, either through action or drug.

How Do You Treat A Cannabis Addiction?

If you live in the UK and you want to treat a cannabis addiction, you can get help on the National Health Service. However, private care will be faster and more efficient. To recover from a cannabis addiction, you will first go through the detox process. This involves abstaining from the drug until you are completely chemical free.

Once you are through the detox process you will be moved onto rehab treatment for cannabis addiction. This can be done as an inpatient or as an outpatient. Inpatient care includes private rehab clinics, while outpatient care includes things like visits from your GP.

Rehab covers workshops aimed at getting back to normal. Rehab covers therapies, including group sessions and one on one consultations. You will learn how to exercise your body and how to properly feed yourself while you are in rehab. There may also be holistic programmes aimed at helping you relax.

Once you’re finished with rehab, you will go into an aftercare programme. Aftercare is designed towards easing the transition from rehab back to normal life. Get through this and you will soon be an ex-addict.