What To Expect From A Marijuana Detox

Although it’s widely believed that marijuana is harmless, it’s possible to develop an addiction. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), around 30% of people who use marijuana will develop marijuana use disorder. This risk is much higher for those who begin using the substance during adolescence.

In addition to the risk of addiction, marijuana use also has serious health risks. Some research shows marijuana use can be linked to altered memory, paranoia, short-term memory impairment, delayed brain development, and cognitive decline.

Marijuana detox is the first step a person with marijuana use disorder needs to make to recover from the condition. This article looks at what you can expect from a marijuana detox. What to know before embarking on one, and what comes after you are done with your detox.

What to Know Before a Marijuana Detox 

Before embarking on a marijuana detox, there are some decisions you need to make. The first is whether you want to do it at home or at a treatment facility specially equipped for handling detoxing from substances. This decision is very personal and dependent on what you hope to get from the process.

Detoxing at home gives you more freedom over the process. The downside, however, is that you are more likely to relapse when detoxing yourself. This is because there’s a lack of supervision and accountability from a person of authority.

What to Expect From a Marijuana Detox 

What to expect from a marijuana detox is highly individual. Your experience with the detox process is dependent on a combination of several factors. Your age, gender, sex, genetics, and how long you’ve been dependent all come into play.

If you’ve been using marijuana for an extended period, you are more likely to go through a more extended detox period and experience more severe withdrawal symptoms. If you are an occasional user of the drug, your detox period is more likely to be much shorter, and you might not even experience any withdrawal symptoms.

A 2020 study on the prevalence of cannabis withdrawal symptoms amongst marijuana users found that up to 47% of the participants experienced this phenomenon. Factors that contributed to the development of the syndrome included using other substances, smoking tobacco, and using marijuana daily.

Marijuana Withdrawal Symptoms 

As mentioned, a marijuana detox causes unpleasant symptoms known as withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms are temporary and will cease when you are done with your detox.

However, the length of time you are likely to experience these symptoms is highly individual. No two people are likely to go through marijuana withdrawal in the same way.

According to the America Psychiatric Association, you are most likely to experience these symptoms if you’ve used marijuana daily or almost daily for months. Common symptoms of marijuana withdrawal include: 

• Craving marijuana 
• Difficulty sleeping 
• Stomach aches 
• Fever
• Anxiety 
• Aggression 
• Lack of appetite 
• Excessive sweating 
• Tremors 

You might be confused about what’s happening with your body during a withdrawal. The symptoms you are experiencing result from your brain and body trying to adjust to the absence of marijuana from your system. If you’ve used marijuana for a prolonged period, your body will come to depend on it.

How Long Will a Withdrawal Take? 

Again the detox journey from marijuana varies from individual to individual. In that vein, the amount of time your withdrawal will last varies.

Some people could experience mild withdrawal symptoms that don’t affect their daily functioning for months and even years after they discontinue marijuana use. 

What Happens After a Marijuana Detox 

Working to prevent a relapse after your marijuana detox is very crucial. While you might think that the process ends when you stop experiencing withdrawal symptoms, in reality, it’s a lifelong process, and it’s essential to work hard to prevent a relapse each day from the day you stop.

Going through a marijuana detox can be challenging, especially at the peak of your withdrawal symptoms. However, it’s a crucial first step you need to take when recovering from marijuana dependency.

It’s important to realize you don’t have to go through the process alone. You can either detox at home with the help of loved ones or at a medical facility equipped to put you through the detox and handle any complications that may arise during the withdrawal period.

Long-Term Treatment for Marijuana Addiction

Everyone goes through the process in different ways, don’t be deterred if you feel your journey seems to be taking longer than it should. The most crucial step towards achieving your goals is maintaining consistency. 

After detox, seeking treatment options that will support your long-term recovery is essential.

However, therapy and lifestyle modifications are typically recommended. This includes:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): This approach addresses the underlying thoughts, behaviors, and coping skills contributing to marijuana use. 
• Motivational enhancement therapy (MET): Using this approach, a therapist will help you understand the attitudes that play a role in drug use and help you increase your motivation and commitment to quitting.
• Contingency management (CM): This approach utilizes reinforcements, often vouchers or monetary prizes, that reward people for staying free of marijuana.

Lifestyle changes such as staying busy, maintaining connections with supportive loved ones, joining support groups, and avoiding drug triggers can also be helpful. Caring for your physical and mental health, including getting enough sleep and eating a healthy diet, is also important.