Common Behavioral Treatments at Marijuana Rehab Centers

While some argue that marijuana isn’t addictive, a number of medical and health professionals say frequent marijuana use can lead to marijuana use disorder, or addiction. Marijuana addiction is problematic in that it can affect your obligations to work and family, and increase your risk for memory and health problems. If you feel that marijuana addiction is taking over your life, consider exploring the behavioral treatments offered by marijuana rehab centers, which can help you overcome your addiction to this recreational drug.

Using behavioral treatment methods, marijuana rehab centers can teach you new skills that help you stop marijuana use. If you feel that you have a problem with marijuana use disorder, call our helpline at 888-646-0635Who Answers? to speak to a drug abuse counselor who can talk with you about your available treatment options.

In the meantime, take a look at the following behavioral treatments offered by inpatient and outpatient marijuana rehab facilities that can help set you on the path to recovery.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Skills learned in therapy help you avoid relapse after rehab.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) teaches you new problem-solving skills that help you change the way you think in regards to marijuana use. In most cases, you’ll learn how to identify mental and behavioral triggers that influence you to use marijuana. For example, if you normally use marijuana when you’re feeling bored, CBT can help you think about other activities you can do instead of resorting to marijuana use.

The skills you learn during the course of CBT are also effective at helping you avoid relapse following treatment.

Motivational Enhancement Therapy

Motivational enhancement therapy (MET) is a counseling treatment that helps motivate you to stop using marijuana on your own terms, versus using medications or other step-by-step recovery methods. During MET sessions, you’ll discuss your reasons for using marijuana in the first place, which can help uncover and identify the root cause of marijuana use disorder.

You should consider MET if you’re still feeling uncertain about quitting even after seeking treatment. MET can help steer you toward a solution based on your own motivation to quit.

Contingency Management

Contingency management (CM) uses a reward system to reinforce abstinence from marijuana and other substances. Under a CM program, you’ll take regular drug tests to prove that you’ve stopped using marijuana. With every consecutive drug test that comes back negative for marijuana, you’ll receive vouchers that can eventually be redeemed for prizes such as restaurant gift cards or movie tickets.

CM programs can help motivate you to stop using marijuana, and encourage you to perform better in all other aspects of your life to earn other types of rewards. For example, CM programs can motivate you to perform better at work so you can earn raises or promotions.

Combining Behavioral Treatment with Medication

In addition to undergoing behavioral treatments, you might be prescribed one or more medications that can help curb marijuana cravings, or reduce symptoms of marijuana withdrawal. In most cases, medications are prescribed to recovering marijuana addicts who  stay at inpatient rehab centers. At this time, there are no known medications that can treat marijuana use disorder directly.

What Changes Does Marijuana Make to Your Brain and Can a Rehab Center Reverse Them?

Common medications prescribed to help reduce marijuana use include:

• Bupropion: an antidepressant that helps reduce symptoms associated with quitting marijuana, including cravings and other withdrawal symptoms.
• Divalproex: an anticonvulsant normally used to treat epilepsy that can help reduce marijuana cravings.
• Naltrexone: a medication that can help reduce marijuana use.
• Nefazodone: an antidepressant that can help lessen withdrawal symptoms caused by quitting marijuana.
• Orally administered THC: synthetic THC that helps reduce withdrawal symptoms associated with quitting marijuana.

Alternately, your physician may prescribe medications that help induce sleep, since insomnia is a common side effect of ceasing marijuana use. Examples of medications that help promote sleep are zolpidem, buspirone, and gabapentin.

Fortunately, the staff at marijuana rehab centers can create a customized treatment plan that works best for you, based on your personal needs. To determine which treatment method will work best at helping you overcome marijuana addiction, call our helpline at 888-646-0635Who Answers? to speak to a drug abuse counselor. Our staff is available 24/7 to help you find local marijuana rehab centers that can help you overcome marijuana dependency.