Often, people think of marijuana as being harmless. However, while it’s legal in many states and doesn’t cause overdoses or other complications like hard drugs, it can still be psychologically addictive for some people. If you regularly abuse marijuana, you might feel as though you can’t function without it. Once you decide you’re ready for help, you may wonder if there’s an Alcoholics Anonymous version for marijuana. Marijuana Anonymous is available to help.
What is Marijuana Anonymous?
Marijuana Anonymous is a recovery program that is aimed at treating individuals who are addicted to marijuana. It uses the same methodology as Alcoholics Anonymous and includes the 12 steps toward recovery. Of course, because it involves treatment for marijuana abuse, it’s different from AA. However, it shares the same principles to help people who have addictions to marijuana to reclaim their sobriety and live a sober, healthy lifestyle.
How Can You Recognize You Have a Marijuana Addiction?
An addiction to marijuana is not something to simply be shrugged off. Abusing it can be just as harmful to your health as being a smoker or vaper of nicotine products. Often, it goes by a variety of other names like pot, weed, reefer and Mary Jane.
You might notice that you have an addiction if you find yourself constantly and habitually smoking marijuana. You may find yourself disregarding things that you once enjoyed and cared about, such as your studies, work, hobbies and even your romantic partner, friends and family members. With an addiction, you’ll go to great lengths to get hold of marijuana and forget about things and people that are important to you. It’s also common to make excuses for missing out on things, including obligations. Getting high is an addict’s biggest priority.
What are the Side Effects of Marijuana Abuse?
There are certain side effects that are common with marijuana abuse. An addiction can result in the following:
- Anxiety
- Brain damage
- Drowsiness
- Paranoia
- Premature aging
- Respiratory problems
Although most people wouldn’t think it, marijuana can cause cancer just like regular cigarettes. Sadly, many individuals with marijuana abuse disorders don’t realize that until they begin exhibiting respiratory issues. Continuing to smoke the drug can seriously damage your lungs and increase your risk of other lung diseases and disorders.
How Can Marijuana Anonymous Help?
Once you have realized that your marijuana habit isn’t just an occasional thing and that you are suffering from an abuse disorder, Marijuana Anonymous is there to help you. Although it can take a long time to recover, acknowledging that you have a problem and need help is the first step toward getting the help that you so desperately need.
Because an addiction to marijuana is complex and can be different for each person, the length of time treatment might take can vary. Marijuana has a particularly gripping effect on the brain due to its psychological effects. Even when a person wants help and knows they need it, they might find that their brain is wired to expect and desire marijuana. Once you are in recovery, your brain begins to rewire itself. However, this could take time and might even take years.
Marijuana Anonymous’ 12-step recovery program is similar to that of Alcoholics Anonymous. In other words, the program requires you to acknowledge your problem and that you were powerless over the drug, admit your wrongs and make amends to people you’ve wronged, have had a spiritual awakening and so forth.
Of course, just like Alcoholics Anonymous, Marijuana Anonymous is exactly that – anonymous. You may also choose to have a sponsor who can help you through your recovery. You also get the opportunity to speak freely with other people who are going through the same struggles as you. This helps you to have a sense of group support. Members of your group can share their own stories and you can find that you have the same experiences as well as the same goals, which can help aid your recovery. Support from your peers is essential when you’re getting help for a marijuana addiction or any other type of addiction.
If you’re in the Fort Lauderdale, Florida area and you have come to the realization that you can’t continue dealing with your addiction, now is the time to seek help. Call us to begin at 954-523-1167
.