Cannabis Rehab:
How our therapy can help your recovery from cannabis addiction
Getting help with your cannabis addiction, or the cannabis addiction of a friend or family member, can seem like a big step. But it doesn’t have to be a frightening prospect.
Our highly-qualified team have years of experience of providing effective therapeutic support and cannabis addiction rehabilitation to people with a history of substance misuse.
We’ve compiled this guide to help you understand the risks of cannabis use, and to show you how Parkland Place can help.
What is cannabis addiction?
Cannabis (also known as marijuana) is a naturally occurring substance – made from the cannabis plant, and frequently available in herb or resin form. The main active chemical in cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol (otherwise known as THC).
THC affects the function of the brain and can alter the way users see, hear or feel about otherwise everyday things. Side effects can include hallucinations, and there is strong evidence to suggest that the strongest skunk cannabis is linked to serious mental health conditions like psychosis.
Cannabis is addictive, promotes cravings, and can created dependency. Many people across the UK struggle with addiction to cannabis.
Am I smoking too much cannabis?
Common signs and symptoms of cannabis misuse include:
- continuing to use cannabis even after previous negative experience
- being unable to stop or reduce cannabis use
- using cannabis in dangerous situations, such as before driving a car
- excessive sleepiness
- increased appetite
- irritability and excessive mood swings
- difficulty in concentrating
Cannabis can have very real, harmful effects on your mind and body and can create long-term health problems.
Risks of cannabis addiction
Short-term
Short-term risks of cannabis misuse include:
- temporary memory loss
- lack of coordination
- changes in mood
- difficulties thinking and problem-solving
- frightening and potentially dangerous hallucinations
- lack of motivation
- disturbed sleeping patterns
All of these risks may put the user at greater secondary risk of injury or accident.
Long-term
Long-term risks of cannabis misuse include:
- feeling anxious, depressed, paranoid or even aggressive
- increased heart rate
- changes to your blood pressure, which can be especially harmful for those with heart disease or a history of heart conditions
- regular cannabis misuse is associated with later developing psychotic illnesses including schizophrenia
By mixing cannabis with tobacco users also expose themselves to other risks, including everything from coughs and chest infections to cancer or heart disease.
Getting help for cannabis addiction
You may have realised that you aren’t in full control of your drug use and that it’s causing problems. It could be a lack of money, strained friendships, broken relationships, losing a job, or getting arrested.
If you’re concerned about your drug use, or that of a friend or family member, a good first step is to visit your GP. They will be able to discuss the services and treatments available.
One sign of addiction is that you have tried to cut down or stop but can’t. If cannabis is damaging your relationships, work, money situation or health you can get help to stop.
Rehab for cannabis addiction
How cannabis addiction is treated depends on your individual circumstances and how much you’re using, but options include:
- counselling– including self-help groups and talking therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
- detoxification – this involves a nurse or doctor supporting you to safely stop using cannabis; this can be done by helping you slowly cut down over time or by giving you medicines to prevent withdrawal symptoms.
Withdrawing from cannabis is likely to cause temporary withdrawal symptoms. These may include:
- irritability and mood changes
- nausea
- loss of appetite
- difficulty sleeping
- sweating
- shaking
- diarrhoea
All these symptoms will be actively managed during your detox, with the help of additional medication where appropriate, to ensure you remain safe and to reduce discomfort as much as possible.
Detoxification is usually followed by a period of rehabilitation and recovery, to include a therapeutic programme like the one we offer at Parkland Place. Our approach has proven to be effective in the treatment of cannabis addiction.
Your treatment at Parkland Place
Parkland Place offers unrivalled therapy for people with experience of alcohol addiction, drug addiction, gambling addiction and other harmful behavioural conditions – in the comfort of a stunning, 16-bed mansion and gardens near the coast in beautiful North Wales. The house is situated amidst farmland owned by the National Trust, and offers a welcoming and comfortable haven for your journey of recovery.
Our therapeutic programme is tailored to the needs of each of our guests, and is delivered by friendly, expert staff. This truly bespoke approach allows us to address the social and psychological needs underpinning your addiction, and support you as you make key lifestyle changes.
Guests at Parkland Place are required to be, and to remain, abstinent during their stay with us. Many of our guests require structured medical detoxification before beginning their recovery journey. We offer no-fuss access to our own dedicated detox clinic at Salus Withnell Hall – including transfers – to ensure a seamless therapeutic experience.
> Learn more about our approach