According to Addiction Science and Clinical Practice, marijuana is the most widely used illicit substance in the United States. Approximately 4 percent of Americans have experienced addiction to the drug at some point in their lives. The Mayo Clinic indicates there are several options for overcoming addiction to drugs such as marijuana. Depending on the severity of addiction, different program options may offer help for withdrawal, abstinence and long-term relapse prevention. Marijuana addiction treatment is available on an inpatient or outpatient basis, and recovery support meetings are available as well.
Cognitive Behavioral Treatment
The National Institute on Drug Abuse recognizes the use of cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT as an effective intervention for the treatment of marijuana addiction. CBT is a structured and brief intervention designed to help an addicted person recognize the maladaptive thoughts associated with feelings and behaviors that prompt marijuana use. CBT treatment is typically less than 16 weeks of individual counseling sessions, including an initial in-depth evaluation of a marijuana user's daily habits and history of use. CBT sessions are timed, and specific goals are set for each session to prompt learning skills for sustaining abstinence, dealing with life stress and preventing relapse. The intended goal of CBT is full abstinence from marijuana use and continued focus on managing the thoughts that may lead to unhealthy coping by using marijuana.
Group Treatment
Structured psychoeducational groups are a long-term approach to treating marijuana addiction. The initial stage of the group process is a focus on marijuana education, and participants later develop an understanding of how to prevent marijuana use by building coping skills. According to the Mayo Clinic, groups may be conducted on an inpatient or outpatient level to facilitate learning and recovery. Group treatment combines cognitive behavioral techniques and solutions-oriented skills focusing on what participants can do to improve success with recovery. Peer support is important in the group process to promote honest feedback from group members and accountability for choices.
Twelve-step support meetings such as Marijuana Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous are also forms of group treatment for recovery. Support meetings are ongoing and may be a beneficial supplement after the completion of a structured treatment program.
Specialized Counseling
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has developed a specialized treatment protocol for people with marijuana addiction who are less successful in traditional substance abuse programs. The specialized treatment, called brief marijuana dependence counseling or BMDC, is an integrative 10-week program designed to help people who may be treatment resistant. BMDC involves a thorough assessment of the addiction and how it impacts all life areas. BMDC is a combination of CBT, motivational enhancement and case management. This program strongly encourages individuals with marijuana addiction to take accountability for choices regarding marijuana use. The initial treatment goal is not forced abstinence but rather making better choices toward overall life change. This treatment is available on an inpatient or outpatient basis with trained substance abuse professionals.
References
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Brief Marijuana Dependence Counseling
- National Institute on Drug Abuse: Combination Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Incentives Enhance Treatment for Marijuana Addiction
- Mayo Clinic: Drug Addiction Treatment
- "Addiction Science and Clinical Practice"; Marijuana Depedence and Its Treatment; 2007
