Marijuana Addiction - Counselling and Treatment
Marijuana is the name given to the flowers of the cannabis plant which contain the drug THC (tetrehydrocannabinol) which is a hallucinogenic. In South Africa it is often called "dagga", "ganja" or 'weed" and the high achieved from smoking it is called being "stoned". Marijuana addiction is increasing globally as smoking the substance is frequently mistaken for using the "least harmful drug".
The flowers of the cannabis plant are dried, picked from the stems and crushed into small pieces. These are smoked in rolling paper shaped into the form of a cigarette called a 'joint' or smoked in a pipe. Another popular way of consuming the drug is through ingestion as an ingredient in food or drink, namely cakes, muffins, biscuits, brownies and boiled in hot water to make tea. The drug is also available in a resin form known as hashish or as a compressed powder known as pollen.
Marijuana induces euphoria, distortion of the senses and comprehension of time and space. The drug also causes relaxation, hallucinations, paranoia, increased appetite (known as the "munchies"), a dry mouth and lethargy.
Many teenagers use marijuana and the drug has developed a subculture of users known as "stoners". Many high school, college and university students smoke the drug every day and are stoned continuously.
Medical cannabis is used by professionals to help with pain treatment, especially those suffering from cancer.
It is widely unknown that marijuana is one of the best hallucinogenic drugs available. Marijuana addiction and chronic use often results in extreme psychosis due to the permanent changes it causes in the brain. Many chronic users are medicated for schizophrenic symptoms and other psychotic characteristics and may struggle for a long period of time to begin a normal life again.
Those seeking abstinence from marijuana addiction can seek treatment at a registered rehabilitation centre in South Africa. These offer drug treatment facilities for addicts to help them to stop using the drug and return to normal life without marijuana. Drug addiction counselling is an integral part of recovery, as is the application of a 12 Step recovery programme and adopting a healthy lifestyle.
If you have an addiction problem and are seeking help, call Oasis drug and alcohol Counselling Centre in Plettenberg Bay today to speak with one of our qualified addiction counsellors and find out more information about admission to rehab.
