How to Stop Smoking Weed: Guide

It’s easy to start using marijuana – but ending this behavior can sometimes be much more difficult. Thankfully, there are many options for how to stop smoking weed. Evaluating these choices can help you find the strategies that work best for you.

Why is Quitting Weed a Good Idea?

You should never feel pressured to justify your desire to stop smoking weed, or to end your use of any other substance. The simple fact that you don’t want to engage in this behavior anymore should be enough of an explanation to anyone who asks why you’re taking this step.

But if you’re having second thoughts, it can be helpful to consider the many potential risks you may expose yourself to if you continue to smoke weed.

First, here are a few examples of the possible physical and psychological effects that can result from of chronic marijuana abuse:

• Cognitive deficiencies
• Memory problems
• Low motivation
• Cardiovascular damage
• Injuries due to impaired judgment and coordination

Long-term marijuana use can also cause cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, a health condition that is characterized by dehydration, extreme nausea, and vomiting.

Cannabis use has also been associated with certain mental health concerns, including depression and suicidal ideation. However, researchers have not yet established a definitive cause/effect relationship between marijuana and these problems. 

Also, ongoing marijuana abuse can also lead to the following problematic social outcomes:

• Falling behind in (or failing out of) school
• Losing your job and having difficulty finding another one
• Having financial problems
• Straining or ruining your relationships with friends or family members
• Being arrested, fined, and/or jailed (even if weed is legal in your state, you can still have problems if you drive while under the influence)

How to Stop Smoking Weed

If you have been researching how to stop smoking weed, you may have already discovered that there’s no single “perfect” way to do so. Advice that works well for one person may be completely inadequate for someone else. 

With that in mind, here are some tips that may be valuable for you:

• Find productive ways to fill your day. One of the many challenges of ending any type of substance abuse is deciding what to do with the hours you used to spend under the influence. Boredom can push you back into active use, so it can be beneficial to find an enjoyable, healthy activity for your newfound free time. 
• Talk to your loved ones. Close friends and trusted family members can be vital sources of both support and accountability. Along with boredom, isolation can also be an obstacle on your path toward a drug-free future. Staying connected with people who care about you can help you resist any urges to resume your marijuana use.
• Identify your triggers. Some people turn to marijuana as a way to manage stress or deal with setbacks. Others use the substance to calm down in the aftermath of conflicts. When you’re aware of the circumstances or experiences that prompt you to use marijuana, you can either avoid them or develop healthier response strategies.
• Get professional help. If you have been using marijuana to self-medicate a mental health concern, or if you have become addicted to the drug, you may need more help than your loved ones can provide. Don’t ever be ashamed about talking to a therapist or counselor, or enrolling in an addiction treatment program. These steps demonstrate your courage and dedication, as well as your desire to do whatever it takes to achieve a healthier future.

Does Weed Rehab Exist?

Yes, there is such a thing as weed rehab.

If you haven’t been able to stop smoking weed on your own, you may have developed cannabis use disorder, which is the clinical term for marijuana addiction.  

Marijuana may not pose the same risk of addiction that substances such as alcohol, benzodiazepines, or opioids do, but – contrary to a persistent myth – you can become dependent on it. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, experts estimate that 10%-30% of people who use marijuana develop an addiction.

If you have become addicted to marijuana, weed rehab may be the ideal choice.

How Does Rehab for Weed Work?

Rehab for weed works just like treatment for other forms of addiction do. 

Personalization is an essential feature of effective care for substance use disorders, so one person’s experience may differ considerably from someone else’s. In general, though, the following are common features of weed rehab:

• Assessment: Prior to starting treatment, you should complete a thorough intake assessment. This process ensures that your treatment team understands the full scope of your needs.
• Personalized treatment plan: Your team should use the information that they gathered during your assessment to select the programs, therapies, and services that are best for you.
• Levels of care: Weed rehab can involve multiple levels of care, including detoxification, residential rehab, a partial hospitalization program (PHP), and/or an intensive outpatient program (IOP). Some people spend time at multiple levels, while others enter and exit treatment at the same level. There’s no right or wrong path – what matters most is finding the path that’s right for you.
• Types of treatment: The types of treatment that you receive can be influenced by several factors, including the parameters of the program you’re in and how you have been affected by marijuana addiction. Common therapies and support services in weed rehab include individual, group, and family therapy; cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT); dialectical behavior therapy (DBT); holistic therapies; and experiential therapies.
• Discharge planning: Before you transition out of treatment, your team should provide you with a plan to guide your continued progress. This plan may include information about professional resources, peer support groups, and other services that can help you maintain your recovery.

Contact Los Angeles Detox About Our Weed Rehab Center in California

Los Angeles Detox is a trusted source of life-affirming support for people who have become dependent upon marijuana and other addictive substances. 

When you contact our marijuana addiction treatment center in Los Angeles, we can connect you with personalized services across a full continuum of care. This includes detox, residential, outpatient, and online options. In every program and at every level of care, you can expect to receive focused treatment from a team of highly skilled and deeply compassionate professionals.

To learn more or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Contact page or call us today.