A detox program is aimed at bringing drug intoxication and withdrawal under control. Detoxification is mainly concerned with the physical effects of using drugs. Cannabis, or marijuana treatment is concerned with the psychological and behavioral aspects of long-term cannabis use and dependency. Rehabilitation is a long-term goal where the intention is to stop using the substance altogether and completely overhaul an individual’s social life and improve their career prospects.
The Source
Marijuana comes from the leaves and female flowers of the Cannabis sativa plant. The plant is dried and either smoked, baked into brownies, drunk in the form of tea or absorbed into oils. Thousands of years ago, it was used in religious practices. Today, it is more often used in a social ritual for recreational purposes. It is widely regarded by experts as the least damaging and the most commonly abused illicit drug on earth. It did not become criminalized until early in the Twentieth Century.
The Intake
Used socially, it is mainly rolled in cigarette papers to make ‘joints’. The customary ritual is to light up a joint, inhale and pass it on to the next smoker in the group. The smoke induces a feeling of calmness and euphoria. The senses are heightened and everything looks, feels and sounds more intense while high.
The Results
The passage of time becomes distorted. Users can feel that a few minutes last for up to an hour. They also report symptoms like ‘munchies’ and ‘cotton mouth’. More conventionally, these sensations are called hunger and thirst.
Social Aspect
Watching television or listening to music are common social practices that involve cannabis. It is not unusual to send someone out on a mission to bring back drinks and snacks to counter the effects of cottonmouth and the munchies. This may involve going to the supermarket or raiding a fast food place. Some people become paranoid in the company of non-users when they are under the influence of cannabis. These are unsuitable candidates for the munchies run. Although the symptoms wear off after a few hours of use, the drug can remain in the system and detectable in urine for several weeks.
Potency
The cannabis in use today is far stronger than what the baby boomer generation used to smoke in their youth. Modern strains are known as ‘skunk’. Growers have purposely bred these higher strength varieties for the past thirty years. This is borne out by higher rates of seizures of the higher potency stuff while seizures of the lower strength varieties are on the decrease.
Dependence
Contrary to popular folklore, it is possible to become dependent on cannabis. A state of dependency is defined to be reached when it takes increasingly more amounts of the drug to achieve the same state of well-being or when its use interferes with the users job or relationships. More people enroll in heroin drug detoxification programs for cannabis than for any other drug, including crack, cocaine and heroin.
