- Do I Need Marijuana Rehab? Is There Marijuana Treatment?
- What To Expect From Marijuana Rehabilitation?
- How Long Does Rehab Take?
- Types of Rehab
- Paying For Marijuana Rehab
- What Happens After Rehab?
- How To Pick a Top Marijuana Rehab?
What is Marijuana? Is Marijuana Addictive?
Rehabilitation programs have evolved over the years, both to accommodate new addictions and to incorporate various new psychosocial therapies as they've been created (such as contingency management and cognitive-behavioral therapy).
Because of the complexity of addiction and potential for relapse following treatment, rehab programs are usually recommended to achieve a comprehensive treatment approach to your addiction, with the ultimate goal of abstinence.

Do I Need Marijuana Rehab? Is There Marijuana Treatment?
Marijuana addiction is a little bit unique, in that the ability to become psychologically and physiologically dependent on marijuana is a rather new idea. For years, marijuana use was considered completely voluntary until the present day researchers concluded that it could, in fact, result in addiction. Now, marijuana addicts are encouraged to seek treatment just as frequently as those addicted to other substances.
There are some indicators that may support rehab over outpatient/at-home detox and treatment attempts:
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- If you have unsuccessfully tried to stop using marijuana in the past, or your attempt at treatment has resulted in relapse, then you may be a good candidate for rehab.
- If you have a low level of motivation to stop using marijuana or a poor support system at home, you may be more likely to achieve abstinence without relapse by attending rehab.
- Abuse of multiple substances also indicates that rehab may be the best treatment option.
- Medical complications are another reason that would lead you to seek rehab, as supervision by trained medical professionals is a part of the program.
- Not only do the medical care staff ensure your safety during detox, but they also deal with any medical complications that arise.
- This includes medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and epilepsy, as well as mental health conditions, such as anxiety, bipolar disorder, and depression.
Rehab provides you the comforting company of others who are also going through the same struggles. Trained professionals also support you through the rehab process by helping you manage withdrawal symptoms and providing medical support.
What To Expect From Marijuana Rehabilitation?
Intake
Upon arrival at a marijuana rehab facility, the first step will be an admission, complete with a comprehensive physical exam and medical history (including substance abuse history).
Please be honest during this exam, as it will only help your health care team with your treatment during the detox part of rehab.
Detox
After intake, the next step in most rehab programs is detox from marijuana. Detox is the process by which the body rids itself of all traces of the marijuana.
Sometimes, depending upon the severity of dependence on marijuana, withdrawal symptoms will occur during detox from the drug. These symptoms, while unpleasant to say the least, are not life-threatening.
The primary symptom of marijuana withdrawal is insomnia, which may be treated during rehab using medications to help the patient sleep. Remember, medications such as these should only be used in the short-term to relieve symptoms of marijuana withdrawal.
Other withdrawal symptoms include:
- Depression.
- Nightmares.
- Anxiety.
- Headaches.
- Night sweats.
Again, one of the benefits of going into rehab is getting constant medical oversight and intervention from the medical staff when symptoms such as these occur.
Medications
There are currently no evidence-based medication interventions to treat marijuana dependence.
Cannabis Intoxication
No medication has been approved to treat the psychological and behavioral symptoms of cannabis intoxication syndrome.
Severe symptoms like psychosis, panic or extreme anxiety can be treated with a benzodiazepine or antipsychotic medication. The antagonist rimonabant had shown promise in blocking marijuana's subjective and physiological effects, but has been discontinued due to severe psychiatric side effects like depression and suicidal ideation.
Cannabis Withdrawal
Cannabis withdrawal syndrome may begin within the first week of abstinence and take a few weeks to subside. Main symptoms include:
- Anxiety.
- GI distress.
- Irritability.
- Disturbed sleep pattern.
- Depression.
- Decreased appetite.
- Restlessness.
A few medications have shown promising results in treatment. Oral THC (dronabinol) has been effective at reducing marijuana withdrawal symptoms in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
It has been extensively studied and its clinical effectiveness is demonstrated in the reduction of withdrawal, immediate effects of smoked cannabis and reduced relapse rates.
Comorbid Mood Disorder
Marijuana users suffer from mood disturbances, particularly depression, so antidepressant medications have been studied for promoting abstinence in this subset of users.
The antidepressant fluoxetine has shown reduced cannabis use amongst depressed patients in a few studies, but more research is needed to fully understand the abstinence potential of this medication.
Counseling
After detox, counseling can begin to help get to the cause of your addiction and help you change your life for the better.
Treatments that have shown particular efficacy for marijuana addiction include cognitive behavioral therapy, contingency management, and motivational enhancement therapy.
A combination of contingency management with motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral therapy has been particularly effective in reducing relapse, promoting abstinence and increasing treatment retention.
The effectiveness of contingency management may be based on an increase in self-efficacy whereby individuals realize that they are able to stay abstinent, and this increases the chance of future abstinence.
How Long Does Rehab Take?
The length of time spent in rehab varies between programs, and also depends upon the severity of your addiction. Generally, programs are no shorter than 30 days but can last as long as 12 months.
Each program length has advantages and disadvantages.

- For example, the 30-day programs are long enough to facilitate detox and a short course of psychosocial treatments, but you can return to your normal life and work in a timely fashion.
- The medium length programs (60-90 days) have more time built in for learning life skills and applying what you have learned from the psychosocial treatment sessions but are more costly than 30-day programs.
- Lastly, those programs lasting several months to 1 year are considered therapeutic communities.
- You live and work with your fellow patients, completing intensive psychosocial treatments as well as 12-step programs.
- Some patients may return to their existing jobs while others learn new job skills during rehab.
Types of Rehab
There are 3 different tiers of rehab programs: residential, private/luxury, and executive. These options vary based on:
- Cost.
- Amenities.
- Patient demographic.

Paying For Marijuana Rehab
Residential rehab can be very expensive. However, there are low-cost and free treatment options that you can explore:

- Some community health departments offer free medical care, and may cover the costs of marijuana detox.
- Also, many colleges and universities with psychology programs offer free counseling--you may have to speak with a student in training (under the direction of a licensed counselor).
- Asking family members for help with the financial burden of marijuana rehab may also be an option, but this should be evaluated on an individual basis.
- Do not harm your relationship with your family if you believe that asking for financial support will not be well received.
- For those with severe marijuana addiction, and for whom rehab is a requirement to get back on track, selling assets may be an option to pay for rehab.
- Just keep in mind that when you are discharged from rehab, you will need a place to live to get back on your feet.
- You may also be able to qualify for a public loan or an employer's assistance program to help pay for rehab.
Does Insurance Cover Marijuana Rehab?
Marijuana rehab coverage varies by insurance company.
- Many companies cover costs associated with marijuana detox, but not prolonged inpatient/residential rehab.
- Other insurance companies cover marijuana rehab for a certain number of days.
If you have any questions about what your particular insurance carrier covers, give them a call and ask for an explanation of those benefits. Also, not all rehab centers accept insurance.Once you've contacted your insurance company, don't forget to ask the rehab center if they accept your insurance.
Sometimes, rehab centers will offer financing or a special payment plan to help with the financial burden of residential rehab. Inquire about these options when you call your rehab center of choice.
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- You may receive treatment at one of our facilities at a reduced rate.
- Though not required, entering your policy membership ID will help expedite your verification process.
What Happens After Rehab?
After rehab, one of a few different things can happen.
- If you have a stable home environment with supportive family and friends, then you may be advised to return home and begin either searching for a job or return to work if your employer held your job while in rehab.
- If you do not have a good home environment to return to, then a halfway house may be recommended (as in halfway between rehab and home).
- Other recovering substance abusers that are going through the same life struggles, such as making amends with family and friends, job searching, and integrating back into society after rehab typically inhabit halfway houses.
- However, halfway house residents may relapse, and you must keep this in mind when selecting this route of housing after rehab.
- For all recovering marijuana abusers, continued counseling and psychosocial therapy is strongly recommended (and, depending upon the circumstances that lead up to rehab, may be court-mandated).
- These services can be sought on an outpatient basis, and may include a Marijuana Anonymous group as well as counseling with a licensed therapist.
How To Pick a Top Marijuana Rehab?
To choose a marijuana rehab center that fits your needs, you must decide on a few things prior to searching.
- First and most importantly, the cost must be assessed.
- Then you must decide how long you want to stay (or need to stay) in rehab to achieve your goals of abstinence and recovery.
- Finally, you must decide what types of amenities you want at your rehab center.
- For example, some rehab centers allow you to work during the day and return at night.
- Others provide job training and life skills during residential rehab.
- Make sure to ask if the treatment is individualized to your needs.
- Will the psychiatric, social and emotional problems be addressed?
- What is the success rate of the facility?
- What types of relapse prevention strategies are administered?
