How Can You Help Someone Overcome a Marijuana Addiction?

Question by Charlie: How can you help someone overcome a marijuana addiction?
My friend just wrote me this huge email about how she’s become totally addicted to marijuana… I was shocked because I knew she smoked but not like that O_O Anyways I really dont know what to say to her… any tips for like people she can call (like the kids help phone) or steps to take?
thank you!!! =|

Best answer:

Answer by Meru
addiction and marijuana ( never thought I would hear that in the same sentence..)

just stop …flat out quit. Its not that hard lol..

now if only I could conquer cigarettes…that’s a real addiction there.

None the less, here are the numbers and names of hot lines she can call:

Drug & Alcohol Treatment Referral National Hotline: 1-800-662-4357

National Helplines: 1-800-HELP-111

Narcotics Anonymous, World Service Line: (818) 773-9999

Add your own answer in the comments!

 


 

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7 Responses to How Can You Help Someone Overcome a Marijuana Addiction?

  • BABBA says:

    Weed is not addictive! But needing the high can be. Tell her to smoke less and less of it each day. Till the point she doestnt need it.

  • Christy -AM VT- says:

    Marijuana is not a chemically addictive drug. She just wants to sound “cool.”

  • Gladiator says:

    If it was Cocaine or Heroin, I would say seek rehab, but it’s Marijuana. She just needs her ass kicked.

  • Katyru says:

    Technically, marijuana has no addictive agent in it. What’s she addicted to is the relax and calm state she is in when sh’s high. Maybe if you help her get that relaxation with out drugs, she’ll be able to quit.

  • chinnu says:

    the best thing is do watevr it takes 2 stay away frm addiction of any sort… 4 ur friend i ve an idea…. getting rid of addiction is a pain takin and time takin…
    first way is 2 put her in a room for sumdays… she may get wild…
    bt don tak it into consider… no one shud get inside… watch her… overtime she wud subside…
    aftr tat…. mak her join the army… wer u r put into tuff situations ….
    u tents 2 4get the addiction…
    try it out…

  • Crafty says:

    I quit the habit 3 months ago and to stay clean, I
    -avoid people, places and things associated with it
    -Share with others, open up a line of communication with those who have been there before or someone who is willing to listen, like a friend.
    -Take it one day at a time
    -Make a conscious effort to engage in activities that normally you would not think about doing
    -Take up a hobby
    -Take up physical exercise

  • erika says:

    There is no physical evidence that marijuana is physically addictive (experiencing physical disturbance or pain as withdrawal symptoms). But marijuana definitely has the potential to be psychologically addictive.

    Here are some addictive qualities of marijuana:
    -reduced anxiety
    -reduced physical pain
    -ability to sleep
    -food tastes delicious
    -overall lift in general mood

    These qualities are all VERY mild, and should pose no immediate risk to your friend. Marijuana is a very gentle drug that tends to offer more relief than it does to problems. Thirteen states in the U.S. have recognized this, legalizing the use of medical marijuana for patients whose symptoms can be best treated through the use of cannabis. Are there additional factors that make you worry about your friend that leads you to want to obtain help for her?

    Here are some questions you should consider asking your friend:

    -Does her pot smoking habit affect her life in negative ways? (isolating from family, friends, and peers? fails to complete homework or tasks? functioning well below the level of her ability?)
    -What are the things she enjoys about smoking? things she does not enjoy, if any?
    -Can she afford her habit?
    -Does she understand that smoking marijuana is ILLEGAL in the United States, and still classified as a Schedule I drug, regardless of all of the research done to prove otherwise?

    As long as you and your friend feel that her use of marijuana is not affecting her in negative ways, and that she fully understands the risks she is taking by continuing to use marijuana, the two of you should not be worried in my opinion.

    Has your friend considered the idea that maybe she is using marijuana in order to self-medicate? Ask your friend if her continued use is caused by some sort of underlying factor (both physical and emotional). Treating these underlying factors may be able to help your friend control her impulses to use marijuana better. Marijuana can work wonders to treat a huge range of symptoms from chronic pain to nausea to mental disorders. See if there is something your friend is trying to heal through the use of marijuana, and if there is, try to find alternative solutions besides marijuana use. But sometimes, marijuana can be the best treatment possible, which is why many states in the U.S. allow patients access to medical marijuana.

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