Weed Addiction Help

Marijuana Addiction Treatment and Recovery Resources at Icarus New Mexico

Those looking for weed addiction help in New Mexico, especially in the state’s vast rural communities, may find limited treatment options. Since the first licensed recreational sales became legal in 2022, marijuana use has spread due to its easy access; however, the number of places offering drug addiction treatment for marijuana has not kept up with that expansion.

Icarus New Mexico is a JCAHO-certified drug addiction center, providing evidence-based treatment for marijuana and other addictive substances. We also provide complete mental health services, addressing the underlying causes of chronic marijuana use.

If you found this page because you or a loved one is struggling with marijuana addiction, treatment is possible. We invite you to continue reading to understand the warning signs of Cannabis Use Disorder and how our treatment facility can help end marijuana addiction and restore personal relationships.

Cannabis Use Disorder Is a Diagnosed Condition

Clinical evidence and multiple studies have proven that Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD), which some people may call Marijuana Use Disorder (MUD), is not a bad life choice. Rather, it is a diagnosable condition, with specific, diagnosable aspects listed in the American Psychological Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual.

Substance addictions require professional care and a supportive network, just like any other chronic illness. Legalized marijuana has provided quick, easy access to marijuana products, making it similar to an alcohol or nicotine addiction. Just because it’s on the shelves at a local store does not mean that marijuana use is free of all risks.

Cannabis Addiction Is on the Rise in New Mexico

Lawmakers in the Land of Enchantment made medical marijuana legal in 2007, which still meant strict controls – smoking marijuana was not as simple as walking into a vape shop and purchasing a product.

Today, marijuana users can find cannabis products in many easily consumed forms:

• Marijuana smoking products and accessories
• Vaping cartridges
• Edibles, including gummies or baked goods
• Topical lotions or ointments to apply to the skin.

Making marijuana use a legal recreational activity in 2021 changed the landscape from medical marijuana only. Since recreational legalization, the cannabis market has racked up over $1 billion in sales in the first 2 years after approving recreational marijuana sales. The federal government has not legalized marijuana use.

The Data Suggests a Need for Evidence-Based Treatment Programs

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which published the Behavioral Health Barometer: New Mexico, provides us with some interesting data that shows the prevalence of marijuana use in the state:

• Youth Use of Marijuana: About 6.6% of teens aged 12 to 17 reported marijuana use within the past month. That adds up to approximately 11,000 adolescents engaged in illicit substance abuse – the law states that recreational marijuana consumption is legal only for adults over 21. The legal and health consequences for youth could be damaging into adulthood.
• Adult Marijuana Consumption: Approximately 15.9% of adults over age 18 reported past-month marijuana use. That number translates to roughly 260,000 people using marijuana during that month.
• Marijuana Rehab Programs: Marijuana addiction treatment accounted for 13.8% of all drug abuse admissions in New Mexico.

Although smoking marijuana is legal in NM, this research suggests that those using and other family members will continue seeking treatment programs.

How Weed Affects the Brain

Marijuana leaves and buds come from the cannabis sativa plant, which contains chemical compounds called cannabinoids. THC is the most psychoactive compound of the cannabis plant and is responsible for the “high” that so many marijuana users enjoy.

The compounds interact with the central nervous system and may negatively affect memory, coordination, and decision-making. The slower cognition is what makes driving or operating equipment while using marijuana unsafe.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) warns that chronic use or high doses of cannabis can lead to dependency. They note that while marijuana abuse may not directly cause users to escalate to “harder” drugs, it can make changes in the brain’s chemistry that make someone have a greater disposition to developing behavioral health issues.

The Known Health Risks of Long-term Marijuana Abuse

Those who use marijuana regularly (like other drugs, legal or otherwise) are at an increased risk of developing other physical and mental health conditions.

Cognitive Impairment

Using weed long-term can impact one’s memory, learning, attention, and ability to make good decisions. This potential health impact is of great concern in adolescents, who are still developing brain cells and function.

Mental Illnesses May Develop

Recreational smoking can escalate to Cannabis Use Disorder. As with all substance use disorders, using marijuana can also indicate a dual diagnosis, or underlying mental health disorder, to treat along with the CUD.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that besides developing substance abuse issues, marijuana addiction may contribute to anxiety, depression, psychosis or schizophrenia, especially in people with certain factors.

Respiratory Problems and Lung Infections

Marijuana smoke can damage the throat and lung tissues. The damage and inflammation that result make the person more susceptible to infections like chronic bronchitis or more frequent cold-like symptoms. Another potential negative consequence is developing throat cancer.

Immune System Deficiencies

Smoking can cause immune system impairments due to long-term marijuana abuse, especially with significant use. That can mean the body is less able to fight infections, making the person more likely to develop certain viral and bacterial infections until cessation of cannabis use occurs.

Get to Know the Physical and Mental Symptoms of Marijuana Use Disorder

If you are unsure whether you or a loved one has developed a Marijuana Use Disorder, look for these symptoms:

Physical Symptoms of Marijuana Addiction

• Increased tolerance, or needing higher doses to get high
• Cannabis withdrawal symptoms develop when one is unable to use it
• Fatigue or lack of energy
• Chronic coughing or breathing issues
• Sleep disturbances

Psychological Symptoms of Marijuana Abuse

• Craving marijuana
• Feeling panic or anxiety when they can’t smoke
• Inability to reduce or stop marijuana abuse
• Anxiety, irritability, mood swings
• Difficulty remembering things or focusing
• Worsening depression or other mental illnesses
• Psychosis (severe cases of marijuana addiction)

Many start smoking marijuana recreationally, thinking that the sale of weed in stores makes it safe. However, marijuana addiction can develop in some people within a few months, having a negative impact on the person’s life.

Health Insurance Offsets Marijuana Rehab Costs

Don’t let the fear of cost hold you back from seeking marijuana addiction treatment programs to get well again. Icarus New Mexico is in-network with some of the most popular insurance plans and some forms of New Mexico Medicaid and Turquoise Care plans.

Talk to our admissions staff for guidance – it’s always free and confidential. We can help you get approvals for the following medically necessary services:

• Marijuana withdrawal treatment
• Individual therapy
• Family and group therapy sessions
• Inpatient rehab or outpatient treatment options
• Planning to prevent relapse in ongoing recovery

Your sobriety is important to us. We’ll reach out to your insurance company to take care of these details for you.

Finding the Best Marijuana Addiction Treatment Center

Seeking treatment for a marijuana use disorder takes courage. But you might still wonder how to find the best mental health professionals to address your specific needs. Here are some considerations:

Inpatient Treatment for Marijuana Use

Inpatient treatment for marijuana addiction is less common than with other substance abuse. However, the highly structured environment and around-the-clock nature of inpatient facilities can be necessary for those who have developed psychosis. It’s also a placement for those with severe root causes of addiction.

Outpatient Treatment Programs for Cannabis Use Disorder

Most who are struggling with a marijuana addiction opt for our outpatient treatment options. These provide intensive counseling and supportive services with greater flexibility.

Those who want to come to Icarus from outside of Albuquerque, or even out of state, can come to treatment during the day and stay at a sober living facility when not attending therapy.

Medically Supervised Detox Manages Withdrawal Symptoms

Detox is a critical time, representing an enormous first step in ending a marijuana addiction. However, seeking professional detox care is vital to ensure your well-being during this treatment stage.

As the body metabolizes and eliminates the marijuana from your system, your brain starts to take note and sound the alarm bells to the rest of your body. It recognizes it needs more marijuana and becomes distressed, triggering withdrawal symptoms.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse names the following as possible marijuana withdrawal symptoms:

• Irritability
• Anger or aggression
• Feeling anxious or nervous
• Restlessness
• Decrease in appetite; weight loss
• Depression
• Insomnia
• Strange, unsettling dreams
• Headaches
• Sweating
• Abdominal pain
• Tremors

The addiction treatment professionals at Icarus New Mexico will consult with the clinician for a prescription to calm these symptoms, should you be in danger or extreme discomfort.

Resolving the Underlying Causes of Marijuana Addiction

Effective addiction treatment means identifying the root causes that led to a marijuana use problem. In many cases, people start smoking weed to self-medicate an underlying problem. That can mean using marijuana to cope with untreated trauma or to remove the pain of major depression.

You’ll hear our treatment professionals refer to the presence of two conditions – the marijuana addiction treatment and a second disorder – as a dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorders. When this happens, we provide treatment for both conditions simultaneously.

Psychological and Behavioral Therapy to Change Negative Thought Patterns

Icarus New Mexico clients work with therapists to identify triggers of drug abuse and address them head-on. You’ll do much of the hard work in individual therapy, which can include multiple treatment methods:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Dialectical behavior therapy
• Motivational enhancement therapy
• Narrative therapy

You may also work in group therapy sessions or with peer support groups as part of your treatment plan. Group therapy is excellent for practicing coping skills that will continue to support sobriety after leaving the treatment center.

Get Effective Substance Abuse Treatment at Icarus New Mexico

Call Icarus New Mexico if you’re ready for safe, effective marijuana addiction treatment options. We will help you from start to finish. From the moment you arrive and start a medical detox to the day you walk away from our center with your aftercare plan in hand, we will be at your side.

Our goal is always to help you renew your self-confidence and prepare you for a fresh start.

Call our admissions team today to learn how you can get started. All calls are confidential, so please don’t hesitate, reach out for help to put down weed for the long haul, today.