Marijuana is addictive, and your teen may suffer withdrawal symptoms if they attempt to stop using it. As such, it is highly recommended to seek assistance from adolescent marijuana treatment centers in Los Angeles rather than quitting abruptly at home.
These centers treat teens with withdrawal symptoms and know how to keep their patients from relapsing. However, before contacting a marijuana addiction treatment center, here are some facts about the withdrawal timeline that may help you understand your child’s situation better.
How to Spot Marijuana Withdrawal in Teens
When someone consumes marijuana frequently, their brain starts to build a tolerance to it. The more they use it, the more reliant they become. If they stop using it, their brain needs to adapt, and they will experience unpleasant sensations. These withdrawal symptoms can be so uncomfortable that some individuals opt to use marijuana again to seek relief. Symptoms of teen marijuana withdrawal may include:
- A decline in appetite that may or may not be linked to considerable weight loss.
- Mood swings.
- Frustration, anger, impatience, or aggression.
- Strong feelings of worry or anxiousness.
- Insomnia and other sleep disorders, leading to poor sleep quality.
- Headaches.
- The onset of depressive symptoms.
- Lack of focus or concentration.
- Marijuana cravings.
- Cold sweating.
- Chills, shakiness, or tremors.
- Stomach issues, abdominal pain, and vomiting.
The Withdrawal Timeline: How Long Does it Last?
It takes time and patience to fully detox from marijuana. According to Live Science, while marijuana’s early effects should go away after three hours, the cannabinoids remain in the system for a much longer period. Heavy marijuana users might need up to three months to fully cleanse their drug residue buildup.
Marijuana withdrawal is not believed to be life-threatening, but the discomfort and anxiety may result in poor judgment, risk-taking, and even suicidal thoughts. As a result, it is highly recommended — especially for chronic users — to stop using marijuana under the care and supervision of a substance addiction expert.
Prescription anti-anxiety medicines can be administered in a supervised clinical environment to reduce the discomfort of the marijuana withdrawal process. In most cases, the substance is excreted entirely within 30 days, with withdrawal lasting no more than three weeks, or possibly less.
- First Week
The first week marks the onset of withdrawal symptoms mentioned above. During this stage, your teen may experience frequent vomiting, extreme headaches, and loss of appetite, causing them to experience disruptions during their sleep.
- Second Week
The symptoms experienced before will worsen during this period. However, after the tenth day of quitting marijuana, your teen may experience that the withdrawal effects start to diminish. They may feel better during the last days of the second week. In some cases, the substance can no longer affect the behavioral and cognitive processes in the body.
- Third Week
During this stage, some teens may enter the treatment procedure itself, like individual or group therapies. However, if their substance use was severe, the withdrawal symptoms may last longer. Fortunately, the third week of withdrawal is not as harsh as the first two weeks. Your teen may experience a steady decline in the severity of symptoms. After this final week, your teen should be ready to enter a treatment program specifically tailored according to their needs.
What Can You Do About It?
Be aware that the chances of relapsing are significantly reduced after undergoing medical detox. A user should be under medical supervision during the withdrawal process to ensure that any issues or co-occurring disorders are appropriately handled. While some people experience marijuana withdrawal symptoms in an outpatient setting, those who are under constant monitoring have a higher probability of success. In Los Angeles, numerous marijuana treatment centers are available for teens that are proven to reduce withdrawal symptoms and contribute to the overall recovery from substance addiction.
Outpatient treatment is ideal for people with less severe cases of marijuana addiction, while inpatient treatment is best suited for chronic drug users. Outpatient programs are for those who need expert support but prefer to stay at home throughout therapy. Meanwhile, inpatient programs offer a higher level of care in a controlled and monitored setting, allowing individuals to concentrate exclusively on their rehabilitation. Whatever the case may be, talk to your child about going to a teen marijuana addiction treatment center so they can enjoy a wholesome, sober life.