Treat Drug Addiction by Using Medical Marijuana

Drug addiction continues to be a growing concern in the country, and while there are proven modes of treatment available, they don’t always work for everyone. Overcoming withdrawal symptoms can be a grueling and painful ordeal—and it can make some patients give up and fall back into their addiction. The use of medical marijuana for treating drug dependence may help change the picture. Many health experts are now administering Florida medical marijuana for patients undergoing drug addiction treatment for opiates, and the results are promising.

Opioids are narcotics that are taken as pain killers as they block the brain’s pain receptors, but too much can cause constipation, thought and memory problems, nausea and vomiting, and drowsiness. Even prescription opiates can be fatal when taken in huge amounts. Moreover, around five percent of people who take them as pain relievers become addicted after a year. Florida medical marijuana may be an effective solution for helping these patients overcome their addiction safely.

Marijuana has two active ingredients that can be beneficial for treating addiction to opiates. THC is the psychoactive ingredient that is typically responsible for feelings of being high, and CBD is the non-psychoactive ingredient that continues to be recognized for being effective for pain management in individuals who are addicted to opioids. Florida medical marijuana is an alternative to methadone detox that is administered in exclusive clinics. Methadone itself can risk addiction transference, overdose, and dependence. Medical marijuana has no side effects and is not addictive.

Studies have shown that medical cannabis has helped wean over 75 percent of patients off addictive drugs. Fatalities associated with opiate overdose have decreased in states where cannabis has been legalized for medical use. New evidence also shows that THC from Florida medical marijuana has helped individuals complete their drug addiction treatment, as they have suffered less from the withdrawal symptoms.