Marijuana Addiction Treatment in Florida: Empathetic Solutions for Sustained Recovery
INTRO
If you or a loved one uses marijuana daily and has trouble quitting, you likely began recreationally, but now your marijuana use has overtaken your work, relationships and emotional well-being. Marijuana addiction is a legitimate concern, and the mental health implications of marijuana can be dramatic, especially for individuals experiencing other mental health challenges.
At Agape Behavioral Health, we deliver empathetic marijuana addiction treatment in Florida based on established methods and practices. We will help address any underlying causes of marijuana usage, provide you with healthy options for managing stressful events, and to establish a solid base for long term sustained recovery.
KEY POINTS
- According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), marijuana use disorder is considered a clinical condition and can be effectively treated using evidence-based treatments such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET).
- Although not fatal, marijuana withdrawal symptoms can uncomfortable and emotionally distressing enough to discourage some people from attempting to quit. Having professional assistance when attempting to quit is recommended.
- Dual diagnosis treatment is critical for treating co-occurring mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, etc., that are common among individuals seeking treatment for marijuana addiction.
- With the proper individually-tailored treatment plan, ongoing support and a team of dedicated professionals caring about your overall well-being, achieving long-term recovery is possible.
What is Marijuana?
Marijuana is a psychoactive material made from the leaves, flowers, and stems of the cannabis sativa plant. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the principal psychoactive chemical in marijuana that creates the “high” associated with marijuana consumption. THC works by binding to cannabinoid receptors located in the brain that affect mood, perception, memory and coordination. Cannabinoids like cannabidiol (CBD) exist in cannabis too; however, CBD is non-intoxicating.
There are numerous ways to consume marijuana, including smoking it in rolled cigarette or pipe form, vaping, eating edible forms of marijuana, or applying topical creams/lotions containing cannabis oil concentrates. The method of delivery directly influences how fast THC gets absorbed into the bloodstream and how potent or intense the user experiences the effects of marijuana to be. Vaporized/smoked marijuana typically delivers effects in a matter of minutes, whereas edible cannabis products can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours before effects occur and can lead to unintentionally consuming excessive amounts.
In 2021, marijuana was the most commonly used federally illegal drug in America, with an estimated 52.5 million people using it at least once that year.[1] Although many states have progressed towards permitting recreational or medicinal marijuana use, the risks associated with developing a marijuana use disorder and the potential adverse impacts on physical and mental health remain regardless of state laws.
Learning More About Marijuana Use Disorder and Marijuana Abuse
Marijuana use disorder, otherwise called cannabis addiction, occurs when an individual cannot stop consuming marijuana despite serious problems in their life caused by marijuana use. The DSM-5 characterizes marijuana use disorder as a “pattern of cannabis use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress.”[2]
According to NIDA, nearly nine percent of those individuals who have ever smoked marijuana become dependent; this percentage increases to almost seventeen percent for adolescents who begin using marijuana.[3] As a result of prolonged exposure to THC, regular/heavy marijuana smokers will experience adaptations in the brain’s response to THC over time. In many cases, these adaptations require heavier doses of THC to elicit similar feelings of euphoria, a key indicator of increased tolerance and dependence.
Signs of Marijuana Dependence and Abuse
Because marijuana use continues to be socially accepted in modern culture, determining whether an individual is abusing or misusing marijuana can be difficult. However, there are common signs of substance abuse that indicate an individual may have developed a problem with marijuana use:
- Consuming larger quantities/for longer durations than originally intended
- Wanting to decrease/reduce use but being unable to do so
- Spending large portions of time getting, using, or consuming drugs
- Feeling strong cravings to use drugs
- Continuing to use drugs even though they are creating or have created problems for relationships with family and friends or at work or school
- Abandoning important leisure, social, or occupational activities due to drug use
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when stopping or lessening drug intake
When you recognize a few of these indicators in yourself or a loved one, contacting a facility offering marijuana addiction treatment such as Agape could be a positive step toward regaining your wellness.
Marijuana Withdrawal: What Should You Anticipate?
One explanation for many individuals’ difficulty with quitting independently is the discomfort experienced with withdrawal from marijuana. Although marijuana withdrawal itself is not life-threatening as it can be with alcohol or benzodiazepines, it causes genuine and often uncomfortable symptoms that hinder attempts to discontinue use.[4] Some examples of typical withdrawal symptoms from marijuana include:
- Anger, irritability, or frustration
- Anxiousness or restlessness
- Difficulty sleeping, vivid or distressing dreams
- Loss of appetite or weight loss
- Sad mood or depression
- Physical tension, sweating, or chills
Withdrawal symptoms usually appear within 24–72 hours after cessation of marijuana use and generally last 7–14 days, although some people report more extensive psychological symptoms.
The Relationship Between Marijuana Usage & Mental Health
Another fundamental reason to obtain professional assistance for a substance abuse issue (versus relying solely upon self-help strategies) is the relationship between marijuana misuse and mental health issues. Studies show that there is a bi-directional relationship between them: prior mental illness has been shown to contribute to higher rates of heavy substance use, and heavy substance use contributes to worsening or debuting additional mental health concerns.[5]
Particularly concerning are high potency THC-containing products that have been linked to increasing numbers of anxiety-related disorders, depressive disorders, and psychotic episodes (in susceptible populations).[6]
Marijuana Addiction Treatment at Agape Behavioral Health
Agape Behavioral Health believes that true healing begins with feeling truly understood, accepted, and cared about. We do not believe in “one size fits all” treatment plans.
Rather, each individual receiving care at Agape receives a custom-designed treatment plan from a multidisciplinary team of trained and qualified therapists, clinicians, and wellness experts, each focused on supporting your total wellness in recovery. Some of the evidence-based treatments we offer include:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the most researched empirically supported therapies for treating cannabis use disorder. CBT helps clients become aware of the thoughts, emotions, and events that lead to cannabis-using behaviors and replaces those behaviors with healthier alternatives to help manage stressors in patients’ lives.
Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET)
Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) is another empirically supported therapy that enhances an individual’s intrinsic motivation for changing their behavior, something that is especially helpful for those individuals who struggle with ambivalence regarding cessation of marijuana use.
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Marijuana Addiction Treatment in Florida
Is marijuana actually an addicting drug?
Yes. Marijuana use disorder is a medically recognized problem. Approximately nine percent of users develop a dependence on marijuana (that number jumps to approximately seventeen percent when usage begins during adolescence).[7] Prolonged exposure to THC creates long-lasting alterations in the brain’s reward system, leading to compulsive marijuana usage and difficulty stopping even after experiencing significant negative consequences.[8]
What kind of things would I go through in a marijuana rehabilitation center?
The majority of marijuana rehabs provide clients with a personalized clinical evaluation and then proceed to combine evidence-based psychotherapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy and group therapy along with holistic well-being services. The type of care you receive could vary depending on the extent of care you require. The primary focus of treatment is to treat the underlying reasons why someone develops marijuana dependency, create effective coping mechanisms, manage any co-occurring mental illness, and establish a viable long-term strategy for recovery.
How long will marijuana addiction treatment last?
There is no predetermined amount of time that an individual has to spend in a treatment program for marijuana addiction. Instead, the duration of treatment is largely dependent on several factors such as the clinical needs of the client, the severity of the client’s marijuana use disorder, and whether or not the client has a co-occurring mental illness that requires simultaneous treatment. Most effective treatment plans span at least 30 days, with ongoing aftercare spanning several months or more.
Can I receive help for both marijuana addiction and a mental health issue at the same time?
Of course. There are treatment programs specifically designed to address both marijuana addiction and co-occurring mental health issues simultaneously. At Agape Behavioral Health, we have extensive experience providing dual-diagnosis treatment to individuals struggling with both addiction and mental illness, and we recognize that genuine and sustained recovery cannot occur without addressing both equally.
Sources
[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025, February 28). Cannabis facts and stats. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.cdc.gov/cannabis/data-research/facts-stats/index.html
[2] American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., text rev.; DSM-5-TR). American Psychiatric Publishing. https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/practice/dsm
[3] [4] [5] [6] [7] National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2024). Cannabis (marijuana) drug facts. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/cannabis-marijuana
[8] Hines, L. A., Freeman, T. P., Gage, S. H., Zammit, S., Hickman, M., Cannon, M., & Macleod, J. (Updated annually). Cannabis use disorder. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538131/
