Management of Marijuana Withdrawal

DolceVita, ADN, BSN, RN · Mar 21, 2010

Um...who is this for? You or a patient/school project?

TriniStudentNurse · Mar 21, 2010

This is for a school project...I have to a paper on marijuana and its effects on the growing family and how to manage the withdrawals

AirforceRN, RN · Mar 21, 2010

As far as I know, marijuana is not physically addictive so withdrawls are a psychological issue. You aren't going to get the sweats, DTs or other things that you would expect to see with alcohol and opiates.

Support and counseling would by my treatment of choice

Sendana · Mar 22, 2010

Did one of your instructors watch Reefer Madness or something?

elkpark · Mar 22, 2010

Did one of your instructors watch Reefer Madness or something?

:lol2: That was my first thought, too! Marijuana withdrawal???

THC addiction is psychological (at most), not physiological. There's no generally recognized physiological withdrawal syndrome (or established treatment protocol). Someone who was really struggling with cravings and laying off the weed might benefit from attending AA or NA groups ...

Peanutter1 · Mar 23, 2010

Seriously, you have to write about withdrawl? There are no actual withdrawl symptoms. If I HAD to write about this topic, I would probably go in the direction of anxiety. Those who are used to being stoned all the time and suddenly stop being stoned all the time might have some anxiety. Other than that, there really aren't withdrawl symptoms to be managed. As mentioned in previous posts, counseling and support???

thinwildmercury · Mar 23, 2010

there are no physiological effects i can think of, since marijuana is not physically addictive. i think, more than anything, people would just have to deal with whatever they were trying to cover up with mj-(loneliness, heartache, boredom, physical pain, thing like that). maybe people who smoke frequently would imagine they were having withdrawals?

livetoserve · Mar 23, 2010

from the book "Addiction why can't they just stop?" Hofman, Froemke 2007

withdrawal symptoms - cravings, irritability, insomnia, anxiety

There are no medications avaialable to treat marijuana addiction. Behavioral treatments are the most effective.

motivational enhancement therapy, contingency management/ community-based incentives, family involvement.

RedhairedNurse, BSN, RN · Apr 2, 2010

Marijuana doesn't cause withdrawals at all. Believe me, I had my share of smoking that stuff in my younger days. Quit, no problem. Not to say that I didn't still want it. But no withdrawals like there are quitting opiates, benzos, herion, etc.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Apr 2, 2010

Don't know if this information is too late for the OP, but here are two books to try:

The Substance Abuse Handbook (Ruiz, Strain, Langrod)

Principles of Addiction Meidcine (Ries)