Detoxing from weed, or any chemical substance, is the first step towards recovery from addiction. It is the process of abstaining from marijuana use until all the toxins have exited the body. Although it sounds relatively simple, marijuana detox is difficult because of the painful withdrawal symptoms it causes. These symptoms often compel the addict to continue taking the drug to relieve themselves of the discomfort.
While you may undergo detox from marijuana on your own, there are many methods of detox that can make it easier for you. If you are using weed and are considering doing a marijuana cleanse, read on. In this article, Avenues Recovery, leaders in the world of addiction rehabilitation, uncover how to detox from weed, how long it will take, and the best methods to ensure a successful detox with utmost comfort.
Why is Marijuana Detox Difficult?
Detoxing from weed is difficult because after prolonged marijuana use the body becomes physically and psychologically dependent on the drug. This causes real distress when abstaining.
Marijuana is a naturally- growing substance. THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), is the main psychoactive ingredient of marijuana and is responsible for producing the ‘high’ feeling after consuming weed.
When the body becomes dependent on THC, it cannot function optimally without it. As soon as a user quits marijuana, the body has to adjust to functioning without THC, in a process known as weed withdrawal.
The symptoms of weed withdrawal include:
- Anxiety
- Restlessness
- Irritability
- Excessive sweating
- Chills
- Insomnia
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Fever
- Dehydration
- Abdominal pain
How To Detox from Weed
The best option for detox is to enroll in a detox program at a rehab center, hospital, or other medical establishment that specializes in drug detox. In a medical facility, patients receive the support they need as well as the medical supervision to undergo detox and start the rehabilitation process. There are several reasons why detoxing at rehab is more effective:
- Detoxing on your own may seem like a great option because it’s free. The truth is, however, that it is incredibly hard to complete detox on your own. This is because addiction overpowers all rational thought and ethics, regardless of how strongly you want to quit.
- Additionally, your home environment, the place where you often use marijuana, may very well trigger you to continue using, interfering with the detoxification process. It is also important to consider that abstaining from marijuana and then relapsing is more dangerous than using marijuana all along.
- The physical dangers of detox from marijuana are not as severe as other drugs. Still, the patient must be monitored throughout the process to ensure that the vomiting doesn’t lead to dehydration, which can potentially be fatal.
- The psychological impact of detox, like depression and anxiety, is also difficult to manage on your own.
Tips for Detox From Weed
Whether you’re attempting to detox from weed on your own, or you decide to do it with the support and guidance of a professional medical facility, here are some pointers that can help you complete detox faster and with minimal discomfort:
- Stay hydrated - Drinking water is a great way to help flush toxins from the body. Drinking helps the chemicals exit the body faster, although drinking too much water isn’t effective.
- Exercise - Exercise triggers the release of endorphins and other feel-good hormones, which is a great way to get the pleasant feeling that addicts crave. It also assists the metabolism in processing the drug faster and helping it flush through the system.
- Pharmaceuticals - Some drugs can be taken to relieve anxiety, nausea, headaches, and other withdrawal symptoms. This makes the experience more comfortable, and prevents relapse before the detox process is complete.
- Hot baths - Taking a hot bath is healing for both the mind and body. It can relieve chills and other unpleasant side effects of withdrawal, as well as soothe turbulent emotions and difficult thoughts.
- Healthy diet - Keeping a healthy diet in recovery promotes overall well-being. Consuming foods like fibers, proteins, fruits, and vegetables helps the system work faster, ridding itself of the chemicals. In contrast, fatty, high-sodium foods help to store the drug in your body for longer.
Detox Kits for THC
If you have a drug test scheduled and are determined to test negative, detox kits can help you do a THC cleanse quickly. There are four different types of marijuana drug tests: saliva, urine, blood, and hair. Each type of test has a different time frame for how long after the last dose it will detect marijuana use.
The various rapid detox methods to pass a drug test include:
- Detox drinks- In the case of a urine drug test, there are drinks to detox from weed fast that can help remove traces of THC, which would otherwise show up in the urine. There are instructions on the package specifying when to take the drinks to ensure they work. This method is not necessarily effective for other forms of testing.
- Detox shampoo- Hair drug tests are the toughest- they show marijuana use for around a month after the last dose. Special weed detox shampoos can be used in advance to rid the hair follicles of all traces of THC.
- Detox pills- THC detox pills can work for urine, blood, and saliva drug tests. A certain number of pills must be consumed at specific times to work. They are mostly used for people who have a large amount of marijuana in their bodies.
If you have joined a medical detox program, check with the staff to ensure that your detox kit does not interfere with their treatment protocol.
How Long Does it Take to Detox From Weed?
Weed detox usually takes around 2 weeks, with the hardest days being days 2-3 after the last dose. The longest the withdrawal symptoms may persist is three weeks after starting the detox.
Medically-Assisted Marijuana Detox
As mentioned previously, the most effective, safe, and long-lasting method of detox is through a rehab center or other medical establishment. Especially if the addict is dealing with a co-occurring mental diagnosis like bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression, or schizophrenia, a dual-diagnosis medical detox program is crucial to ensure a safe detox that doesn’t exacerbate the mental health condition.
Some of the withdrawal symptoms during a THC body detox can cause emotional and physical distress, like anxiety, panic attacks, dehydration, tremors, and other effects. Staying in a medical facility allows you to be monitored throughout the process and ensures you get the hydration or medication you need to stay safe and minimize discomfort.
It is important to note that detox is not the same thing as recovery- it is a prerequisite to recovery. Detoxing allows you to clear your body of the drug and start focusing on long-term recovery. That’s why it’s advisable to complete medical detox in a center that can help you transition smoothly into active recovery, minimizing the risk of using again and relapsing after detox.
Marijuana Detox - Your Best Chance for Success
Living with marijuana addiction is tough. The thought of marijuana detox and becoming sober is overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone! Avenues Recovery Center is here to serve as a beacon of hope and direction in the confusion of addiction. Our top-of-the-line staff are experts in the field of addiction and will support and guide you every step of the way. We use a mix of traditional and holistic therapies as well as personalized treatment plans, to facilitate optimal success. We have helped thousands of people turn their lives around and we can help you too.
Contact Avenues Recovery today to discover a world of premier care and support and to take your first step toward the sober future you deserve.