Is Marijuana a Gateway Drug?

In the United States, more and more states are starting to legalize the use of marijuana. This plant has medicinal properties for people with certain ailments, but people also ask, “Is marijuana a gateway drug?” It’s not an uncommon question and has been present in most discussions about the usefulness and dangers of marijuana. Almost any substance can be abused and result in adverse side-effects. Marijuana is not physically addictive, but it can have a serious impact on young people’s mental and physical development. For this reason, marijuana has been strictly regulated. By bringing the drug into the realm of official regulation, the concerns that getting and using it may expose individuals to other more dangerous and illicit drugs is greatly reduced. Still, individuals can abuse the substance, and when they do, they need professional support to help them recover.

The team at Beaches Recovery understands the nuances of marijuana abuse and can help individuals struggling with their use of the substance.

Is Marijuana a Gateway Drug if Used for Medicinal Purposes?

Using marijuana can help those going through cancer treatment, chronic pain, or dealing with a loss of appetite. The human brain is constantly thinking and trying to problem solve, and it can use medications for that problem-solving. While a person may start using marijuana for medical needs, it can be abused like any medication. The use of marijuana can become a psychological crutch or process addiction where an individual is unable to control their use. When this occurs, individuals need professional help to examine the mental health issues contributing to their excessive use.

Some of the therapeutic approaches Beaches Recovery offers includes:

• Individual therapy
• Group therapy
• Family therapy
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy
• Dialectical behavior therapy
• Mindfulness training
• Yoga therapy

these are just a few of the therapies we offer across all our treatment programs.

Is Marijuana a Gateway Drug for Young People?

As a parent, it’s extremely difficult to know the best way to prevent your child from using drugs. Recent studies show that most teenagers use marijuana as young as 14 or 15 years old. While some people believe that this is normal behavior for young people, it can become a problem. Young people are more prone to abusing different substances because of some of the following reasons:

• Issues with impulse control
• Poor coping skills
• Symptoms of mental illness
• High amounts of stress
• Peer pressure

What eventually happens is a teen may begin turning to marijuana to deal with one of these issues. Therefore, young people must get proper exposure to mental health support so they can maintain positive mental health. Just as the body needs exercise and a healthy diet, the mind needs attention and work to stay healthy. Often, when individuals have mood disorders like depression or anxiety, they turn to substances to self-medicate. This is dangerous because it does nothing to heal the underlying mental health issue and puts the individual at a greater risk of developing a substance use disorder. When this occurs, dual diagnosis treatment is the best course of action to recover and heal both conditions.

Getting Help for a Marijuana Addiction

Although marijuana reacts differently in the body, it can become highly addictive based on compulsive use. Addiction is when a person continues to abuse a substance even though he or she has negative consequences. For some people, this gateway drug has already progressed into an addiction to another substance. No matter what the substance of choice, Beaches Recovery can help you or a loved one.

Beaches Recovery is a drug and alcohol addiction treatment program located in Jacksonville, Florida. We have a 30-bed facility, and we provide residential treatment, an outpatient program, and a family program. We also work with different insurance policies. Call us if marijuana or any other drug is causing chaos in your life. We can help. Call 866.605.0532, or contact us online.