The marijuana available today is many times more potent than the pot of the 60s and 70s. Gone are the days when marijuana was considered to be a relatively harmless drug. Marijuana has properties that are unusual for a substance of abuse, especially concerning how it functions in the human brain. While most mood-altering substances produce their high in the limbic brain (the part of the brain that produces feelings, emotions and moods) pot works primarily in the cerebral cortex, a part of the brain devoted to cognitive functioning, thinking, reasoning and planning. Marijuana produces its high by interfering with the way our brain processes information. This is why heavy users of marijuana can suffer from disorganized thinking, poor motivation, suspiciousness and memory problems.
In Cottonwood’s behavioral health and addiction rehab, a person who was a heavy user of pot may not at first be able to handle therapeutic activities that involve a lot of reading and writing. They may also feel overwhelmed in activities that have too much sound and movement. Our treatment team understands the neurobiology of marijuana addiction, and we tailor therapeutic activities to meet the specific abilities and limitations of our pot-abusing patients.
Addictions to substances like marijuana often exist in tandem with co-occurring mood disorders like anxiety and depression, or with other addictions. Learn more about Cottonwood’s addiction rehab and commitment to identifying co-occurring disorders.
