Marijuana edibles are becoming increasingly commonplace in the United States. The use of edibles among teens is of particular concern. If your teenage boy is struggling with a marijuana addiction, call Foothills at Red Oak Recovery by calling 866.300.5275.
We look forward to talking to you about our teen marijuana abuse treatment programs.
What to Know About Marijuana Edibles
Curious about marijuana edibles? Here are a few of the top things you should know:
1. Edibles Come in Many Forms
So what are edibles, exactly? Marijuana edibles are foods, such as candies, cookies, or gummies, that contain THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. Eating these foods can have all the same effects as smoking marijuana does, including:
- Increased appetite
- Relaxation
- A sense of euphoria
- Paranoia
- Distorted perceptions of time
The most common marijuana edibles are baked goods and candies. Visually, these edibles are indistinguishable from their non-intoxicating counterparts. They are made by either cooking marijuana into butter or infusing THC oils into candy products.
2. Marijuana Edibles Can be Highly Potent
What are edibles’ potencies compared to other forms of marijuana? Marijuana edibles come in a wide range of strengths. While some edibles can come in low doses, others can have excessively high levels of THC. High-potency edibles can contain amounts of THC that could never be ingested by smoking marijuana.
3. Marijuana Edibles Can Be Addictive
One of the most apparent side effects of marijuana edibles is their potential to be addictive. The myth that marijuana isn’t addictive continues to be widespread, despite decades of science proving the contrary. This belief holds particularly true for edibles, as many people see them as less harmful than other forms of marijuana.
Yet high-potency edibles may be even more addictive than other forms of marijuana. Research has shown that the dose of an addictive substance is highly correlated with the future development of a substance use disorder. The higher the dose, the more likely a person is to become addicted.
People can eat a high quantity of marijuana edibles and ingest incredibly high levels of THC, which could make marijuana edibles one of the most addictive forms of the drug.
4. Edibles Can Lead to Severe Withdrawal Symptoms
There is another myth about marijuana that continues to be pervasive: there are no withdrawal symptoms from marijuana addiction. This isn’t the case, and high-potency edibles often lead to severe withdrawal symptoms.
People withdrawing from marijuana may experience the following:
- Anxiety
- Paranoia
- Depression
- Lack of motivation
- Fatigue
- Confusion
As with many other substances, the more a person uses marijuana edibles, the more likely they will experience withdrawal symptoms
5. Edible Addiction Treatment Can Help
Marijuana addiction can be devastating. It can lead to a wide range of physical and psychological consequences and severe problems in one’s social and academic life. Thankfully, edible addiction treatment is an effective way of helping people overcome marijuana addiction and achieve recovery.
Effective Treatment Options
Marijuana addiction treatment for teens focuses on helping clients overcome withdrawal symptoms, learn the tools to resist future relapse, and build healthy and productive lives in recovery.
Anyone can recover by using evidence-based strategies, such as individual therapy, mental health treatment, peer-to-peer support groups, and relapse prevention programs.
Marijuana Addiction Treatment for Teens at Foothills at Red Oak Recovery
Edible addiction can have serious consequences—particularly if it is left untreated. But teenagers can recover, provided they get the help they need from the addiction experts at Foothills at Red Oak Recovery.
Our adolescent treatment center is dedicated to helping teenage boys overcome their substance use disorders and learn the tools of recovery that can last a lifetime. If your teenage boy is struggling with marijuana addiction, reach out to the team at Foothills at Red Oak Recovery by calling 866.300.5275.
