Marijuana use may lead to a substance use disorder, and is very similar to other substance use disorders, but with less severe side effects. Studies have shown that adults who use marijuana everyday for 10 years have attempted quitting more than 6 times. Psychiatric disorders have shown to be prominent in adolescents and adults who use marijuana. There is also a chance that they may be addicted to other substances such as cocaine or alcohol. Available studies indicate that therapy and behavioral treatments for mental health disorders may help in preventing marijuana use, especially for those individuals with more chronic mental health disorders. Here are some therapies that have shown to be effective in treating marijuana use disorders:
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy- A form of psychotherapy that teaches people strategies to identify and correct problematic behaviors in order to enhance self-control, stop drug use, and address a range of other problems that often co-occur with them.
- Contingency Management- A therapeutic management approach based on frequent monitoring of the target behavior and the provision (or removal) of tangible, positive rewards when the target behavior occurs (or does not).
- Motivational Enhancement Therapy- A systematic form of intervention designed to produce rapid, internally motivated change; the therapy does not attempt to treat the person, but rather mobilize his or her own internal resources for change and engagement in treatment.
