Marijuana - Cannabis Addiction and Treatment in Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess Counties, NY

Marijuana is a drug that millions of Americans use on a daily basis. Marijuana use can lead to addiction in some who abuse this mood-altering chemical and cause severe life disruptions. Often, these individuals think this drug is harmless because it’s now legal and tends to minimize their addiction. Call Stress Free Counseling for a free consultation. Chris Colasuonno, LCSW-R, MBA, CASAC, has treated numerous clients with cannabis addiction and specializes insubstance abuse education.

But there are real risks for people who use marijuana, especially youth and young adults, and pregnant or nursing women. Today’s marijuana is stronger than ever before. People can and do become addicted to marijuana.

Approximately 1 in 10 people who use marijuana will become addicted. When they start before age 18, the rate of addiction rises to 1 in 6.

Marijuana Risks: Marijuana use can have negative and long-term effects:

Brain Health: Marijuana can cause permanent IQ loss of as much as 8 points when people start using it at a young age. These IQ points do not come back, even after quitting marijuana.

Mental Health: Studies link marijuana use to depression, anxiety, suicide planning, and psychotic episodes. It is not known, however, if marijuana use is the cause of these conditions.

Athletic Performance: Research shows that marijuana affects timing, movement, and coordination, which can harm athletic performance.

Driving: People who drive under the influence of marijuana can experience dangerous effects: slower reactions, lane weaving, decreased coordination, and difficulty reacting to signals and sounds on the road.

Baby’s Health and Development: Marijuana use during pregnancy may cause fetal growth restriction, premature birth, stillbirth, and problems with brain development, resulting in hyperactivity and poor cognitive function. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and other chemicals from marijuana can also be passed from a mother to her baby through breast milk, further impacting a child’s healthy development.

Daily Life: Using marijuana can affect performance and how well people do in life. Research shows that people who use marijuana are more likely to have relationship problems, worse educational outcomes, lower career achievement, and reduced life satisfaction.

Symptoms of Marijuana Use and Withdrawal: When cannabis develops into a problem, this is known as a marijuana use disorder, which takes the form of addiction. Often when a person uses, they abuse more and more of the drug to get high. In the beginning, it might have been one joint; now, it’s smoking every hour. This is a partial list of symptoms of use and withdrawal.

Stress Free Counseling—Chris Colasuonno, LCSW-R, MBA, CASAC—has treated numerous clients addicted to cannabis and other drugs. In general, it helps to have an experienced clinician who has treated individuals and can communicate with them. Often, the addicted person minimizes, blames, deflects, and denies they have any problem. There are different levels of addictions where most are functional addicts but might get lucky that a consequence has not happened yet. For example, a person might be driving when stoned and never get arrested for driving under the influence. This “luck” or, for whatever reason, this consequence has not found them yet can appear that the person is doing better than they are. Chris utilizes a partnering cognitive behavioral approach that works well with most clients who enjoy working with him. The goal is not to label a person negatively but to show them from a strengths-based approach there can be a problem with help available. Contact Stress Free Counseling for a free consultation.

Proudly offering counseling and therapy in all areas of Westchester County, Putnam County, and Dutchess County, including the following communities – Somers, Yorktown Heights, Granite Springs, Crompond, Shenorock, Lincolndale, Adams Corners, Garrison, Bedford, Katonah, Cortlandt Manor, Mohegan Lake, Brewster, Armonk, Bedford Hills, North Salem, Mahopac, Mt. Kisco, Scarsdale, South Salem, White Plains, Poughkeepsie, Wappingers Falls, Carmel, Pleasantville, Peekskill, Croton-on-Hudson, Rye, Harrison, Yonkers, New Rochelle, Mamaroneck, Larchmont, Purchase, Chappaqua, Briarcliff Manor, Millwood, Mahopac Falls, Baldwin Place, Hawthorne, Elmsford, Valhalla, New Castle, Putnam Valley, Philipstown, Kent, and Southeast.