Alcoholism is a common problem in our society and one that impairs the lives of thousands of people. Many people are looking for ways out of their addiction and wondering if medical marijuana might help them with alcoholism or not. Unfortunately despite the availability of different western drugs and treatments, many people can’t get over their addiction.
Alcoholism is a condition where people feel the need to drink alcohol on a daily basis. One of the key defining features of addiction is that the person finds it impossible to stop.
They can’t imagine a day passing by without any alcohol. People suffering from alcoholism encounter many problems in their daily lives. As with any addiction, alcoholism will affect a person’s ability to succeed in his or her career and their ability to maintain normal and healthy relationships.
Western Medicine Approach to Alcoholism
The Western approach to alcoholism relies on the use of several types of drugs that have different mechanisms of action. The first step, however, is to detox and get the alcohol out of the person’s system.
Detoxification can be very difficult to go through and may lead to nervousness, shakiness, and even seizures. The higher a person’s consumption of alcohol, the more difficult the detoxification process will be.
Unfortunately, it will most likely take several days for the detoxification process to be complete. It won’t be easy and it will certainly take more than two days. It can take between three to six days for your body to rid itself of alcohol and its remnants.
It’ll be like going over a hill. The beginning will be relatively easy but halfway through the process, the symptoms of withdrawal will be at their peak. Once you’re over the hump, things will get easier and your body will start feeling normal again as you get over the aches and pain.
Three Main Drugs Used by Western Medicine for Alcoholism
1. The first is Disulfiram. Disulfiram is a drug that patients take after detoxing. Its role is to take away all the pleasure that patients find in drinking. If you drink while on Disulfiram, you will throw up and feel nauseous rather than enjoy the good feelings you usually get when you drink.
2. Naltrexone is another drug that blocks the high people experience from drinking but is not associated with nausea like disulfiram.
3. Acamprosate is the third drug and its purpose in alcoholism is to block cravings so people are less inclined to go back to drinking.
Holistic Treatments for Alcoholism
Alcoholics Anonymous or AA meetings are very effective and commonly used in helping alcoholics recover from their alcoholism. The sense of community and talking about common struggles helps recovering alcoholics overcome their addiction.
It’s helpful to talk to people that know what you’re going through. Additionally, AA meetings contain people at different stages of recovery.
A person that only decided to overcome their alcoholism last week will hear the stories of people that quit months ago and others that are only a few weeks into recovery. He or she will hear about the problems they faced and how they dealt with them and learn from these stories.
Meditation and keeping yourself busy with yoga and other activities is also recommended with any addiction. Unfortunately, these methods aren’t very effective on their own but are useful in combination with others.
Medical Marijuana and CBD Oil in Treating Alcoholism
Marijuana has a number of pros and cons in treating alcoholism.
1. The first pro is that consuming medical marijuana is considerably less risky than many abused substances, including alcohol. As of today, according to CDC, there are no records of death as a result of only overdosing marijuana.
Overdosing on alcohol or drinking frequently can lead to death and problems like liver failure. While marijuana also has an impact on overall health, this is considered harm reduction as it is safer than alcohol.
Medical marijuana also has health benefits like alleviating pain, helping people sleep, and potentially treating a number of health conditions. Alcohol, on the other hand, doesn’t have any beneficial effects on health.
2. That is not to say that marijuana is without cons. Some experts worry about marijuana dependence where patients go from relying on using alcohol to using marijuana on a daily basis.
Another concern is that marijuana might end up being a gateway drug as patients go from using it to using other drugs like cocaine or opioids.
Finally, marijuana isn’t without side effects. It can have long term consequences on the lungs and bone density. It can also exacerbate a number of health conditions like depression or other forms of mental disorders.
To find the best method of marijuana administration in alcoholism, you should talk to your doctor or addiction specialist. The dose will also need to be set by a professional to make sure you get enough to make you feel better but not too much that it has side effects.
3. CBD is an alternative to marijuana if medical marijuana is not legal in your state. It can be used in various forms but is most commonly found in vapes and is inhaled. CBD oil can be purchased online but make sure you buy from a trusted source that has credentials as many online retailers provide cheated products that aren’t effective.
Summary
The first step to overcoming alcoholism is to admit that there’s a problem. The best next step is to join an AA meeting and talk to an addiction professional about the best way to overcome the obstacles that you’ll face.
If you want to attempt to try medical marijuana or CBD oil in overcoming your alcoholism, you should talk to a professional about the pros and cons as well as the possible doses and forms of administration.
- Red Vein Kratom Powder Vs CBD: Which Is A Better Choice? - December 18, 2023
- How CBD E-Liquids Are Making an Impact For Anxiety - November 27, 2023
- The 3 Mistakes To Avoid When Using Medical Marijuana - August 14, 2023
