Should You Quit Weed Cold Turkey? What Are the Effects?
Weed—also known as marijuana—is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). In a typical month, 22.2 million people use the drug at least once.
Since many states have declared the drug legal for adult recreational use, many people assume that the drug cannot cause harm. Unfortunately, some people discover how addictive weed can be when they attempt to quit “cold turkey.”
What Is Cold Turkey?
Research suggests that the term “cold turkey” has been associated with the cessation of drugs because a turkey’s skin, with its bumps for feathers, is similar in appearance to the goosebumps people may experience when they stop using heroin. In time, the term has expanded to refer to the abrupt cessation of almost anything, not just heroin.
For some people, cold-turkey cessation is the most effective way to achieve and sustain sobriety. But quitting certain substances, such as alcohol or benzodiazepines, cold turkey can cause dangerous symptoms.
Fortunately, marijuana withdrawal symptoms are not physically dangerous like some other drugs.
Side Effects of Quitting Weed Cold-Turkey
Quitting weed immediately, or cold turkey, may result in a person experiencing withdrawal. Common weed withdrawal symptoms include:
- Irritability.
- Anxiety.
- Depression.
- Insomnia.
- Anorexia.
- Strong cravings for marijuana.
These are very real symptoms, and when they appear suddenly, they can be overwhelming. It is very difficult to move away from a drug people are accustomed to taking each day. Some people may relapse simply to avoid these symptoms.
Weed and Depression
Marijuana withdrawal symptoms like depression and anxiety are often linked to underlying mental health problems in people who smoke or consume weed. “Self-medicating” with drugs like marijuana is common and, sadly, drug use can exacerbate these psychological conditions.
Someone who has long been accustomed to using weed to mitigate their depression or anxiety might not have the tools to cope with these feelings while sober. The rebound of anxiety or depression after quitting weed can potentially lead to relapse.
Marijuana Withdrawal Timeline
What happens to your body when you stop smoking, or using, weed varies between people. People with a long history of use, and who use a significant amount of marijuana each day, experience withdrawal symptoms quicker than people with relatively new addictions spurred by smaller amounts of the drug.
In general, according to Psych Central, weed withdrawal symptoms develop within 24–72 hours after someone decides to quit weed cold turkey. Those symptoms grow in severity during the first 7 days, at which point they peak in intensity. At this point, the person feels the impact of the loss most keenly and is likely at the highest risk of relapse.
Those sensations begin to fade bit by bit over the next several days. After about 2 weeks, most symptoms will disappear. However, insomnia may persist for more than 30 days.
Research from the journal Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation suggests that adults are more likely to develop withdrawal symptoms than adolescents.
People who experience symptoms of withdrawal when they quit marijuana cold turkey may be dealing with an addiction, as this is one of 11 criteria that can indicate marijuana use disorder.
Addiction is characterized by the continued use of a substance despite serious negative consequences.
It’s also important to mention that many people with marijuana addictions may be using other substances concurrently. Polysubstance addiction can further complicate the withdrawal process.
Weed Addiction Treatment
Addiction treatment programs are tailored to meet people where they are with the services they need. Treatment typically involves a combination of behavioral therapy, peer support, psychoeducation, and treatment for co-occurring disorders if they are present.
Oxford Treatment Center offers several types of addiction treatment, including:
- Medical detox.
- Residential treatment.
- Partial hospitalization.
- Intensive outpatient treatment.
- Telehealth treatment.
It’s never too late to reach out for help. If you or someone you love is struggling with the devastating effects of addiction and are unsure of where to turn, Oxford Treatment Center, American Addiction Centers’ Mississippi drug rehab, is ready to help you get the treatment you need today.
Call to start the admissions process or to ask an admissions navigator about using insurance to cover addiction treatment or other ways to pay for rehab.
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