Marijuana is a very popular drug in the Czech Republic, as evidenced, for example, by the fact that almost half of the population aged 15-16 experiences its effects at least once a year. Often this may be experimentation, but the line between experimental or recreational use of marijuana and addiction is very thin.

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Most marijuana users consider the drug to be much less addictive than, for example, alcohol. While THC does not produce as strong a physical dependence, experience shows that overcoming physical withdrawal symptoms is really only the first step in dealing with the disease of addiction.

Moreover, most people can handle this first step. Much more insidious is the psychological addiction, and this is highly developed in regular marijuana users. In addition, THC strongly alters the personality of the addict, which is accompanied in particular by demotivation syndrome (loss of desire to do something) and abulia (severe weakening or loss of willpower).

These users include individuals who use cannabis no more than four times a month, mainly at social events, when, for example, during a weekend outing, one of their friends 'fires up a stogie' in front of the pub. They are able to do without marijuana without any problems and there has been no change in their personality.

Cannabis use is becoming an integral part of the rhythm of life and can even take on a ritualistic character - typically regular joints after leaving work or before going to bed. A sense of well-being and relaxation is directly linked to cannabis use and one gradually ceases to be able to achieve it in other, previously natural ways.

If the addict does not have marijuana at his or her disposal, he or she will experience a marked moodiness or irritability.

The side effects of long-term cannabis use permeate throughout life. The natural production of serotonin and other physiological and somatic changes are disrupted. These changes are accompanied by a decline in interest in hobbies, motivation for life changes, emotional numbness, and memory impairment. Also anxiety, depression, deterioration in interpersonal relationships and physical performance.

In addition, potent varieties of indoor marijuana often cause serious mental illness, not to mention the carcinogenic effects of smoking (one joint is equivalent to the carcinogenic effects of 20 cigarettes).

In the treatment of addiction we apply one of the most modern German psychotherapeutic programs of Prof. Joachim Körkel, MD. The special outpatient programme (approximately 15 meetings, with an optimal frequency of once a week) is based on elements of humanistic psychology and cognitive-behavioural psychotherapy.

In the first phase, the unpleasant conditions that the user was used to getting rid of through marijuana must be resolved. In severe cases and at the client's express wish, supportive pharmacotherapy may also be used in this phase.

Furthermore, work is needed to restore motivational and voluntary skills and to establish weakened social ties.

The treatment of marijuana addiction is very specific, and certainly cannot be treated in the same way as, for example, the treatment of alcoholism. Our therapists have a good understanding of the psychological state and life situation of their clients, and the therapy is certainly not based on judgment, reproof, lecturing or scaring.

The main principle of the treatment is intensive work with emotions, thoughts and bodily manifestations. Indicators of success are an increasing ability to experience feelings of happiness in one's own life, a renewed deepening of one's perception of oneself and one's surroundings, a reduction in fatigue and unpleasant psychological states, an interest in oneself and in other people, and a renewed taking of responsibility for one's own life.