Learning to Live Sober with Transformations

If you are in the early stages of recovery or contemplating it, you may be curious about how to lead a satisfying life post-addiction. It's understandable given your long reliance on substances. For some, addiction becomes so ingrained that they struggle to imagine functioning without it. Despite your history with addiction, know that a fulfilling life without substance abuse is achievable. Though it may not be clear to you at the moment, embarking on recovery is a positive step towards a rewarding life. Allow us to demonstrate the possibilities of life after addiction.

How Addiction Starts

Living a sober life is a challenging yet valuable choice. Overcoming addiction isn't as simple as it may seem. Once addiction takes hold, the desire for the substance becomes constant. Addiction is a serious mental health issue that distorts the brain's reward system. Dopamine, the happiness-inducing chemical, is released when addictive substances are abused, creating intense euphoria. This cycle reinforces addictive behavior, making recovery a daunting task due to the altered reward system in the brain.

Recovery Process

Recognizing the dependence formed by addictive behaviors allows individuals to choose between maintaining the status quo or seeking change. Opting to cease addictive behaviors is consistently the wisest course of action. Upon committing to change, individuals can initiate the recovery journey. What many fail to comprehend is the formidable nature of this process, largely due to the challenges of withdrawal and temptation. Withdrawal signifies the body's reaction to the absence of the numbing substance, leading to distressing symptoms such as depression, anxiety, sweating, and irritability. These discomforts can trigger a relapse as the body craves the euphoria induced by substance abuse. Nevertheless, numerous individuals conquer these obstacles through recovery programs, detoxification, counseling, and group therapy. While the initial 30 days may be arduous, subsequent phases typically improve. However, the battle against temptation continues post-recovery and may persist indefinitely. One might question the endeavor, pondering if the struggle is truly worthwhile. Undeniably challenging, the journey is not without merit. Rest assured, life can drastically enhance once addiction is overcome.

Free From Dependency: One of the biggest pros of living a sober life is the fact that you are free from dependency. If you’ve lived a life in addiction, you’ve lived a life that is centered around substances. Addicts become dependent on a particular substance in order to function normally or comfortably in life. Once a person is able to kick substance abuse, they can start to learn to be more independent. Becoming independent is a key aspect of growing up and becoming an adult. Once you learn how to be independent from something, you can start to get in touch with your true self.
Get Back In Touch With Yourself: If you have faced addiction previously or are currently battling with it, chances are you have been told, "You've changed." This can be a difficult statement to hear from a close friend or loved one, but it is likely true. Addiction can transform individuals into someone they never expected to be. Substance abuse and dependencies can lead a person to become more self-absorbed, illogical, and unkind. Regardless of your pre-addiction self, your chemically reliant self does not reflect the authentic you. Upon breaking free from substance abuse, you can reconnect with your former self before these destructive behaviors took hold. Sobriety enables individuals to recognize the path to becoming a better, happier, and more balanced individual.
Repair Broken Relationships: If addiction is a challenge for you, it is probable that your actions have caused distress to those in your life. Addiction frequently results in strained relationships with loved ones, including friends, family, and partners. It is typical for those close to you to experience pain when someone they care for is struggling with addiction. Individuals battling addiction may employ manipulation, deceit, or even harm against their loved ones as a result of their dependence on substances. It is crucial to understand that these behaviors are influenced by the addiction and not representative of the person's true character. Conquering addiction enables clearer thinking and reflection on past actions. This newfound clarity can facilitate the acknowledgment of past mistakes and the initiation of efforts to repair damaged relationships.
Financial Stability: If addiction is a challenge for you, it is probable that your actions have caused distress to those in your life. Addiction frequently results in strained relationships with loved ones, including friends, family, and partners. It is typical for those close to you to experience pain when someone they care for is struggling with addiction. Individuals battling addiction may employ manipulation, deceit, or even harm against their loved ones as a result of their dependence on substances. It is crucial to understand that these behaviors are influenced by the addiction and not representative of the person's true character. Conquering addiction enables clearer thinking and reflection on past actions. This newfound clarity can facilitate the acknowledgment of past mistakes and the initiation of efforts to repair damaged relationships.

There are far more reasons to start living sober than the ones we’ve listed, but as you can see, sobriety can bring some incredible changes in life. As we’ve said before, going through recovery isn’t easy, but you can see just how fulfilling life can be once you decide to kick an addiction.

Do You Need Drug or Alcohol Rehab in Florida?

Addiction can have a stronghold on your life. The right rehab program can be your saving grace. At Transformations by the Gulf, we aim to make treatment as easy, comfortable and effective as possible. Through a holistic approach, we help you regain your life.

Our facilities are situated near St. Pete Beach, which means your recovery takes place in a serene location that fosters a natural sense of well-being. To learn more about cannabis treatment for yourself or a loved one, reach out today.

Seeking Treatment with Transformations by the Gulf?

If you or a loved one needs treatment and rehabilitation for substance use, Transformations by the Gulf can help.
Transformations by the Gulf offers individualistic and holistic recovery services. We designed our inpatient and outpatient programs to treat individuals based on biological, psychological, familial and social needs.

Our residential homes and treatment facilities are near the beach and offer a comfortable setting for rehabilitation. If you or a loved one needs help, contact Transformations By The Gulf to learn more about our recovery services.

If you are ready to start planning your treatment process, give us a call. (727)498-6498

Admissions

See Our Facility!

What a Day is Like in Our Treatment Facility.

What Should I Bring?

What to Expect?

Why Transformations by the Gulf?

by Tammy Cate

Substance Use Reaching Historic Highs

Marijuana and hallucinogen consumption, as well as binge drinking, have reached record levels among adults aged 35 to 50.

In 2022, adults aged 35 to 50 saw record highs in their past-year marijuana and hallucinogen use, continuing the upward trend observed in recent years. Meanwhile, individuals aged 19 to 30 experienced significant increases in marijuana and hallucinogen use, as well as marijuana and nicotine vaping, reaching historic levels for this age group. The annual Monitoring the Future (MTF) panel study, which surveys substance use behaviors and attitudes of adults between 19 and 60, revealed these findings. The study is funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research in Ann Arbor.

Binge drinking among younger adults has decreased over the last decade. However, adults aged 35 to 50 in 2022 showed the highest levels of binge drinking ever recorded for this age group, indicating a notable increase over the past year, five years, and ten years.

“Substance use is not limited to teens and young adults, and these data help us understand how people use drugs across the lifespan,” said NIDA director, Nora Volkow, M.D. “Understanding these trends is a first step, and it is crucial that research continues to illuminate how substance use, and related health impacts may change over time. We want to ensure that people from the earliest to the latest stages in adulthood are equipped with up-to-date knowledge to help inform decisions related to substance use.”

The MTF study has been surveying substance use behaviors and attitudes among a nationally representative group of eighth, 10th, and 12th graders every year since 1975. Additionally, a subset of participants is part of a longitudinal panel study that includes follow-up surveys after 12th grade to monitor their drug use into adulthood. These participants are tracked every two years until they reach the age of 30, and then every five years thereafter, with some of the oldest participants now in their 60s.

The 2022 survey of adults gathered data through online and paper surveys between April and October 2022. The researchers categorized the data into two age brackets for trend analysis: 19-30 years old and 35-50 years old. Important discoveries comprise:

Marijuana Use: Among adults aged 19 to 30, the rates of past-year marijuana usage and daily marijuana consumption hit record highs in the recent study. Approximately 44% of participants surveyed in 2022 reported past-year usage, marking an increase from 35% in 2017 and 28% in 2012. Daily marijuana consumption also peaked in 2022 at 11%, surpassing the rates from 2017 (8%) and 2012 (6%).

Reports of past-year marijuana use among adults aged 35 to 50 also reached an all-time high in 2022 (28%). This had increased from the previous year (25% in 2021) and five years ago (17% in 2017), and more than doubled compared to 10 years ago (13% in 2012).

Hallucinogen Use: In the 19 to 30 age group, 8% of adults reported using hallucinogens in the past year, which is notably higher than the rates from five years ago (5% in 2017) and ten years ago (3% in 2012). Common hallucinogens mentioned by participants were LSD, MDMA, mescaline, peyote, shrooms or psilocybin, and PCP. The majority of recent hallucinogen use in 2022 among adults in this age category involved substances other than LSD (7% in 2022).

Past-year hallucinogen use reached historically high prevalence among adults 35 to 50 years old, reported by 4% in 2022. The prevalence reported in 2022 was also a substantial increase compared to the year before (2% in 2021) and five and 10 years ago (no greater than 1% in both 2017 and 2012).

Alcohol Use: In the last ten years, alcohol consumption among adults aged 19 to 30 has decreased, including past-month use, daily drinking, and binge drinking. However, there was a slight increase in past-year drinking for this age group in 2022 (84%) compared to 2017 (82%).

Alcohol use among adults aged 35 to 50 has shown a gradual increase over the past 10 years, with past-year drinking increasing from 83% in 2012 to 85% in 2022. Binge drinking in this older group reached its highest levels (29% in 2022), and increased over the past year, five years, and 10 years (26% in 2021; 25% in 2017; 23% in 2012).

The research indicated a 10-year decrease in the past-year consumption of cigarettes, sedatives, and non-medical use of opioid medications for both adult age brackets. Past-year usage of amphetamines demonstrated a 10-year decline among 19- to 30-year-olds and a 10-year rise among 35- to 50-year-olds. The report also covers drug use patterns among college and non-college young adults, demographic subgroups, and other relevant data.

“The value of surveys such as MTF is to show us how drug use trends evolve over decades and across development – from adolescence through adulthood,” said Megan Patrick, Ph.D., a research professor at the University of Michigan and principal investigator of the MTF panel study. “Behaviors and public perception of drug use can shift rapidly, based on drug availability and other factors. It’s important to track this so that public health professionals and communities can be prepared to respond.”

Results from the related 2022 MTF study of substance use behaviors and related attitudes among teens in the United States was released in December 2022, and 2023 results are upcoming in December 2023.

Do You Need Drug or Alcohol Rehab in Florida?

Seeking Treatment with Transformations by the Gulf?

If you are ready to start planning your treatment process, give us a call. (727)498-6498

Admissions

See Our Facility!

What a Day is Like in Our Treatment Facility.

What Should I Bring?

What to Expect?

Why Transformations by the Gulf?

by Tammy Cate

First Time Seeking Drug or Alcohol Rehab?

Enrolling in a residential or inpatient addiction treatment program may cause some anxiety when unsure of what to anticipate. These programs offer around-the-clock care and assistance. They entail residing at the facility, necessitating a break from daily commitments to concentrate on addressing substance use disorder. The length of treatment and stay duration are determined by factors such as the seriousness of the disorder, medical requirements, and insurance provisions.

Preparing for Alcohol Rehab

There are things you should pack and have during your stay at an inpatient or residential treatment program and items you should leave at home. You want to make sure to bring your wallet with a picture ID, insurance card, and some money for spending. What sets us apart from other rehabs is that we allow cell phone use, electronic devices, vapes, and cigarettes.

We do provide breakfast, lunch. dinner and snacks but we are an executive style rehab, which means you have full access to a kitchen in your client room. This is a luxury that over 90% of rehabs in the United States cannot provide or do not. We will take you to the grocery store while you are here so you can purchase food items you would like to be able to make in your room. We also do not restrict food portions in our dining room.

When you are ready to start packing its recommended you bring comfortable close. Bring 4-7 days' worth of close. They cannot have offensive names, drug content, or alcohol content on them. We have laundry machines on site so you will be able to wash your clothes as often as you need. You can also bring laptops, mp3 players, cell phones, as well.

Self-Care items that you should bring or considering bringing:

Toothbrush and toothpaste.
Supplements will be checked by the nurse or clinical director upon admission.
Mouthwash (alcohol free).
Deodorant.
Soap/body wash.
Shampoo and conditioner.
Brush/comb.
Hair dryer/curling iron.
NO bottled or aerosol hairspray.

When you arrive at rehab, your recovery journey commences. As part of intake, you will undergo an interview or fill out a questionnaire to help the facility understand your situation and design a personalized treatment plan based on your alcohol or drug use and any concurrent health issues. If necessary, you may proceed to detox, where a treatment team will oversee you, provide necessary interventions for your safety, and assist in managing withdrawal symptoms. Following detox, you will engage in behavioral therapy, one-on-one counseling, educational sessions, and additional activities.

Arriving at the Facility

Upon your arrival at the rehabilitation center, you will have a one-hour meeting with a member of the admissions team. This individual may have a medical background, such as a nurse or therapist, or they could be the intake director or another team member. The purpose of this initial meeting is to familiarize the staff with your situation in order to develop a personalized care plan for your rehabilitation stay. You will also complete necessary paperwork, confirm your insurance coverage, and provide detailed information about your medical history and that of your family. Additionally, a staff member will assist you in checking your belongings to ensure compliance with the facility's guidelines. Following the admissions meeting, you will undergo a medical and psychiatric assessment to further tailor your treatment plan. During this evaluation, a nursing staff member will assess your vital signs, perform an initial drug screening, and gather more details about your history and past treatment experiences.

Alcohol Addiction Treatment and Behavioral Therapy

Beyond detox, treatment involves individual and group therapies. Individual therapy focuses on setting recovery goals and addressing co-occurring disorders. In group therapy, individuals are encouraged to share their feelings and experiences with peers facing similar situations. Common rehab treatment methods include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to help patients recognize how their thoughts and beliefs contribute to addiction, and motivational interviewing (MI) to support motivation for change and address resistance. Facilities may also offer dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) to help manage emotions and improve relationships through mindfulness, distress acceptance, emotional regulation, and communication. Family therapy may also be used in some rehab facilities to mend relationships impacted by addiction.

Aftercare and Relapse Prevention

An aftercare program, also known as continuing care, assists in transitioning from completing a treatment program to returning to your home environment, responsibilities, and support system. It also aids in maintaining the skills acquired during rehabilitation and applying them to daily life. Aftercare varies for each individual and may involve residing in a sober living environment, participating in group therapy, support groups, or a 12-Step program, and continuing individual or family therapy. The ideal combination of aftercare measures offers numerous advantages for individuals in early recovery, such as sustaining treatment progress, preventing relapse, fostering self-confidence in recovery, connecting individuals with community resources, and repairing or strengthening relationships with others.

Do You Need Drug or Alcohol Rehab in Florida?

Seeking Treatment with Transformations by the Gulf?

If you are ready to start planning your treatment process, give us a call. (727)498-6498

Admissions

See Our Facility!

What a Day is Like in Our Treatment Facility.

What Should I Bring?

What to Expect?

Why Transformations by the Gulf?

by Tammy Cate

Fear of the Unknown in Recovery

Fear is the number one emotion that comes to mind when the idea of getting help for your addiction comes up. It feels like a stressful or distressing emotion that creates the fear of impending doom, fear is a trigger for both anxiety and avoidance. It can cause a full-blown panic attack or drive someone away from the help they need. The fact is you have probably been so used to or so stuck in the same routine that anything other than that appears as terrifying when in all fact it isn't. It's simply that you do not know how to regulate your emotions due to the constant numbing of feelings or coping through drugs, alcohol, or other risky behaviors. This is the number one reason why people do not get help.

The Facts

People fear a lot of different things when addiction treatment or recovery is brought up. Some of the most common fears include:

Fear that treatment won’t work.
Fear that treatment will hurt or be painful.
Fear that life won’t be as enjoyable when sober.
Fear that the challenges of life will be too much to bare without drugs or alcohol.
Fear that treatment will cost too much.
Fear that recovery will create too many boundaries.
Fear that staying sober will be too difficult.
Fear that relationships will suffer in recovery (especially if only ONE partner in the relationship chooses recovery).

How Fear Affects Recovery

Fear can hinder the recovery process. Many individuals often let their fear obstruct their path to recovery, leading them to forgo treatment or discontinue treatment when faced with challenges. Experiencing fear during recovery is common, but excessive fear can hinder your progress. Be ready to address any instances of overwhelming fear that may obstruct your path to full recovery from substance abuse or addiction.

Fear that impeded emotional healing in recovery.
Fear that is used to justify relapse.
Fear that builds a sense of dissatisfaction in recovery.
Fear that causes you to make poor decisions.
Fear that creates undue stress and leads to relapse.
Fear stopping you in your tracks, preventing you from taking action and getting help.
Fear that prevents you from thinking clearly about what is necessary.

Seeking Treatment with Transformations by the Gulf?

If you or a loved one needs treatment and rehabilitation for substance use, Transformations by the Gulf can help. Find out more information from Psychology Today!
Transformations by the Gulf offers individualistic and holistic recovery services. We designed our inpatient and outpatient programs to treat individuals based on biological, psychological, familial and social needs.

If you are ready to start planning your treatment process, give us a call. (727)498-6498

Admissions

See Our Facility!

What a Day is Like in Our Treatment Facility.

What Should I Bring?

What to Expect?

Why Transformations by the Gulf?

by Tammy Cate

Ways to Handle a Drug or Alcohol Craving

Managing cravings is a significant challenge during the recovery process. The intense urges can feel overwhelming and sudden. However, it's important to remember that cravings can be managed. Developing effective strategies for handling cravings is crucial for a successful recovery. Below are some tactics for addressing cravings as they occur.

Accept It

When a craving arises, the first step is to acknowledge that cravings are common and unavoidable. Every individual in strong recovery has encountered cravings and likely continues to do so occasionally. Experiencing a craving does not indicate wrongdoing, failure, or an inevitable relapse; it is simply a regular part of the process. After being accustomed to using an addictive substance daily, possibly for an extended period, it is expected to feel the temptation to use it again occasionally. However, attempting to suppress or dismiss the urge will only intensify it. Embrace the fact that you are facing a craving and avoid feeling guilty about it but seek ways to address it.

Distract Yourself

Cravings are temporary and usually fade very quickly unless you focus on them. To avoid dwelling on a craving, engage in activities that demand your full concentration, such as working, reading, playing a video game, taking a walk, chatting with friends, or any other absorbing task. By redirecting your attention, you can effectively overcome the craving without struggling to suppress it.

Run Away

If a craving persists, there may be a triggering situation keeping it alive, such as being in a place that serves alcohol, being with someone you used to drink with, or being around someone who stresses you out. Leaving the situation is often the best course of action. For example, if you're in the grocery store struggling to pass the liquor aisle, consider leaving. It's important to understand your triggers to avoid and recognize them. Even if you're unsure why the craving persists, a change of setting may help resolve the issue.

Examine Your Thinking

Our thoughts can often heighten cravings unnecessarily. When a craving arises, you might start thinking, "Oh no, a craving! This is terrible! I'll never resist it!" This only adds to the stress of the craving and intensifies it. Instead, acknowledge it, as mentioned earlier, and observe your thoughts. Remind yourself that cravings come and go, and you'll be okay in a few minutes. It's also possible that a craving has emerged in response to stress unrelated to substance use. Perhaps you're upset with someone or feeling overwhelmed at work. Notice your thoughts about these situations. Are you thinking that someone shouldn't have treated you a certain way? Are you making your work situation out to be worse than it is? Recognizing and challenging cognitive distortions can reduce your stress and lessen the intensity of cravings.

Get Some Exercise

Engaging in physical activity is a highly effective method for managing cravings. It serves as a powerful distraction, particularly when the activity involves skill or social interaction, such as participating in a team sport. Additionally, exercise diminishes anxiety, enhances mood, and notably, bolsters emotional control and willpower. These advantages prove particularly valuable when faced with cravings. Simply taking a walk in your local area can assist in dispelling a craving, as within 20 minutes, it can be entirely forgotten.

Practice Mindfulness

When you feel a craving, one method to manage it is by mindfully examining it. Usually, people perceive a craving as a directive emanating from a subconscious level. It's like an inner voice shouting "DRINK!" Automatically, you may either succumb to it or try to resist and dismiss it.

However, you can take a step back and observe the craving. What sensations does it provoke? Where in your body do you sense it? In your chest? Your stomach? Step back and analyze the sensation without making judgments or feeling obligated to act. Does it shift or evolve? As the sensation begins to diminish, release it. This becomes more effortless with daily mindfulness meditation practice. By regularly observing thoughts and sensations without becoming entangled in them, you'll discover it's simpler to endure even strong cravings.

Play The Tape

To combat cravings, consider employing the "play the tape" technique. When you experience cravings, your mind may distort reality, leading you to romanticize past substance use and entertain thoughts like "I've been clean for a while, one time won't hurt." To combat these temptations, mentally fast-forward and vividly envision the aftermath of giving in to the craving - the disappointment, family letdown, relapse, and restarting recovery. Revisit the reasons behind your sobriety to counter the allure of using again.

If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction or mental illness, we can help. At Transformations by the Gulf, we offer a safe and nurturing space to navigate negative emotions and practice coping skills that will support you in your recovery journey. If you or someone you know is struggling with an addiction to drugs or alcohol, call us today at (727)498-6498.

Are you struggling with addiction and want to learn more? Visit Psychology Today or check out or page on addiction treatments.

by Tammy Cate

What are Coping Skills?

What are ‘Coping Skills’ and How to Use Them

Life is filled with challenging circumstances that are beyond our control. However, we do have the ability to manage our reactions to these challenges. Enhancing our coping mechanisms is crucial for our mental well-being, as it allows us to distance ourselves from our initial responses and create room for a more effective approach.

For instance, if you're feeling frustrated at work, your initial response might be to resign or send several angry emails. This might provide temporary relief, but it won't benefit you in the future. You might find yourself questioning your actions once the situation calms down. A more effective approach would be to use coping strategies to ease or divert your frustration, allowing you to respond thoughtfully rather than impulsively.

Unhealthy Coping Skills

The coping mechanisms you're using aren't effective because they don't genuinely improve our well-being. For instance, alcohol is a depressant that can leave you feeling even worse after trying to numb your issues with it. This can also lead to dependence. Overall, adopting healthy coping habits will bring clarity, while unhealthy ones will result in more significant challenges. If you find yourself relying on unhealthy strategies, seeking guidance from a therapist to recognize triggers and swap harmful behaviors for more positive alternatives can be beneficial.

The Two Types of Healthy Coping Skills

According to the Centre for Studies on Human Stress, healthy coping skills are either problem-focused or emotion-focused.

Problem-focused coping skills

Problem-focused activities involve identifying practical solutions to reduce or resolve the source of stress. In a professional setting, this could entail direct communication with your manager, setting boundaries for time management, or seeking alternative job opportunities. Individuals who enjoy creating to-do lists and completing tasks may gravitate towards problem-focused coping skills.

When using this coping style, it's important to keep in mind that taking small steps is acceptable. It's crucial to maintain a balance between making progress and being kind to yourself. You may not be able to solve everything immediately, but identifying a few things that can significantly improve your stress levels is possible. The positive aspect is that you're not ignoring the problem, but rather taking steps to address it. Certain issues have clear solutions, and any action taken to move closer to our objectives will help reduce stress.

Emotion-focused coping

Coping techniques that focus on managing emotions can be helpful in handling feelings related to a situation, rather than the event itself. There may not be a specific issue to address, or it might be a one-time occurrence that cannot be avoided. In such instances, it is important to comfort or stabilize your emotions through activities that work well for you, such as exercise, spending time with pets, taking a relaxing bath, being in nature, or watching a movie. At times, we may not be ready to confront a situation and require more relaxation time. Emotion-focused coping skills aim to nurture and restore, providing a recharge for the next phase.

Ensure that you are nurturing, rather than suppressing, your emotions by accurately identifying your feelings. If you're uncertain about your emotions, consider using a feeling wheel. This approach aims to acknowledge and sit with your emotions instead of pushing them away. Show kindness to your emotions and refrain from self-criticism. Trust that your feelings will diminish over time. Mindfulness-based meditation can effectively help manage stress related to emotions.

The Difference Between Coping Skills and Self-Care

Coping skills are techniques or activities employed during stressful situations. They are methods utilized to acquire additional energy or time. Conversely, self-care is an activity practiced irrespective of stress levels.

Self-care is recommended by experts as a proactive approach that can reduce the necessity for coping mechanisms later on. This is because tending to your emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical well-being can lessen severe distress and burnout that necessitate coping strategies. When we are depleted, we become more susceptible to stress and less able to handle challenging situations.

There are moments when life presents challenges, requiring the application of healthy coping mechanisms to navigate through difficult times. Periodically, we all need to take a break, employ our coping strategies, and then proceed with life when we feel prepared.

Seeking Treatment with Transformations by the Gulf?

If you are ready to start planning your treatment process, give us a call. (727)498-6498

Admissions

See Our Facility!

What a Day is Like in Our Treatment Facility.

What Should I Bring?

What to Expect?

Why Transformations by the Gulf?

by Tammy Cate

Cannabis Use Disorder in Florida

According to the CDC some people who use cannabis will develop a cannabis use disorder or marijuana use disorder, meaning that they are not able to stop using despite it causing health and social problems in their lives. One study has estimated that approximately 3 out of 10 people who use cannabis have developed a cannabis use disorder. The risk of developing a cannabis use disorder is greater in people who start using cannabis during youth or adolescence and who use cannabis more frequently. Cannabis Use Disorder in Florida is a growing concern.

Signs of Cannabis Use Disorder:

Using more cannabis than intended.
Trying to quit but not being able too.
Spending a lot of time using cannabis
Craving cannabis
Using cannabis even though it causes problems at home, school, or work.
Continuing to use cannabis despite social or relationship problems.
Giving up important activities with friends and family in favor of using cannabis.
Using cannabis in high-risk situations, like driving a car.
Continuing to use cannabis despite physical or psychological problems.
Needing to use more cannabis to get the same high.
Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when stopping cannabis use.

People with a cannabis use disorder may also be at a higher risk of other negative consequences, such as problems with memory, attention, and learning.

Some people who have cannabis use disorder may need to use more and more cannabis or greater concentrations of cannabis over time to experience a "high." The greater the amount of THC or "tetrahydrocannabinol" in cannabis, the stronger the effects the cannabis may have on the brain. Over the past few years, the amount of THC in cannabis products has increased heavily.

Do You Need Cannabis Rehab in Florida?

Cannabis addiction can have a stronghold on your life. The right Cannabis rehab program can be your saving grace. At Transformations by the Gulf, we aim to make treatment as easy, comfortable and effective as possible. Through a holistic approach, we help you regain your life.