In 2021, a survey indicated that 12% of American adults consume weed. Additionally, 48.2 million of American adults tried weed in 2019. Amidst never-ending conversations about “is weed addictive,” in July 2022, around 20 US states legalized medicinal and recreational weed or marijuana. So, if you smoke weed or inhale secondhand weed smoke, read ahead to find out what are the warning signs of weed addiction, treatment ways, and how long does weed stay in your system.
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Warning Signs of Weed Addiction
According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, weed or marijuana is the most abused drug in the world. Weed addiction is typically not seen as being as severe as other illicit drugs. However, weed addiction can cause many physical and mental health-related issues. Weed’s main component is tetrahydrocannabinol, which is also known as THC.
Common warning signs of weed addiction are:
- Bloodshot eyes
- Increased appetite
- Nervous or paranoid behavior
- Impaired coordination
- Slowed reaction time
- Memory impairment
- Anxiety
- Distorted perception
2 out of 5 high school students have tried weed at some point in their life. If you are a student who is suffering from weed addiction, contact ChoicePoint at 844.445.2565. Our doctors offer complete patient-doctor confidentiality and also offer Telehealth addiction treatment for your comfort.
How Long Does Weed Stay in Your System
Weed can cause physical and psychological dependence. People who are addicted to weed need it to perform mundane daily activities such as:
- Interacting with people
- To enhance their performance at work
- Forming a connection with the world around them
Having said that, one may still find many people rejecting the notion that weed is highly addictive, not only that it stays in your system and also shows up on drug tests.
So, how long does weed stay in your system? Let’s dissect this question in detail.
Normally, weed may take 1 to 3 hours to enter your system for an individual to fully experience its effects. While weed’s effects are short-lived, the drug can still be found in the body for a few weeks or even longer. From a few hours to 90 days, the body can retain the active ingredients and breakdown products of weed. Due to this, weed detection windows change based on how much and how often you use weed.
At-home drug testing has made it easier to detect the presence of drugs in your system. If you want an addiction specialist to supervise your At-home drug test, contact ChoicePoint at 844.445.2565, and we will dispatch your kit.
How Long is Weed Detectable via Drug Testing?
Weed or Marijuana can be seen in drug tests for up to 30 days after consumption. How much you consume or smoke, the type of drug test utilized, and how long you use it all affect how long weed is detectable via drug testing.
How Long Does Weed Stay in Urine?
Urine drug testing to check the presence of weed in your system is still the most standard method to detect weed. The detection of weed depends on when the last dosage was taken:
- After average use (four times per week): 5 to 7 days
- Only one time: 3 days
- Daily usage: 10 to 15 weeks
- Regular or heavy consumption (several times daily): More than 30 days
How Long Does Weed Stay in Blood?
Blood tests can detect weed in your system for around 2 to 3 days after the last dosage. However, sometimes, if the person consumes weed in larger quantities, it can be detected in blood tests even after 30 days of the last dose.
How Long Does Weed Stay in Your Saliva?
Saliva drug testing can detect the presence of weed in your system anywhere from 24 to 72 hours after the last dosage. THC can be visible in the oral fluid of regular smokers. After using weed frequently and in high dosages, it may stay detectable in oral fluid longer than in blood.
How Long Does Weed Stay in Your Hair?
Tests on hair follicles can detect weed abuse for up to 90 days. Weed can enter the hair follicles through tiny blood vessels, sebum, and sweat that surround the hair.
Are you or someone you love struggling to quit weed? Our doctors at ChoicePoint use an FDA-approved MAT program to help you recover. Just call at 844.445.2565 and schedule an in-person or a virtual appointment.
Factors Affecting How Long Does Weed Stay in Your System?
Weed stays in the system for different lengths of time depending on the weight, metabolism, gender, frequency of use, and level of hydration of the user.
a) Frequency of Taking Weed
The frequency and duration of weed usage both have an impact on how long weed stays in your system. How long does weed stay in your system depends upon how often you use it. Regular weed users have reported positive drug test results 35 days after their last use, while users that consume it more have reported positive results up to 3 months after quitting it.
b) Gender
Females often have a slow metabolism and hence, a large amount of body fat than men, resulting longer duration of weed staying in their bodies.
c) BMI (Body Mass Index)
Heavier people will retain weed for longer in contrast to people with lower BMIs.
d) Method of Usage
If a person smokes weed, it is likely to be removed from the body faster. On the other hand, when weed is swallowed, it may take slightly longer for its effects to leave the system. The reason behind this is the fact that edibles take a more extended duration to digest, leading to longer periods of weed in your system.
Why Is Weed Abused?
Weed can affect people differently depending on who they are and the environment they are in when they use it. For some, it can make them chatty and gregarious, while for others, it can cause paranoia, confusion, and anxiety. Some of the reasons why weed is abused are as follows:
a) Relief from pain
Weed gives a short-lived pleasure and reduces pain. People who are under the effect of a trauma or had an accident tend to use weed to gain relief. Frequently using weed makes them addicted to it.
b) Stress
People often face stress and become demotivated. When people become uninspired and demotivated, they undergo depression and anxiety. To get over anxiety and depression, they start utilizing weed, which gives them relaxation and pleasure.
c) False Belief That Marijuana is Harmless
Weed puts the human body under an intoxicating effect, which causes the body to become extremely relaxed and free from all kinds of tensions. When people start having problems in their lives, they tend to use weed for peace and pleasure. Little do they know that weed will have many negative effects on their mental and physical health in the long run.
What Does Weed Do to Your Mind and Body?
Weed is highly addictive because it has addictive compounds and may cause harmful effects on your mind and body. Commonly reported side effects of weed abuse include:
- Its mind-altering qualities can distort your perception of reality
- Frequent use of weed leads to cloudy judgment.
- Constant paranoia and anxiety
- A faster heartbeat and an increased risk of heart attacks
- Irritate lungs and cause breathing problems
- Unable to stop its usage even after noticing harmful effects
Start Weed Addiction Treatment At ChoicePoint
Therefore, it is better to seek weed addiction treatment before the problem gets out of hand. At ChoicePoint, we offer the following addiction treatment programs to help you recover.
a) Medical Detox
A supervised Medical detox may assist individuals struggling with weed addiction in getting through the initial drug-free phase. It may also help people to handle the withdrawal symptoms effectively by offering support and medical care they require.
Weed withdrawal symptoms include:
- Anger,
- Irritability
- Insomnia or very disturbing dreams
- Depression
- Fever
Therefore, it is strongly advised that a person undergo detox under medical supervision. Mainly because a team of doctors can easily provide medical assistance if something goes wrong.
b) Outpatient Rehab
An Outpatient program aims to facilitate patients and make weed addiction treatment easier. A person struggling with weed addiction may receive addiction treatment without having to be present on-site all the time. They can go to the doctor on the designated days and then return to their home or office to go about their normal lives.
Our specialists at ChoicePoint offer the following services to treat the adverse effects of weed addiction:
- Medical Counseling using the FDA-approved MAT program
- Targeted Therapies, such as CBT and DBT
Call us at 844.445.2565 to schedule an appointment or visit our website to learn more about the outpatient addiction treatment program.
c) Dual-Diagnosis Treatment
Sometimes, along with weed addiction, people form certain mental health disorders as well. In such a situation, doctors provide dual-diagnosis treatment because weed addiction and mental health issues need to be addressed at the same time. The dual-diagnosis treatment programs are designed in such a way that they:
- Treat substance abuse and mental illness simultaneously for long-term recovery
- Offer targeted therapy sessions and effective Counseling
- Reduce the likelihood of a relapse
Are you looking for a facility that treats co-occurring disorders and prevents relapse?Contact ChoicePoint at 844.445.2565.
d) Aftercare Program
After completing weed addiction treatment at ChoicePoint, our doctors provide patients with an Aftercare program. The primary objective of the aftercare program is to make sure that the patient stays sober and stays on the path to recovery. Choosing ChoicePoint means:
- Ongoing 24/7 Counseling from addiction specialists
- Motivation to stay sober
- Constant support to learn to cope with cravings
Meet Devid, who is nine months sober now. His story reflects one should not give up their battle against addiction and how ChoicePoint addiction therapies, along with medical detox, helped him stay clean. Watch now! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Us7cNpt-LQk
Final Thoughts; How Long Does Weed Stay in Your System
Weed is the most abused drug in the US, and its misuse can seriously debilitate someone’s life. With that said, thousands of people turn to weed at some point in their life or are prescribed weed for medicinal purposes. 1 in 10 people who use weed end up being addicted to it. However, today, effective weed addiction treatment exists that allows people to make a steady recovery after abuse. Addiction treatment allows an addict to recover and get better at their own pace. Looking for weed treatment near me? Our specialized doctors at ChoicePoint provide weed treatment along with an Aftercare plan.
Medical Disclaimer:
ChoicePoint aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with substance use disorder and mental health issues. Our team of licensed medical professionals research, edit and review the content before publishing. However, this information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For medical advice please consult your physicians or ChoicePoint's qualified staff.