Smoking Weed In Rehab Is Okay, According To Researcher

[Ganjarden]

Dr. Drew would keel over at the notion, but a study published Friday in the pro-pot Harm Reduction Journal suggests that it's okay smoke weed while trying to ween yourself off other drugs.

That's right, forget the total, 12-step program. According to researcher Ronald Swartz "cannabis use did not seem to compromise substance abuse treatment" during his look at both medical marijuana users and non-pot smokers. The success rate of both groups in dealing with the abuse of other substances was the same, he writes.

" ... Medical marijuana is consistent with participation in other forms of drug treatment and may not adversely affect positive treatment outcomes," Swartz writes.

So go ahead -- while you work on that drinking problem at the Betty Ford Center or deal with those ******* pangs in Celebrity Rehab -- spark up that bowl. Just don't tell Dr. Drew.


NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 Magazine - Cannabis Culture News & Reviews
Source: LA Weekly
Author: Dennis Romero
Contact: LA Weekly
Copyright: 2010 LA Weekly
Website: Smoking Weed In Rehab Is Okay, According To Researcher

 

[Jim Finnel]

Medical marijuana users in substance abuse treatment

The rise of authorized marijuana use in the U.S. means that many individuals are using cannabis as they concurrently engage in other forms of treatment, such as substance abuse counseling and psychotherapy.

Clinical and legal decisions may be influenced by findings that suggest marijuana use during treatment serves as an obstacle to treatment success, compromises treatment integrity, or increases the prevalence or severity of relapse. In this paper, the author reviews the relationship between authorized marijuana use and substance abuse treatment utilizing data from a preliminary pilot study that, for the first time, uses a systematic methodology to collect data examining possible effects on treatment.

Methods: Data from the California Outcomes Measurement System (CalOMS) were compared for medical (authorized) marijuana users and non-marijuana users who were admitted to a public substance abuse treatment program in California.

Behavioral and social treatment outcomes recorded by clinical staff at discharge and reported to the California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs were assessed for both groups, which included a sample of 18 reported medical marijuana users.

Results: While the findings described here are preliminary and very limited due to the small sample size, the study demonstrates that questions about the relationship between medical marijuana use and involvement in drug treatment can be systematically evaluated. In this small sample, cannabis use did not seem to compromise substance abuse treatment amongst the medical marijuana using group, who (based on these preliminary data) fared equal to or better than non-medical marijuana users in several important outcome categories (e.g ., treatment completion, criminal justice involvement, medical concerns).

Conclusions: This exploratory study suggests that medical marijuana is consistent with participation in other forms of drug treatment and may not adversely affect positive treatment outcomes.

These findings call for more extensive sampling in future research to allow for more rigorous research on the growing population of medical marijuana users and non-marijuana users who are engaged in substance abuse treatment.

Author: Ronald Swartz
Credits/Source: Harm Reduction Journal 2010, 7:3

Published on: 2010-03-05


NewsHawk: User: 420 Magazine - Cannabis Culture News & Reviews
Source: 7thspace.com
Author: Ronald Swartz
Copyright: 2010 BioMedCentral
Website: Medical marijuana users in substance abuse treatment - 7thSpace Interactive

• Thanks to MedicalNeed for submitting this article

 

[Oddnonsmoker]

Before cannabis was outlawed, doctors frequently used it to treat alcohol abuse. I don't know who came up with the idea that cannabis+rehab=ineffective.

 

[Warbux]

Before cannabis was outlawed, doctors frequently used it to treat alcohol abuse. I don't know who came up with the idea that cannabis+rehab=ineffective.

This is because of the old "reefer madness lies" that cannabis leads to harder drugs,,Sad is'nt it?