Navigating Recovery: The Dangers of Shrooms and Weed During Rehab
Recovery from drug addiction is a challenging journey, especially for those who have used a particular substance to manage stress, negative emotions, and mental health challenges. Individuals in rehab often feel their addiction is limited to a specific drug or substance, which can create a false sense of security in their ability to use other substances they weren’t originally addicted to, like shrooms and weed.
Many in recovery seek alternatives as a coping mechanism. Although these substances may seem less harmful or even therapeutic in certain contexts, they can interfere with the delicate balance of recovery and undermine progress.
It’s crucial to understand that achieving lasting sobriety involves more than just refraining from addictive substances; it requires addressing the root causes of addiction and rebuilding one’s life. Even substances that are not as addictive as commonly abused ones, like opioids or stimulants, can still disrupt emotional stability and trigger old patterns of addictive behavior.
Moreover, combining different substances like marijuana and psilocybin mushrooms can lead to unpredictable and intensified side effects. While these two may have a lower risk of abuse individually, the likelihood of developing an addiction increases when they are combined or in individuals with existing substance use disorders. The combination of shrooms and weed can also impair judgment, affect decision-making, and increase anxiety, making it even more challenging to maintain focus on recovery goals.
How Do Shrooms and Weed Affect Recovery During Rehab?
The effects of psilocybin mushrooms and cannabis on recovery during rehab can be quite complex. In recent years, both shrooms and weed have gained traction as potential therapeutic substances for various physical and mental health issues, including substance use disorders. A study published in Frontiers in Psychiatry found some beneficial effects of psilocybin-assisted therapy on substance use disorders.
However, it’s important to note that when shrooms are used therapeutically, it is done under the supervision of a trained mental health specialist and alongside psychotherapy.
Additionally, while some people believe sobriety includes complete abstinence from drugs and alcohol, others are more willing to bend the rules. Individuals may consider themselves sober because they stopped abusing hard drugs, even while continuing to smoke weed or drink alcohol (which could be dangerous to their sobriety). Weed is often used for its calming and soothing effects, and people in recovery may turn to it as a way to manage feelings they once masked with an addictive substance.
While many consider mushrooms and weed as safer alternatives to harder drugs, they are still psychoactive substances that can alter perceptions, emotions, behaviors, and thoughts. Moreover, mixing the two substances can lead to heightened effects. They can interfere with the brain’s natural healing process during recovery, further disrupting the delicate balance needed for recovery, including its ability to form new, healthier neural connections.
Individuals who use cannabis or psilocybin to cope with underlying emotional pain, anxiety, depression, or trauma are not confronting or processing these issues without relying on substances, which can hinder emotional healing. Additionally, they can trigger further mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression.
Drug rehab programs often involve a combination of therapies, including counseling, group work, and medications. Psychoactive substances can interfere with this treatment by altering mood or thought processes, potentially making therapy sessions or medications less effective.
Moreover, recovery is not just about abstaining from one particular substance but also about learning to live without reliance on any substance. Using these substances may be seen as avoiding the goal of sobriety or healthy coping mechanisms.
Can Using Shrooms and Weed During Rehab Lead to Relapse?
Using any type of mind-altering substance, even if it’s not the one the person initially entered rehab for, can result in a relapse for various reasons. Rehab is designed to help individuals break free from their addictive behaviors and thought patterns. Using substances like mushrooms and marijuana during rehab can interfere with the therapeutic process, making it harder for someone to stay focused on recovery.
Psychoactive substances can also reignite cravings for drugs or alcohol. For instance, if someone frequently used marijuana before entering rehab, returning to it could easily revive old habits. Moreover, relying on substances like weed or shrooms to manage emotional or mental challenges during recovery may prevent the development of healthier coping strategies, ultimately jeopardizing long-term sobriety.
Additionally, the use of these substances can impair judgment and lower inhibitions, making it more difficult to resist temptations. Individuals in recovery are particularly susceptible, especially in the early stages, and using these substances can cloud their decision-making, increasing the likelihood of engaging in risky behaviors that may lead to relapse.
Even if a person does not have a prior addiction to cannabis or mushrooms, their use during recovery could result in cross-addiction. As noted by EBSCO Information Services, cross-addiction, or addiction transfer, occurs when an individual replaces one addictive behavior with another. While marijuana and mushrooms may not be as traditionally addictive as other substances, they can still result in psychological dependence and addiction.
How Do Shrooms and Weed Affect Your Mental Clarity?
Both mushrooms and cannabis impact the brain, potentially resulting in cognitive challenges such as issues with memory, learning, concentration, and decision-making. The active ingredient in mushrooms, psilocybin, can significantly disrupt cognitive abilities, leading to confusion, trouble focusing, and poor judgment.
While many individuals experience introspection during a psychedelic trip, this can be counterproductive for those in recovery who are striving for mental clarity and stability. For some, particularly those with a history of mental health challenges, mushrooms may trigger severe paranoia or anxiety, which can be distressing and hinder their healing process.
As reported by GoodRX, short-term effects of THC, the main component in cannabis, can also create difficulties in thinking and memory, complicate decision-making and problem-solving, and may even result in hallucinations and delusions, all of which can cloud mental clarity. Furthermore, one of the most prevalent side effects of cannabis, especially with regular use, is brain fog, which can impede those in recovery from addressing emotional pain, participating in therapy, or reflecting on their past actions.
What Are the Long-Term Consequences of Using Shrooms and Weed?
The long-term effects of using shrooms and weed vary based on the frequency of use and individual health factors. However, one of the most concerning consequences of long-term use of these substances is the potential for dependence and addiction. Those with a history of substance use disorder are more susceptible to addiction to these substances as they can reactivate the reward system.
There are also several mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and psychosis associated with using weed long-term. Individuals with a predisposition to mental health issues can trigger or worsen conditions like psychosis or anxiety disorders with psychedelic use.
Contact WhiteSands Treatment if You Are Struggling with Continued Use of Shrooms and Weed During Recovery
If you or a loved one are struggling with the continued use of shrooms and weed during recovery, you’re not alone. Many individuals find themselves turning to substances like these as a way to cope with stress, emotional distress, or lingering cravings. At WhiteSands Treatment, we understand how difficult it can be to break free from these patterns, especially when they interfere with the progress you’re trying to make in your recovery journey. Our comprehensive treatment programs are designed to help you rebuild your life and find healthier ways to cope with challenges.
Contact WhiteSands Treatment today at 877-855-3470 to learn more about how we can help you break free from the grip of shrooms, weed, and other substances.
External Sources
- Frontiers in Psychiatry – Therapeutic effect of psilocybin in addiction: A systematic review
- EBSCO Information Services – Cross-addiction
- GoodRX – What Does Weed Do to Your Brain? Long-Term Effects of Marijuana
If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.
About the Author
Jackie has been involved in the substance abuse and addiction treatment sector for over five years and this is something that she is truly eager about. She has a passion for writing and continuously works to create informative pieces that not only educate and inform the public about the disease of addiction but also provide solutions for those who struggle with drug and alcohol abuse.
