The Pros and Cons of Replacing Alcohol With Weed

The Pros and Cons of Replacing Alcohol With Weed Addiction Coping and Recovery Personal Stories Print The Pros and Cons of Substituting Marijuana for Alcohol By Buddy T facebook twitter Buddy T is an anonymous writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Learn about our editorial policy Buddy T Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on November 29, 2019 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD on November 29, 2019 Diverse Images / UIG / Getty Images More in Addiction Coping and Recovery Personal Stories Methods and Support Overcoming Addiction Alcohol Use Addictive Behaviors Drug Use Nicotine Use In order to stop drinking, some people have taken the controversial step of substituting marijuana for alcohol, a practice commonly known referred to as marijuana maintenance.?? Those who support the practice argue that marijuana is far less hazardous to a persons health than alcohol (essentially the same argument used when comparing marijuana to cigarettes). While the rationale is not without its merits, those opposed to it argue that the goals of sobriety are never truly achieved if a person replaces one mind-altering drug with another. Is Marijuana a Gateway Drug? Cons of Marijuana Management of Alcohol Abuse What irks people opposed to marijuana maintenance is not only that it is founded on a premise that marijuana is not only safer than alcohol but that it is tacitly safe. Given that no such evidence exists to support the premise, advocating marijuana management is not only unfounded but unconscionable, say opponents. The very foundation of alcohol recovery is based on the recognition that alcohol is harmful and that the affected person has no control over it.?? Softening the blow inherently suggests that marijuana is something over which you have greater control and infers that the self-awareness you are meant to achieve during the recovery can wait until you are stronger and no longer need either marijuana or alcohol. In the end, say the detractors, the practice only aims to replace one habit with another under the guise that marijuana is the less-harmful alternative. And this, says the National Institute on Drug Abuse, may not be the case.?? Among the possible concerns: Marijuana may contribute to underlying mental health problems common in people with alcohol dependence.Marijuana can have a long-term impact on a persons health, including bone density loss, the reduction of exercise toleration, impairment of memory and cognitive skills, and the increased risk of lung conditions. Although there is considerable debate around this, some believe marijuana can can sometimes act as a gateway drug, potentially leading those with an addictive behavior to other, more dangerous drugs like cocaine and heroin. One of the major potential pitfalls of using marijuana as a replacement therapy is the possibility of dependence. Approximately 10- 20% of daily cannabis users ?become dependent. Pros of Marijuana Management of Alcohol Abuse Supporters of marijuana management programs are quick to point out that evidence has largely been split on how effective recovery programs like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) truly are. A 2006 Cochrane review of studies found no significant difference between the results of AA achieved compared to other treatment models.?? Even those studies which attributed benefits to the AA methodology concluded that successful sobriety was more associated with the frequency of meeting attendance than the 12-step model itself. For those who are unable or unwilling to regularly attend, the rate of failure was high. It is these individuals that marijuana management may prove beneficial, say supporters. It recognizes that abstinence-based programs are not only unachievable but unrealistic for some people. By allowing a person to taper off gradually with marijuana, many of the ill-effects of detoxification may be softened. In terms of safety, marijuana has largely been demonized. When compared to alcohol, it can be used relatively safely without the risk of death from binging, with few drugs interactions, and with far less impact on ones long-term health.?? And, unlike alcohol, which has absolutely no health benefits, marijuana is frequently used to alleviate pain, stimulate appetite, and enhance moodsâ€"three properties that can be invaluable to those in the throes of alcohol recovery. How Medical Marijuana Works