Are you searching for a THC detox solution? Maybe you have an upcoming drug test you need to pass for employment or perhaps you want to get sober after years of marijuana abuse. Whatever the reason, quick fixes like cranberry juice, excessive water consumptions, vinegar, or detox teas won’t get the job done but several THC detox products claim to help you detox within as little as five hours. Seem too good to be true?
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Although the alluring promises of THC detox products are surely enticing, they may not be all they’re cracked up to be. In this blog, we’ll look at some of the most common THC detox products and the risks associated with them, as well as a safer, more effective way to detox from marijuana.
What are THC Detox Products?
THC detox products are herbal drinks, pills, or kits that claim to flush out the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) from the body. Unlike other methods that promise the same results, such as vinegar, cranberry juice, bleach, and excessive water consumption, THC detox products are marketed as fast and effective marijuana detox solutions.
When you use marijuana, the physical effects can be felt very quickly, but the drug leaves behind chemical compounds (cannabinoids) in your body that continue to linger long after the effects have worn off. Cannabinoids can be detected in your saliva, blood, hair, urine, and fingernails for hours, days, or months after using marijuana.
As the legalization of marijuana spreads rapidly across the country, more and more THC detox products are available for those who are seeking ways to flush those cannabinoids from their bodies. You can find and purchase these detox products online fairly easily with a quick Google search, and plenty of websites will offer tips and tricks on how to use them.
Most often, people seek out these products as a way to detox from marijuana quickly, so they can pass a drug test. Other people may use THC detox products to break their tolerance, so they can achieve a more powerful high.
Whatever the purpose for using a THC detox product, it’s very important to note that not all these products are safe, and they are not necessarily the best way to detox from marijuana.
Types of THC Detox Products
There are several types of THC detox products available for purchase:
- THC detox drinks – THC detox drinks will not rid your body of THC, rather, they temporarily lower levels of THC in your urine. They may not always work, and results vary greatly depending on the person, the frequency of marijuana abuse, hydration levels, stress, and several other factors.
- THC detox pills – Many herbal THC detox pills suggest users take them as a dietary supplement. They typically contain herbs, vitamins, and minerals that claim to cleanse the body of THC.
- THC detox kit – THC detox kits contain several pills, powders, and/or drinks to help marijuana users detox quickly. Many kits promise complete detox in 5 hours to 7 days.
The various types of THC detox products listed here are not guaranteed to work. They also are not designed to manage withdrawal symptoms, which could be dangerous if you are a very heavy marijuana user or are addicted to marijuana.
Are THC Detox Products Dangerous?
If you’re looking for a way to detox from marijuana, THC detox products are not the best solution. In a nutshell, here’s why:
- THC detox products are temporary solutions. A THC detox product may flush your body of THC, but it will not do anything to address the psychological addiction or behavioral issues that contribute to your marijuana abuse. If your goal is to get sober, you’ll need to address all aspects of your marijuana misuse, not just the physical one.
- They are not always effective. The results of THC detox products will vary based on several different factors, so whether your goal is to get sober or just pass a drug test, you may not be able to achieve that with a detox product.
- They do not manage withdrawal symptoms. THC detox products only claim to flush your system of THC. They don’t provide any relief from withdrawal symptoms. That being said, if you are addicted to marijuana, you may experience very uncomfortable physical and psychological symptoms if you use a THC detox product. Some of these symptoms, if left untreated, can continue to get worse over time.
- They may cause psychosis. THC detox products may have unpredictable side effects, as seen in one 2011 study where a 19-year-old man developed psychosis after using a detox kit.1
- Often, there is little or no regulation of these products. The manufacture, sale, and use of THC detox products aren’t always regulated,1 so it would be wise to avoid using them, especially if you aren’t sure how your body will react or if you are a heavy marijuana user.
Of course, the way in which you choose to detox from marijuana is your personal choice, however, you should proceed with caution if you choose to use a THC detox product.
THC Detox Products vs. Medically-Assisted Marijuana Detox
Now that you understand the risks involved with THC detox products, you should also know that you have other options for marijuana detox. The safest and most effective way to detox from marijuana (or any addictive substance) is with a medically-assisted marijuana detox program.
Inpatient medical detox provides several benefits that THC detox products don’t, ensuring your safety and comfort throughout the whole experience. For example, medical marijuana detox provides:
- 24/7 medical and clinical care by professionals
- A safe and sober environment in which to detox
- Reduced risk of relapse
- Medication-assisted treatment to reduce or eliminate the discomfort of withdrawal symptoms
- Individual and group therapy to the address social, cognitive, and psychological aspects of marijuana abuse or addiction
- Healthy meals to help restore balance in your body
- Professional recommendations for ongoing addiction treatment after detox
Medically-assisted marijuana detox is a great way to begin an addiction treatment program if you’re trying to get sober and stay that way. For business executives,people with established careers, or anyone who needs additional discretion and privacy during detox, an executive detox program for marijuana addiction may also be helpful.
How Long Does Marijuana Stay in Your System?
Marijuana can be detected in bodily fluids anywhere from one to 30 days. It can also be detected in hair for several months after initial use.2 However, the range of time in which marijuana can be detected in the body varies greatly depending on the dosage and frequency of marijuana use. Other factors will also influence how long THC stays in the body, such as your age, gender, and BMI, which all affect how your body processes and metabolizes marijuana.
Urine testing is the most common type of drug test used in the U.S., but the chart below shows how long marijuana can be detected in the body based on the various types of drug tests available.
| How Long Does Marijuana Stay in Your System? | |
| Urine testing |
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| Saliva testing |
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| Blood testing |
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| Hair testing |
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Marijuana Withdrawal Symptoms
The longer you use marijuana, the more likely you are to have severe withdrawal symptoms when you drastically reduce your marijuana use or stop completely. Although some symptoms may be mild, marijuana withdrawal symptoms may also be severe.7
Common marijuana withdrawal symptoms include:
- Headaches
- Chills
- Fever
- Fatigue/feeling very tired
- Loss of appetite/weight loss
- Depression
- Severe anxiety
- Sweatiness
- Shakiness
- Stomach pains
- Insomnia
- Restlessness
- Irritability
- Aggressive behavior
- Increased blood pressure (can cause stroke or heart attack)
- Irregular heartbeat
- Muscle cramping
- Seizures
About Marijuana Addiction
Despite the popular belief that marijuana is not addictive, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) says otherwise. Research suggests that somewhere between 9 and 30 percent of people who use marijuana will develop a marijuana use disorder.8 People who begin using marijuana before the age of 18 are also four to seven times more likely to develop an addiction.
Today, recreational marijuana and/or medical marijuana are legal in some states, however, it is still illegal in many. Regardless of the law, marijuana is the most commonly abused illegal drug in the U.S. with 22.2 million people reporting using it in the last month.10
Although most people who use marijuana do not go on to abuse harder substances like heroin or prescription drugs, it may still be a precursor to more substance abuse later in life.9
Best Way to Detox from THC
The best way to detox from marijuana is with a medical detox program because it ensures your safety and comfort throughout the entire process. Because drug detox can often be unpredictable, it’s always best to detox from THC and other substances with medical supervision. Even if you are not a heavy user of marijuana and don’t need a full detox program, you may still want to consider detoxing with brief medical supervision. That way, if a medical emergency occurs, you will have access to the healthcare assistance and treatment you need right away.
If you’d like more information on medical cannabis detox or marijuana detox programs, please call Briarwood Detox Center today to speak with an admissions specialist.
References:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3267515/
- https://www.healthline.com/health/how-long-does-weed-stay-in-your-system#detection-time-by-drug-test
- https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(16)30825-4/fulltext
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4532432/
- https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/157f/ce13e153e873b50b8644e34be07610800ffc.pdf
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4080811/
- https://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/post/marijuana-withdrawal-real
- https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana
- https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana/marijuana-gateway-drug
- https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana/what-scope-marijuana-use-in-united-states
