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Some of the information in this episode was taken from my good friend Ben Cort, author of "Weed, Inc." If you want to learn more from him, please reference his Ted Talks:

https://www.ted.com/talks/ben_cort_what_commercialization_is_doing_to_cannabis

The modern marijuana landscape has undergone a radical transformation that few people fully understand. What was once a relatively mild substance with THC concentrations of 0.5-1% has evolved into a highly potent drug containing 15-30% THC in plant form and up to a staggering 90% in concentrates. This isn't your grandparents' weed - it's a completely different substance with serious health implications.

As competition drives dispensaries to create increasingly potent products, we're witnessing a marketplace-driven acceleration of THC delivery with minimal regulation. Unlike alcohol, which faces strict concentration limits and ingredient oversight, marijuana cultivation practices often include concerning chemicals and pesticides that would never be permitted in other consumable products. The result? A substance that's potentially more dangerous than many realize.

The health consequences are troubling. Recovery from marijuana addiction now takes longer than recovery from substances like methamphetamine or fentanyl, with normal cognitive and memory function potentially impaired for 60-90 days after cessation. Young chronic users face significantly higher risks of psychiatric issues including THC-induced psychosis. Perhaps most alarming is Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS), a painful condition causing violent vomiting that affects up to 30% of chronic users and can only be treated through complete abstinence.

What makes marijuana addiction particularly challenging is its gradual progression, allowing users to easily deny the connection between their use and life problems. If you're concerned about a loved one who uses marijuana heavily, especially if they began at a young age, understanding these modern realities is crucial. Reach out to me at matt@partywreckers.com or interventiononcall.com if you need guidance navigating this complex issue.

Support the show

Join us Every Thursday Night at 8:00 EST/5:00PST for a FREE family support group. Register at the following link to get the zoom information sent to you: Family Support Meeting

About our sponsor(s):

Intervention on Call is on online platform that allows families and support systems to get immediate coaching and direction from a professional interventionist. While a professional intervention can be a powerful experience for change, not every family needs a professionally led intervention. For families who either don't need or can't afford a professional intervention, we can help. Hour sessions are $150.

Therapy is a very important way to take care of your mental health. This can happen from the comfort of your own home or office. If you need therapy and want to get a discount on your first month of services please try Better Help.

If you want to know more about the host's private practice please visit:
Matt Brown: Freedom Interventions

Follow the host on TikTok
Matt: @mattbrowninterventionist


If you have a question that we can answer on the show, please email us at matt@partywreckers.com

We want to hear from you! Send us a question or comment.

The question Matt Brown hears most frequently in his work as an addiction interventionist is deceptively simple yet profoundly challenging: "How do I get my loved one to accept help?" In this powerful return episode of the Party Wreckers podcast, Brown draws from decades of experience to provide families with practical, compassionate strategies for breaking through resistance and creating pathways to recovery.

Matt begins by dismantling the myth that addiction is a choice, comparing it to the overwhelming urge to scratch a chickenpox itch despite knowing the consequences. "Nobody wakes up and decides, 'Hey, I think I'm going to burn my life to the ground today,'" he explains. Rather, addiction functions as a desperate attempt to self-medicate against underlying trauma, mental health issues, or emotional pain that feels unbearable without chemical assistance.

At the heart of this episode is the powerful parallel between the addict's struggle and the family's enabling patterns. Matt reveals how both sides operate from the same emotional avoidance - the addict using substances to escape feelings, while family members enable to avoid guilt, conflict, and discomfort. "Addiction can't survive for any length of time without enabling," Brown states, comparing the relationship to oxygen feeding a fire. By examining three primary forms of enabling - financial support, emotional coddling, and silence - families can begin identifying their contributions to the cycle.

Matt provides transformative guidance on establishing and communicating boundaries, emphasizing language that signals true resolve: replacing "I can't do this anymore" with "I will no longer do this." He explains why family unity proves crucial in intervention success, noting that the 10-15% of people who initially refuse help often do so because they don't believe boundaries are real. When families stand firm while continuing to express love, the message becomes clear: "We're no longer going to let your addiction dictate the rules and hold this family hostage."

For families feeling afraid of potential consequences - from homelessness to incarceration or worse - Brown offers balanced perspective and hope. "Those things aren't as catastrophic as what waits if addiction continues," he acknowledges, whil

Support the show

Join us Every Thursday Night at 8:00 EST/5:00PST for a FREE family support group. Register at the following link to get the zoom information sent to you: Family Support Meeting

About our sponsor(s):

Intervention on Call is on online platform that allows families and support systems to get immediate coaching and direction from a professional interventionist. While a professional intervention can be a powerful experience for change, not every family needs a professionally led intervention. For families who either don't need or can't afford a professional intervention, we can help. Hour sessions are $150.

Therapy is a very important way to take care of your mental health. This can happen from the comfort of your own home or office. If you need therapy and want to get a discount on your first month of services please try Better Help.

If you want to know more about the host's private practice please visit:
Matt Brown: Freedom Interventions

Follow the host on TikTok
Matt: @mattbrowninterventionist


If you have a question that we can answer on the show, please email us at matt@partywreckers.com

We want to hear from you! Send us a question or comment.

Layne LoMaglio's journey from addiction to recovery is as inspiring as it is cautionary, and his story begins with a box of wine at age 12. This episode promises to unravel the complexities of mental health struggles and the winding path to sobriety. Join us as Layne shares his personal battle with clinical depression and self-harm, alongside his early experiences with alcohol. Host Matt Brown adds a heartfelt dimension by recounting his daughter's struggles with anxiety, underscoring the necessity of compassion and understanding when supporting young people. Through these shared experiences, we explore the vital role of family and therapy in healing.

Layne's story takes us through the challenges of relapse, the impact of a rigid recovery mindset, and the ultimate redemption found in flexibility and community support. From the initial failure of a sober apartment plan in Austin to success in Kerrville, Layne's narrative is one of resilience and adaptability. His evolution from operations to founding Helm Recovery highlights the importance of lived experience in intervention and coaching roles. Together, Lane and Matt discuss the intertwined nature of substance use and mental health, offering insights into how thoughtful interventions can pave the way for lasting change.

Contact Layne at Helm Recovery or book a private coaching session with him at Intervention on Call.

Support the show

Join us Every Thursday Night at 8:00 EST/5:00PST for a FREE family support group. Register at the following link to get the zoom information sent to you: Family Support Meeting

About our sponsor(s):

Intervention on Call is on online platform that allows families and support systems to get immediate coaching and direction from a professional interventionist. While a professional intervention can be a powerful experience for change, not every family needs a professionally led intervention. For families who either don't need or can't afford a professional intervention, we can help. Hour sessions are $150.

Therapy is a very important way to take care of your mental health. This can happen from the comfort of your own home or office. If you need therapy and want to get a discount on your first month of services please try Better Help.

If you want to know more about the host's private practice please visit:
Matt Brown: Freedom Interventions

Follow the host on TikTok
Matt: @mattbrowninterventionist


If you have a question that we can answer on the show, please email us at matt@partywreckers.com