Gamification Beats Marijuana Addiction

Are you starting to feel negative consequences because you’re using too much marijuana? Are you unable to cut back? You may have Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD) and need real help to get control back over your life.

You’re not alone. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, nearly 6 percent of adults and teens qualify as having CUD.

One of the biggest risk factors that can increase someone’s likelihood of developing an addiction to weed is starting to use the drug as a teen. You may be self-medicating with weed to manage anxiety, depression, ADD, or other psychiatric conditions, but heavy use for these increases the chance of developing a physical dependency. With highly potent marijuana products widely available, there’s also a potential risk of developing schizophrenia, particularly in young men.

When you’re balancing the demands of college life, it can sometimes feel like smoking weed is a quick fix for stress. But what if you could manage stress, keep up with your studies, and still have fun without relying so much on smoking, vaping, or edibles? Contingency Management (CM) might be your ideal solution for managing marijuana use successfully.

When you play a game, do you notice you keep playing to collect points and are motivated to work and conquer challenges while having fun? You are earning rewards in the game that make you feel good because your brain is naturally generating chemicals. That’s why some people say games are addictive, and why they’re also great learning tools. The little things that add up to win those games and feel good is exactly what Contingency Management is.

At its core, CM is a method that rewards you for making healthier choices. It’s based on a fundamental concept in psychology and neuroscience: our brains respond to rewards. Every time you do something enjoyable, your brain releases a chemical called dopamine, which makes you feel good. That’s why, when you’re feeling stressed or want to relax, you might reach for a joint – it triggers that dopamine release. But the more you use, the stronger that habit can become, and it might start feeling like you’re not in control anymore.

That’s where CM comes in. By giving you rewards for reducing your weed use, it starts to create a new link in your brain: healthier choices = dopamine = feeling good. This can help you feel more in control and capable of managing your habits.

Plus, CM isn’t a massive time commitment that’ll eat into your study or social time. We’ve conveniently incorporated into a smartphone app, so it’s always at your fingertips. The app also connects you with professional medical and counseling support, so you’re never alone in your journey. With a gamified design that gives you rewards for doing the things you need to stop using weed and start building healthy habits, the app really works to beat marijuana.

College is all about growth and discovery, and with CM, you can discover a healthier relationship with weed, while still excelling in your studies and enjoying your social life. It’s about finding balance and being the best version of yourself. Your journey to a healthier you starts with Contingency Management. To find out more and see if Affect is the right fit for you, reach out to talk confidentially with us.