Marijuana Addiction

For today’s topic I’d like to discuss marijuana addiction. Many people start using marijuana as teenagers due to peer pressure, “fitting in,” and wanting to “experiment like everyone does” at this age. Another excuse I have heard is that it is “natural…it’s not like other hard-core drugs.”  Even in “pure form” like companies that give it to hospitals to treat diseases like cancer, it is for pain and it comes from laboratories that are closely monitored and approved to provide these services and they still have harmful affects on the brain.

Who Uses Marijuana:

• Teenagers
• Adults
• Professionals
• Anyone and at any age
  

When It Becomes A Problem:

• You only socialize with others who use it with you and you don’t socialize with others that don’t.
• Only prefer to go to social activities that can smoke marijuana there, you won’t want to go to the activities that you can’t do that.
• You prefer to smoke marijuana instead of working or going to school.
• When you neglect your responsibilities and interpersonal relationships like partners, spouses, children and other family members and friends, preferring to smoke marijuana instead.
  

Other Ways To Relax That Are Not Harmful:

• Watching an interesting program on the television
• Shopping
• Going to the movies
• Visiting a friend’s house
• Going for walks
• Talking to people over the phone
• Reading books or magazines
• Listening to music (whatever you enjoy listening to)
• Playing a musical instrument
• Painting/drawing
• Writing in a journal
• Taking a bubble bath or a long, warm shower
• Cooking your favorite meal or trying out a new recipe
• Playing video games
• Playing online free computer games
• Reading s spiritual book
• Meditation
• Doing crossword puzzles

Where To Get Help:

• Counselors at school or college
• Counselors in the community
• Support groups
• Substance abuse treatment programs
• Narcotics Anonymous

Remember You Are Not Alone, Reach Out To:

• Family
• Friends that do not use marijuana like joining a church group teen or adult groups for new opportunity to make new friends or sports group in school like track, etc.
• Teachers/counselors that you feel comfortable telling about this problem
• Neighbors you are close to
• You cannot keep it bottled up inside, you need to talk about it, process it and work on it to get over it, be patient, change happens in small steps

Remember Always:

• Everyone wants you to get better, especially the ones that love you
• It is ok to admit you have a problem and seek ways to get better, it takes a bigger person to face things than those that avoid them
• You deserve to be happy and drug free
• You can do it, just believe you can and you will
• You are special and deserve the best, who better than yourself

I wish you all the best in your journey!