Friends that smoke too much Weed

[Beowulf]

I had a young relative who started with pot after graduating from college. From there, he went to harder drugs and alcohol. He was hooked, had some DUI's, got into trouble with family. Eventually, he went to long-term rehab, and now lives a productive clean and sober life. (I've condensed the story for space.) In addition to the rehab period, he lived with us for several months as a "half-way" environment, getting far away from his home state and old friends (bad influences). He needed a completely new start in life.

My dad was an alcoholic. He never quit drinking, and eventually died at age 66 from liver disease. His last few years were terrible, physically and mentally.

My MIL's health (rather, lack of health) is showing the results of tobacco addiction. She quit smoking only when she had to be on oxygen, 24/7. Terrible.

Yes, I can find lots of examples of people whose lives suffered from the abuse of chemicals. Funny, I can't think of any whose lives benefitted from using tobacco, alcohol, pot, or any other drugs.

Not to mention, how much money is spent on tobacco, alcohol, and drugs.

Dang, were you talking smack about me? Lol.
I don't think weed is a gateway to harder drugs unless one is genetically inclined. I have been clean and sober since Oct. 31, 2007. Some kids wanted me to guard them while they went trick-or-treating, and at first I said No, but their tearful disappointment made me so and think---what in hades was I doing, to prefer being drunk than to be with happy children? They dressed me as the Clint Eastwood character in those old spaghetti westerns, complete with toy pistols. It was a blast!

 

[ambrosia]

No, I'm saying people are not genetically addicted to drugs.

Here's the thing, some people have addictive personalities, that is in their genes, and they can get addicted to anything, ot just drugs, after not even trying something that many times. Others can become physically addicted to drugs depending on how often/much they do it and how addictive the drug itself is. Example, any opium based drug is highly addictive, that's heroin, morphine, oxycontin etc. I'm addicted to nicotine and caffiene, not exactly mood altering drugs, but nicotine is highly highly addictive more so than heroin, but I've drank enough coffee for long enough that I developed an addiction to it. But see, I don't have an addictive personality, I have at some point in my life tried alcohol, marijuana, coke, heroin, specail K, pcp, ectasy, mescaline, mushrooms, LSD and MDMA and got addicted to none of them.

Now people are going to experiment for a myraid of different reasons. Curiousity, rebellion, peer pressure, escape, wanting to open their third eye to the universe and find themselves, and on and on and on. Not everybody is the same, not everybody that is going to experiment does so because they already have an addictive personality, not everybody that experiments is going to become addicted, how much they allow it to become a part of their lives before they become addicted has more to do with their reasons for starting.

I see quite a bit of this painting everybody with the same brush thing going on in this thread. Reba knows someone's story. Okay, but that's not everybody's story. Is it a lot of people's story? Sure. But not everybody's not even close. Just because someone doesn't "know" someone that has a toke every now and then and still hs a very happy finctional life doesn't mean diddly squat. They probably really do, they just don't know they know someone who does. It's not like people that to occassionally smoke marijuana advertise it, "Hi!! I'm Jerry, nice to meet you, I like to smoke a joint on Saturday's night and chillax".

 

[VacationGuy234]

Science and studies are to different things. Science seeks truth while studies seek to prove an opinion. Science is not the problem.

To put a point on it: Before I dated on had women I was attracted to them, that's genetics. I can't control that bodily function(procreation). On the other hand, nobody goes into a bar and genetically has the urge for a drink if they have never had one. There is no urge until you already drink, not before.

 

[Reba]

Dang, were you talking smack about me? Lol.

No way!

I don't think weed is a gateway to harder drugs unless one is genetically inclined.

That's the problem. By the time someone realizes he or she is genetically inclined, it's too late. Why take that chance?

I have been clean and sober since Oct. 31, 2007. Some kids wanted me to guard them while they went trick-or-treating, and at first I said No, but their tearful disappointment made me so and think---what in hades was I doing, to prefer being drunk than to be with happy children? They dressed me as the Clint Eastwood character in those old spaghetti westerns, complete with toy pistols. It was a blast!

Keep up the good work.

(Clint Eastwood in his prime, eh? )

 

[Reba]

...I see quite a bit of this painting everybody with the same brush thing going on in this thread. Reba knows someone's story. Okay, but that's not everybody's story. Is it a lot of people's story? Sure. But not everybody's not even close. Just because someone doesn't "know" someone that has a toke every now and then and still hs a very happy finctional life doesn't mean diddly squat. They probably really do, they just don't know they know someone who does. It's not like people that to occassionally smoke marijuana advertise it, "Hi!! I'm Jerry, nice to meet you, I like to smoke a joint on Saturday's night and chillax".

How many stories does it have to be to be "enough?"

To me, just the stories of my loved ones is enough for me. Should I turn a blind eye of denial to what I see?

Also, the story of my relative was multiplied over many times by the other people in his rehabs--and that's just counting the ones who made it to rehab.

Really, why should one take the chance that he or she has that addictive personality or gene by taking the drink or drug the first time?

 

[ambrosia]

No point in continuing this with you, since my opinions are "rubbish" and "asinine."

BTW, I "dabbled" in the world of drugs for longer than you have been alive. Watched friends die, incarcerated, etc. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.

 

[ambrosia]

How many stories does it have to be to be "enough?"

To me, just the stories of my loved ones is enough for me. Should I turn a blind eye of denial to what I see?

Also, the story of my relative was multiplied over many times by the other people in his rehabs--and that's just counting the ones who made it to rehab.

Really, why should one take the chance that he or she has that addictive personality or gene by taking the drink or drug the first time?

Here's the thing, people, lots and lots of people like to point at weed as the starting point, and blame anything that happened afterwards on the weed, the "gateway". Here's the truth, the weed had nothing to do with these people stories end, they would have messed up their life and gone down that road, without the weed.

 

[VamPyroX]

If their lifestyle is all about weed and it's not your thing, then you shouldn't be hanging out with them. If you have to, then make it a "once a while" thing.

I do have a few friends who are potheads. I did manage to do things with them as long as they didn't involve weed. For instance, I'd go to parties with them and we'd drink together... but not smoke weed together. I'd go out to lunch/dinner with them and they weren't stoned.

My friend did have an old friend he hadn't seen in a long time. When his friend came to visit, the only thing he ever talked about was "weed this, weed that, weed here, weed there..." etc. That's it. He would even make it an obvious thing when he was going to smoke weed. "Hey, I'm going to go to my car to smoke a wonderful joint of weed. So, if you need me... I'll be in my car. Of course, if you ever want to join me for a joint... you're welcome to join me because the weed I have is awesome! I got it from my best weed friends in my fraternity in my college. So, ya'know... see you in a bit!" He already knew that my friend wasn't a weed type. After that weekend, my friend never talked to him again.

 

[Grummer]

If your friends' only goals are to get that next high then they are deep in the thros of their addicition. Like someone said, it is obviously they are escaping something painful.

Seems like it is time to move on to make new friends if their behaviors are dragging you down.

Nah!, its not they 'escaping from painful thing? what? they're kids what's so painful is likely school work , , they're just after a good time, since they young and brain still strong (to withstand some 'damages'...but there's a limit of course...

its just became a 'hobby' for those late teenage to adulthood, and again like i said before, 'it's a big test' into the adult world...pot get so very serious or very frivilous, or a very fad thing...just like a 'first car' (or second) may be a sports car, or a mountain-going 4x4 (small or whatever), its never practical, kids/youg adults never wanted real practical things, AND...Most of them KNOW Very well they are going the stuck in the serious working-for-rest-of-their-lives adulthood...

 

[VacationGuy234]

OP, regardless of whether this is a serious issue or not, people's lives change. You're going to have many relationships and those relationships are going to change over time.

My advice is that you keep in contact with them and when they are ready to go out and do things make time for them.

 

[saywhatkid]

How's the quitting ciggies going?

Thought so. You failed, just as I said you would. Too hard for someone that has your genetical makeup. Oops, I mean, exposure to tobacco-influenced social pressure.

 

[ambrosia]

How's the quitting ciggies going?

Thought so. You failed, just as I said you would. Too hard for someone that has your genetical makeup. Oops, I mean, exposure to tobacco-influenced social pressure.

Actually I'm week 4 but nice try, no I'm not genetically predisposed for addiction. Fact, cigarettes are just addicting, to anyone that starts smoking.

You seem to suffer much confusion about addiction. I realize that you have been in it's clutches........I'm sorry you feel the need to invent this complex of anyone and everyone who might so much as even try something that's addictive is an indication as a predisposition for addiction to justify and excuse your past activites. It's rather sad.

But let's delve into your theory just cuz. I'm going to be all open and honest about my experiences. Not sure if you read all the posts on here, but i touched on the myraid of reasons why someone might try them, and I gave a list of drugs I tried in my youth while sowing my wild oats. That little phrase is surely familiar to you correct?

My smoking cigarettes was a little bit to be "cool" and to be rebellious. Very straight laced Mormon upbringing I had, oldest of 6 kids and always the getting the pressure of being an example, yada yada, kids are stupid, plain and simple. I first tried pot, again to be "cool" I was at a high school graduation party and the boy I had a crush on wanted to know if I "blazed". I had no idea what the heck he was talking about, but naturally since I was a stupid kid and wanted to impress this boy I was hormonally gaga for of course I tried it. Smoked it socially every now and then over the year or so, but then I started working with a lot of people that smoked a lot of it. I'd have to say from age 19-22 I smoked weed everyday. Tried all kinds of drugs in that time as well, never really cared for anything, coke was to up, heroin was too down, tripping was fun but I don't think anyone gets addicted to tripping. That's just different, so mostly I smoked pot. Around my 23rd birthday I got pregnant, so I quit smoking weed, hadn't done any other kinds of drugs in at least a year after I got together with my boyfriend. No problems whatsoever quitting smoking weed. No withdrawls nothing, I was never addicted I just did it because I liked it. My boyfriend (at the time married him later) would smoke it with our roomate, a lot of times I'd be sitting between them and would pass the joint back and forth to them, no impulses to smoke it, didn't bother me at all. So yeah, you can keep your opinions, everybody's got one, and you know what else they say about opinions. I have my own experiences, which allows me to recognize first hand that your opinion is asine, and just full of malarkey.

 

[Jiro]

Actually I'm week 4 but nice try, no I'm not genetically predisposed for addiction. Fact, cigarettes are just addicting, to anyone that starts smoking.

You seem to suffer much confusion about addiction. I realize that you have been in it's clutches........I'm sorry you feel the need to invent this complex of anyone and everyone who might so much as even try something that's addictive is an indication as a predisposition for addiction to justify and excuse your past activites. It's rather sad.

some people choose alcohol and some choose weed and some choose others. why? because they are genetically predisposed to a certain thing that responds to "well" to them.

and some people have no problem giving it up and some people have very hard time to give it up. why? because of their genetic makeup.

 

[ambrosia]

some people choose alcohol and some choose weed and some choose others. why? because they are genetically predisposed to a certain thing that responds to "well" to them.

and some people have no problem giving it up and some people have very hard time to give it up. why? because of their genetic makeup.

No, just no. There are hundreds of reasons why someone, someone young btw, would try drugs and alcohol and no, having a genetic predispostion to addiction is not one of them. For one thing having a genetic predisposition to addiction is not specific to one thing, someone with an addictive personality can get addicted to anything. It doesn't even have to be drugs or alcohol, it can be gambling, porn the internet, etc etc etc. They didn't even have the internet a hundred years ago, how are you going to inheret an addiction specific to the internet???

When you're young you make poor choices okay. There is really truly such a thing as peer pressure. It exists. There is rebellion, and some people had horrible childhoods and turn to them for escape. Some kids are just looking to party party party, can this behavior lead to addiction? Sure, of course. But how in the hell are the millions and millions of teenagers out there that start experimenting with drugs and alcohol all going to have the reason for experimenting?? What kind of sense does that make? None, it doesn't make any sense that the reason all those kids started experimenting because they have addictive personalities. I'm starting to feel like I landed on a different planet and you guys didn't even grow up, that you've been body snatched by aliens or something, how can you not remember being a kid?

God I had to come back and write some more, I'm just so flabbergasted.

So let's say a kid in high school his parents are going out of town. He knows some older kids and they get a keg for him. He has a party and invites half the school. Are you going to tell me that every kid that says yes, and goes to that party, drinks beer, does so because they have a genetic disposition to be addicted to alcohol?? Seriously?? You can't think of any other reason why those kids would say yes? None??

 

[whatdidyousay!]

I had a young relative who started with pot after graduating from college. From there, he went to harder drugs and alcohol. He was hooked, had some DUI's, got into trouble with family. Eventually, he went to long-term rehab, and now lives a productive clean and sober life. (I've condensed the story for space.) In addition to the rehab period, he lived with us for several months as a "half-way" environment, getting far away from his home state and old friends (bad influences). He needed a completely new start in life.

My dad was an alcoholic. He never quit drinking, and eventually died at age 66 from liver disease. His last few years were terrible, physically and mentally.

My MIL's health (rather, lack of health) is showing the results of tobacco addiction. She quit smoking only when she had to be on oxygen, 24/7. Terrible.

Yes, I can find lots of examples of people whose lives suffered from the abuse of chemicals. Funny, I can't think of any whose lives benefitted from using tobacco, alcohol, pot, or any other drugs.

Not to mention, how much money is spent on tobacco, alcohol, and drugs.

I know a lot of people that smoked pot and they never used any hard drugs .
I find giving up sugar is harder to do than pot. Most of the alcoholics I knew either drank or ate a lot sugary food. They could give up pot but not sugar.
I had no trouble giving up pot ,but put some sweets in front of me and I will have to use all my willpower not to eat. As for drinking and smoking tobacco I never uses the stuff.

 

[VacationGuy234]

OK, lets back off from the personal attacks.

 

[jonnyghost]

It's the old nature vs nurture debate. Today we understand that both have an influence on our dicision making. Your experience as much as your genetics play a role.

 

[Jiro]

OK, lets back off from the personal attacks.

what are you talking about? who? where?

I see that you kept saying that quite often. perhaps you need to stay out of kitchen.

 

[VacationGuy234]

some people choose alcohol and some choose weed and some choose others. why? because they are genetically predisposed to a certain thing that responds to "well" to them.

and some people have no problem giving it up and some people have very hard time to give it up. why? because of their genetic makeup.

Genetics does not make you choose a drug, it may enhance the affect of a drug, but it does not make you choose it. Your choice comes before any genetic reality. You are not choosing to use another drug because you, "KNOW" that drug will feel better, you're choosing it for other reasons. Those reasons could be because it is cool, cheap or your friends choice drug, but it is not because you were born to have that drug.

That's like walking though a buffet and never choosing anything you don't like, not gonna happen.

 

[Bottesini]

OK, lets back off from the personal attacks.

Were you making personal attacks??

(Now waiting for Lau to come and hysterically defend your honor.)