Interesting Article

Is marijuana addictive?

That has been the 64 thousand dollar question! And, the answer to that question seems to ride solely on the chemical co-dependence theory. From time to time, I’m sure you’ve heard someone ask; is this substance addictive or that substance addictive, right! The list could go on and on couldn’t it? Well, to answer that question, nothing is addictive but any substance or activity can be used as an addiction! In other words, people choose addictive behavior, and there is a primary reason why they do. Have you ever wondered why some people can smoke pot, use a drug, or drink alcohol and walk away from it yet others can not?

If these substances were in fact chemically addictive or caused a chemical co-dependence by attacking key receptors in the brain, wouldn’t everyone who tried the substance once become addicted to it? The answer is yes! But, that doesn’t happen –EVER! However, the chemical co-dependence model has become a common methodology, which has been perpetuated by our own government agency the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA.) If you visit the (NIDA) website you will find countless CT scans displaying the chemical effects of psychoactive substances on the human brain. Now, I am not disputing the fact that marijuana, drugs, alcohol, nicotine and other substances do chemically alter the brain, however, so do other innocuous substances such as sugar and salt. And furthermore, that chemical alteration is not the root cause of the addiction and nor does it prevent addiction recovery.

The Root cause of Marijuana Addiction

I believe there is a common denominator or root cause of every addiction. So, whether you’re addicted to marijuana, drugs, alcohol, sex, food, or gambling, they all have a common thread. Plain and simple, the root cause of addiction is the emotional scars caused by family dysfunction. Patterns of verbal, sexual, and physical abuse, along with absentee parenting and substance abuse cause emotional trauma. This emotional trauma results in low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression. As an addiction recovery coach, I have never experienced a single case of addiction that wasn’t rooted in family dysfunction – not one!

The Effects of Marijuana

There has been a great deal of controversy concerning the classification of marijuana as a drug. Is it a stimulant, a depressant, or a hallucinogen? Unlike most other substances such as cocaine, opiates, and alcohol, which are classified as either stimulants or depressants, marijuana seems to be quite unique since it exhibits the effects of all three classifications. The major psychoactive chemical in marijuana is called delta-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Therefore, as the level of (THC) rises, so does the strength and potency of the pot. Even though marijuana seems to induce mostly hallucinogenic effects, it also causes stimulation and depression. The effects of marijuana can vary from one individual to the next, but if you’ve been smoking pot, I’m quite sure you understand the changing dynamics of the experience.

Initially, there is a stimulating and euphoric effect that elevates heart rate and blood pressure. This stage is frequently followed by a hallucinogenic phase where some may experience impaired vision, delusions, and even paranoia. And the final phase usually results in a mellowed or somewhat depressed state, which often exacerbates anxiety and depression. This may seem to be counterproductive since most individuals using marijuana habitually are doing so to cope with anxiety and depression. However, for some the former euphoric and hallucinogenic benefits seem to out way the later depressive phase.

How to Quit

OK! I’m not going to mince words here. Will power has nothing to do with quitting. Absolutely, unequivocally nothing at all! If you really want to quit smoking pot you’re going to have to face the issues that are causing your anxiety, depression, and emotional distress. Fix the root of the problem and smoking pot will become repulsive to you. Start by examining your history. What types of dysfunctional patterns have contributed to your emotional pain? Were you verbally, physically, or sexually abused as a child? Were you forced to parent your siblings or worse one of your parents as a child? Or, did one or both of your parent’s abuse alcohol and drugs? How have these patterns caused your anxiety, depression, and/or low self-esteem? Once you uncover these negative patterns, you must take the action necessary to liberate your self from them. This is the foundation required for empowering yourself and restoring your self-esteem, which is a vital component to addiction recovery. Let’s face it! If you really felt a strong sense of self-worth would you be engaging in self-destructive behavior?

Regards,

The Addiction Freedom Coach

For more information on how to overcome your marijuana addiction subscribe to my free 40 page e guide below…..

Part 4

In those days it was still known as a loser thing to do to smoke dagga. So it was all very under cover and secretive, this also being a draw cards to being involved. People looked down on smokers of the herb and we looked at them and just thought you guys don’t understand. You were not just included in our group if you smoked weed and even in the group there were smaller groups. It was all a very involved network and we felt like we belonged. I can still remember the days we would be out surfing and when one of us got out the water it was a sign that it was time to light another one. If you were not quick you would miss out and then you would be straight will everyone else was stoned. The beach life as a kid was great and I loved surfing and I loved belonging to something. My family life was not the greatest and by the age of 11 my parents were divorced and it was just me and my 3 sisters and my amazing Mom. I say this because she brought up 4 kids on a sectaries salary and we never went without food or roof over our heads. So I grew up pretty quick without a father, but for me life was better without my Dad there was peace in our home and till this day my sisters are all amazing woman. Just a bit of backround of my home life as there was one in all of this. I was now the man of the house and even though it was along time before I should have been it was time.

Part 3

That was a long time ago and this was the start of many years of my friendship with the wacky weed. Times that followed were all about taking more risks when doing the deed. We even started to smoke weed at school and then even in bars and we never seemed to get caught. Of course there was never any planning we just did it. I remember once being in Durban at a popular club and there was about 5 of us sitting at a dark table near the dance floor. We broke a bottle and made a bottle neck right there. I can remember the bouncers running all over the place and looking at everyone but nobody knew it was us crazy days. There were many days like this and we became close friends and our main connection to each other was Mary-Jane. We ate certain foods to deal with the dry mouths and we even started growing our own dope in and around our houses. We were young we surfed and we smoked weed and the world was a beautiful place to be. We all came from different places in life some had money so as myself had very little but we all stuck together.

Part2

I remember just before i took that first pull of the joint that i was finally doing it and at the same time a nervous excitement about the illegal side of it. I heard the whispers of all the others and the fear that went with it. There we were sitting next to the railway tracks the cool night breeze blowing around us all waiting to see the effects of what we had just taken part in. Nothing we all felt normal, all except the pro of course. He casually said “ nothing ever happens the first time you smoke”. So we got down immediately to doing this a second time, again silence consumed us, every now and again the sound of the smoker coughing and spurting. Suddenly as if something had taken over our bodies and the laughter started, uncontrollable we laugh at nothing and could not stop. We went down to the beach and just continued to laugh and laugh. I have never laugh so much before and been so paranoid at the same time like someone was watching us and following us. I will never forget that night the start of 14 years of smoking weed. The night ended and I was so nervous to go home because everyone would know so i stayed over at a friend of mine.

The start of all things

This is where it all began in a small town on the south coast of Africa . I was part of the surfing culture and smoking weed and surfing just went together back then. My first time I tried Durban posion was when i was 13. There was about 6 of us first timers and we had got all ready for this very nervous experience. It was Friday night and we were ready to take the step so many older surfers had already taken. Per pressure had nothing to do with it it was time to do this.
After alot of debate we decided the train track was the safest place away from any cops. There we were 6 kooks and a pro smoker.