Winter Woman
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Former marijuana addicts share how they got clean, got their lives back
Published: Saturday, February 05, 2011
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</DIV>By CAROL HOPKINS
Of The Oakland Press
Click to enlarge
The Oakland Press/ TIM THOMPSON Former marijuana addict Adam, 35, who asked that his last name and community not be used, sought help for his addiction at Marijuana Anonymous and is now trying to let people abusing marijuana know that there are groups to help people break the habit.
Adam started smoking marijuana in college at concerts and outings with friends.
It was just sporadic, recalls the licensed professional, who asked to not reveal his last name or community.
He increased his use of the drug, smoking every weekend, then long weekends and finally by the end of college he was smoking every day.
Adam, now 35, sought help and because of that, he is now trying to let people abusing marijuana know that there are Marijuana Anonymous groups to help people break the addiction.
Adam said in the early years, his wife didnt complain about his smoking.
Then she noticed I was smoking way too much, he said.
He would try going two weeks without smoking or only smoke on weekends.
No matter how I tried to quit or set up parameters, I would break (them), he said.
Adam smoked for 18 years.
I knew I had a problem long before I did something about it because I didn't think it was a big deal, he said.
Finally I agreed to attend the Marijuana Anonymous meeting in Ferndale and found others who shared similar stories I could directly relate to, he said.
Mike, Marijuana addict
Mike said he sees people from all walks of life at the Marijuana Anonymous meeting held Tuesdays and Saturdays in Ferndale at Zion Lutheran Church.
Teachers, lawyers, and a significant number are court-ordered attendees, he said.
The group has been meeting since the late 1990s, he said.
There are other groups that meet in Detroit and recently a group began in Ann Arbor.
Its a fellowship I can relate my drug of choice to, said Mike.
I didnt feel comfortable in Narcotics Anonymous because I didnt get blown out on coke (cocaine) or prescription drugs. But my life did become unmanageable.
Mike has been clean 18 years, he said.
Medical marijuana debate
With Michigan communities now snarled in issues involving medical marijuana, Mike thinks about the various aspects of the law, passed in 2008.
I struggle with (the law), he said.
I know marijuana can be medicine. I know there are mental health disorders that could be addressed by this. (It can help) people with chronic pain.
Mike is concerned about how easily people seem to acquire a medical marijuana card, he said.
There are people at our meetings who say you can see (certain) doctors and get a card pretty easily. I know people (who have cards) who are not debilitated.
Adam said medical marijuana may add mental hurdles to addicts.
Because its a psychological addiction, it gives you more reasons to go back to smoking, he said.
If society says its OK to be smoking, then why shouldnt I?
In Adams experience, the people attending Marijuana Anonymous meetings are 100 percent recreational addicts, not people who were involved with medical marijuana.
People welcome at meetings
Now clean for nearly two years, Adam began a new Marijuana Anonymous in Birmingham in November.
Im trying to raise awareness of it, he said.
There is no fee to attend the meeting, which is held at 8 p.m. on Wednesdays at the First Presbyterian Church at 1669 W. Maple Road.
For me, the biggest (draw at meetings) was having others around who have same addiction, he said.
I hear them struggling as I struggled. I tried to do this on my own (but couldnt).
Adam says his life has changed for the better.
After two or three weeks, my headaches were gone and my lung capacity was better, he said.
My anxiety was gone. I feel totally different.
Adam knows there are people who abuse all kinds of drugs, including alcohol.
There are people who drink and dont abuse alcohol, he said.
Thats what these 12-step programs are for for people like me who have no off button.
I want to help others who are as addicted to marijuana as I was. As the saying goes in the meetings, when you help others, you help yourself.
Contact staff writer Carol Hopkins at 248-745-4645 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @waterfordreport.
On the Web
Visit Marijuana Anonymous online at marijua
na-anonymous.org.
FYI
The Birmingham Marijuana Anonymous meetings are held at 8 p.m. Wednesdays at First Presbyterian Church, 1669 W. Maple Road. The Ferndale meetings are held at 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and noon Saturdays at Zion Lutheran Church, 143 Albany Street.
</DIV></DIV></DIV>
Published: Saturday, February 05, 2011
0diggsdigg
ShareThis
21
</DIV>By CAROL HOPKINS
Of The Oakland Press
Click to enlarge
The Oakland Press/ TIM THOMPSON Former marijuana addict Adam, 35, who asked that his last name and community not be used, sought help for his addiction at Marijuana Anonymous and is now trying to let people abusing marijuana know that there are groups to help people break the habit.
Adam started smoking marijuana in college at concerts and outings with friends.
It was just sporadic, recalls the licensed professional, who asked to not reveal his last name or community.
He increased his use of the drug, smoking every weekend, then long weekends and finally by the end of college he was smoking every day.
Adam, now 35, sought help and because of that, he is now trying to let people abusing marijuana know that there are Marijuana Anonymous groups to help people break the addiction.
Adam said in the early years, his wife didnt complain about his smoking.
Then she noticed I was smoking way too much, he said.
He would try going two weeks without smoking or only smoke on weekends.
No matter how I tried to quit or set up parameters, I would break (them), he said.
Adam smoked for 18 years.
I knew I had a problem long before I did something about it because I didn't think it was a big deal, he said.
Finally I agreed to attend the Marijuana Anonymous meeting in Ferndale and found others who shared similar stories I could directly relate to, he said.
Mike, Marijuana addict
Mike said he sees people from all walks of life at the Marijuana Anonymous meeting held Tuesdays and Saturdays in Ferndale at Zion Lutheran Church.
Teachers, lawyers, and a significant number are court-ordered attendees, he said.
The group has been meeting since the late 1990s, he said.
There are other groups that meet in Detroit and recently a group began in Ann Arbor.
Its a fellowship I can relate my drug of choice to, said Mike.
I didnt feel comfortable in Narcotics Anonymous because I didnt get blown out on coke (cocaine) or prescription drugs. But my life did become unmanageable.
Mike has been clean 18 years, he said.
Medical marijuana debate
With Michigan communities now snarled in issues involving medical marijuana, Mike thinks about the various aspects of the law, passed in 2008.
I struggle with (the law), he said.
I know marijuana can be medicine. I know there are mental health disorders that could be addressed by this. (It can help) people with chronic pain.
Mike is concerned about how easily people seem to acquire a medical marijuana card, he said.
There are people at our meetings who say you can see (certain) doctors and get a card pretty easily. I know people (who have cards) who are not debilitated.
Adam said medical marijuana may add mental hurdles to addicts.
Because its a psychological addiction, it gives you more reasons to go back to smoking, he said.
If society says its OK to be smoking, then why shouldnt I?
In Adams experience, the people attending Marijuana Anonymous meetings are 100 percent recreational addicts, not people who were involved with medical marijuana.
People welcome at meetings
Now clean for nearly two years, Adam began a new Marijuana Anonymous in Birmingham in November.
Im trying to raise awareness of it, he said.
There is no fee to attend the meeting, which is held at 8 p.m. on Wednesdays at the First Presbyterian Church at 1669 W. Maple Road.
For me, the biggest (draw at meetings) was having others around who have same addiction, he said.
I hear them struggling as I struggled. I tried to do this on my own (but couldnt).
Adam says his life has changed for the better.
After two or three weeks, my headaches were gone and my lung capacity was better, he said.
My anxiety was gone. I feel totally different.
Adam knows there are people who abuse all kinds of drugs, including alcohol.
There are people who drink and dont abuse alcohol, he said.
Thats what these 12-step programs are for for people like me who have no off button.
I want to help others who are as addicted to marijuana as I was. As the saying goes in the meetings, when you help others, you help yourself.
Contact staff writer Carol Hopkins at 248-745-4645 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @waterfordreport.
On the Web
Visit Marijuana Anonymous online at marijua
na-anonymous.org.
FYI
The Birmingham Marijuana Anonymous meetings are held at 8 p.m. Wednesdays at First Presbyterian Church, 1669 W. Maple Road. The Ferndale meetings are held at 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and noon Saturdays at Zion Lutheran Church, 143 Albany Street.
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