Answered questions(12)
Teens & Marijuana: Getting a life
I used to smoke marijuana quite a lot when I was younger. Now my son is using. He is 17. I am not that worried about it since I don't think it is a very harmful drug, actually I would rather he smoke a joint than get drunk. My wife says that marijuana today is a lot stronger and it is dangerous now and that it is addictive now and not like it used to be. She never used drugs of any kind so I am not sure if she isn't just freaked by the idea of ANY drug use by our son and maybe she is not acting totally rationally. Is the marijuana floating around today really more dangerous? I understand that it is stronger but doesn't that just mean you need to smoke less to get high... I seem to remember getting pretty high even on the low potency weed of 20 years ago…
Read answer →I am an addict. Is gambling addictive for me?
I am a recovering alcoholic and drug addict. I have 3 years 7 months clean from all drugs and 2 years 4 months clean and sober. I am invited to a friend’s bachelor party in Vegas. He is a very good friend to me and I would like to attend. I am actually not very worried that I will be overly tempted to drink or use drugs but I have a question about gambling. My friends are not big drinkers but they like to play blackjack. I’ve never really played at all. Do you think that since I have a pretty addictive personality I need to stay away from gambling just like I need to stay away from substances? I feel like I should but I also feel like I am overreacting/being fearful of life. I don’t want live my recovery in a cave but I also don’t want to be dumb.
Read answer →Getting a bit of a lift
I feel like I have to get high every day. I know this is not the PC thing to say but I am in my fourth decade now and I know what I can and cannot do and what I need pretty well. I can’t keep on with the drinking and harder drugs though. I know another serious round with a few of those dangerous suspects could be my last at my age. I am wondering if there is some sort of antidepressant or something like that that I could take - Or maybe even Suboxone…although I am not on opiates right now? Even though I am not depressed. That would get me as high as I need to be every day (which is not even that high really) but that is not too bad for my body and mind for use on a long term basis. I realize this request probably goes against some sort of therapeutic principles but for me, at this point in my life, it is really all about harm reduction and accepting my limitations.
Read answer →Is it the feelings or the addiction - marijuana withdrawals
Can you get physically addicted to marijuana or is it only a psychological addiction like a bad habit.
Read answer →Weed and Alcohol
I was drinking about 8 to 10 beers most days of the week. Now I am trying to drink 2 or 3 beers every day but I bought a bunch of weed also and I have a bowl or two after the beers and that helps me coast off to sleep without needing such a beer buzz. My wife thinks I am being irresponsible and she is worried that I am going to get caught by our teenage daughter but I think that even though it is not perfect it's a lot better for my body and it is a good step forward in the right direction. She wants me to stop. I want to hear an expert's opinion on this so I can show her that I am not crazy...or maybe so I will know that I really am crazy...
Read answer →It is more than stopping using!
I was taking Adderall for about 6 months (I am not supposed to) and I quit about 3 weeks ago. It was difficult but I have not taken a single pill since the day I quit. I am still feeling tired and depressed, not like my old self. How long will it take for me to get back to normal?
Read answer →Irritability when withdrawing
I quit cocaine and ever since I have been feeling very irritable. I am 3 weeks clean and it’s a bummer that I am not feeling a little more in good spirits. I feel like I should celebrate the longest I have been clean in years but what I actually seem to be doing is getting annoyed with everyone around me. How much longer am I going to feel this way? Or have I done some permanent damage to my brain and this is my new personality?
Read answer →Restless Leg Syndrome
I am a long time user of over the counter codeine/paracetemol. I take about 10 to 15 per day but the recommended daily maximum is only 8 so I know I am playing with fire and risking my liver every day. I am trying to cut down but it is very hard. I have been using these pills every day for more than 5 years. There are a lot of unpleasant withdrawal symptoms I get when I try to cut down but the worst is the restless legs I get. My legs feel all jumpy and jittery as soon as I try to relax and go to sleep and it is impossible to fall asleep with this feeling. It is really really unpleasant and frustrating. Do you have any advice on anything I can do to relieve the restless legs problem? I try exercising to tire myself out but it doesn’t seem to really help.
Read answer →Cocaine Risks
If a friend only uses cocaine every once in a while I shouldn’t be too worried about them right? I am talking about maybe once a month. How often would he need to start using before I should get worried that he is going to get addicted to it?
Read answer →Opiate pills detox
I was an alcoholic and I had acute pancreatitis 3 times. The pain was really bad. It even made me quit drinking and that was something I did not think I could ever do. Now I have had another attack even though I have not drank in 8 months and the doctors say I probably have pancreatitis for the rest of my life and it might even kill me unless I really take care of my body. I am not drinking at all anymore but I am abusing percocets and vicodins and nortabs and sometimes even heroin. I am addicted to opiates. I am only 42 and I am not ready to die. I want to quit drugs forever. I want to take Suboxone. But what I want to know is what will happen to me if I go on Suboxone and I get a sudden attack? Will I be able to take morphine on the IV like usual?
Read answer →Am I immune to addiction?
I use heroin on the weekends, usually on Saturday and on Sunday. I started using heroin 3 years ago but it’s only been a regular every week thing for the past year. I know this is a dangerous thing to do but I swear I never have any cravings or withdrawal symptoms come Monday and I am never tempted to use during the week – strictly a weekend party pleasure kind of thing. Are some people more immune to opiate addiction than others? From what I hear from other people I have used with my ability to take it or leave it is abnormal, to say the least.
Read answer →It is not the choice you think it is
I play in a band and I am off the coke. I can’t quit the band but it is hard to resist the drugs that are all around me. My band mates are pretty cool about not using around me to support my recovery but it’s just everywhere and I can’t not see it. I am going to lose my music unless I get control of my addiction but to get control of my addiction it seems like I need to lose my music – and without my music, I might as well use drugs. It’s a catch 22. Any advice?
Read answer →