Answered questions(8)
Marijuana Use
I’m a hard core weed head. I have smoked many bowls a day for many many years. I can see that the weed is having a negative affect on my life but there are parts of it that I still love so much so I can’t imagine trying to give it up completely. I have tried to slow down on my own on multiple occasions but it never really works. Is it possible that there is some sort of professional help that I could get to help me cut down, even though I do not want to quit entirely. I am not looking for an AA or an NA experience and I am not looking to get lectured on my choices.
Read answer →When to intervene
My boyfriends parents are both giant alcoholics. He says he wont ever drink because he never wants to wind up like them. Good for him I say because I don’t drink either. He does smoke a lot of weed. He says weeds not addictive. I think my boyfriend has a problem but I do not know how to convince him that he might have a problem. He so badly doesn’t want to end up like his parents but when I see him baked at the end of every night and I see them drunk on the couch at the end of every night watching TV I can see that there is definitely something more the same than different about it.
Read answer →Medical Marijuana and Addiction
Is medical marijuana a safe medication for me if I have history of drug addiction and alcoholism. I have tried very hard for 15 years to stay clean and sober and I don't want to compound my health problems now with anything that will get me back to using. Of course my doc also wants me to consider opiates, but I am not going down that road until the pain is more than I can stand. I know where opiates take me and it's nowhere I want to go back to.
Read answer →Smoking and Self Hynotherapy
Stop smoking self hypnotherapy programs yay or nay? Is it actually possible to self hypnotize and it is actually possible for hypnosis to help me beat a 15 year smoking habit?
Read answer →Marijuana Detox - Common to become depressed?
I smoked between 1 and 2 grams per day (good strong weed) for the past 5 or so years. 6 weeks ago I decided to quit cold turkey because I was going nowhere in life and I could see that my habit was limiting my motivation and energy. But even with all that, I was pretty happy most of the time…I guess I was pretty stoned most of the time :). Quitting wasn’t that tough but now I find that still have no energy and I feel depressed a lot of the time. All of the things I used to really enjoy doing are totally blah to me now. Is it common for people who quit heavy marijuana habits to become depressed? I am not sure if I should start smoking again or not?
Read answer →Treatment for Addiction, Anxiety, and Depression
Hello Dr. Chin, I apologize that this message is so long. But I will try to summarize the best I can. I have a 24 yr old son, who we've been trying to help for the last 10 years with his mental health issues and addiction problem. My husband and I have never had drug/alcohol addiction, however my dad and my grandfather have been alcoholics. My son's problem started when his older brother (who had an opiate addiction) relapsed and tragically died of an overdose at the young age of 20. Our remaining son who at the time was 14 spiraled into a deep depression and debilitating anxiety kicked in shortly after (prior to this, we did notice that he had anxiety issues, but exaserbated). He isolated himself and threw himself into an online game that he used to cope. He would stay up all through the night playing and would have little communication with anyone. Despite our efforts of counseling, drug therapy prescribed by a psychiatrist, SPECT scan by the Amen Clinic, (which showed that he had anxiety disorder and mood disorder) etc. nothing seemed to work. He would have out of control rage and take it out on my husband and I. After a 1 1/2 years of this he went back to school, but when he did he started using alcohol first and then it turned into other drugs. He eventually was arrested at the age of 18 for posession of ecstasy and stolen property. He was ordered to a 6 month program, which he did and seemed to be doing better once he was out. Unfortunately, he soon got back into the drug scene and started using opiates. He has been on suboxone, which he has weaned himself off of just recently. He is sober now, but his addictive behavior goes into other areas of his life. Prior to giving notice, he worked in Las Vegas for a well known magician. After 8 months he decided to leave because of addiction to gambling and anxiety issues. He's now home with us (in California) and needs help to get his life on track. My husband and I have depleted all our savings, retirement, etc. to try to help our boys. My husband left his lucrative position when Aaron was 16 because we felt that we were losing him, too. Now we are at a point where we both are without work and financial means to help him. If you have any suggestions of low cost group home for young men who have mental health issues along with addiction issues to get some life coaching and possibly medication to help with debilitating anxiety would be so much appreciated. Or if you have any other suggestions? We are at a point where we know there's not more we can do, but want to try to reach out to other experts in this matter. Thank you so much - CC
Read answer →Addiction or Association?
This seems like a frivolous question but I want to know it coffee is a trigger risk for addiction. I used to smoke a lot of pot and drink a lot of coffee, often together. I really liked the buzz I’d get after a good joint and 2 or 3 strong espressos. I went on a cleanse and stopped smoking marijuana, cigarettes and drinking coffee. It was very difficult for me and quitting marijuana was by far the hardest. I had been smoking for a long time and was definitely addicted. It was getting to be too much in a bad way. This afternoon I decided to have a coffee with some friends at the coffee shop I used to frequent. After a couple of coffees I had this almost overwhelming urge to light a joint, and since everyone in that place smokes it would have been very easy to get one. It scared me and I left before I smoked but the cravings haunted me all night and I almost left a couple of times to go and buy some pot. Because I used to always smoke marijuana and drink coffee together that I will always associate drinking coffee with smoking? Do I have to stop drinking coffee for ever or will this association go away at some point? I can’t believe how tough it’s been for me to stop smoking pot…and just when I thought I was in the clear here we go again…
Read answer →Recreational Drug Use
How dangerous is for someone with high blood pressure to do cocaine recreationally, like once or twice a month. My husband is 46 and his blood pressure is bad enough now that he needs medication but he will still go out with his buddies every now and again and drink and do coke all night like he was still a 20 year old kid. I am telling him he’s going to have a heart attack but he says that a little every once in a while is not a big deal. Who is right?
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