by Trish Little

Created on: May 09, 2008

GONE TO POT ON GRASS

In spite of the plethora of information available on the subject of drug addiction, nothing prepares one for the realities. The day-to-day living with a loved one fully caught in the trap of believing that marijuana smoking is harmless is more hellish for the bystanders, since the addict is too affected to be aware.

Feelings of anger welled up as I was startled into wakefulness by the sound of our twenty-five year old son retching and vomiting for half an hour before his day began. It angered me to recall people, including some with a high profile in the community, state that marijuana was a social phenomenon and not addictive, that there were no side affects, that cigarette smoking was more addictive. Such statements were hurled at us each time we broached the subject of marijuana addictiveness, and there was nothing we could do but stand by and watch the decline of a young man who, before he was caught up in the scene, had great aspirations for his life, had a sharp and inquiring mind, and had been a deep thinker.

He was rake thin as a result of loss of appetite, and constantly complained of aching lungs and chest if he exerted himself more than a snail's pace walk.

I wondered where those people were when our son was vomiting black bile each morning, or when he lay listlessly about the house without motivation to do anything more than find his next fix, or when he flew into irrational rages at the slightest provocation. I wondered where those people were when he went missing for months on end and we lived in fear that he lay dead somewhere.

I asked how he initially got onto the slide and was horrified and sickened to learn he was fourteen years old when he was introduced to the habit by adult friends of extended family. The period from introduction to state of addiction was a short two years, but even now he won't admit to having been an addict. He has seen too many of his friends addicted to what are regarded as the heavier drugs, and refuses to be tagged by the stigma. As far as he is concerned, there is a marked difference to having an addiction and being an addict.

The steps to addiction were insidious. Seemingly innocent school-boy experiments quickly turned to regular weekend alcoholic and drug binges in secreted venues. The challenge of funding the habit was overcome by a gang-mentality, stealing from anyone and everyone who happened to be in the way, including and especially family. Trafficking and involvement in manufacturing soon

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