A
female
age
41-50,
anonymous
writes:My boyfriend has a heavy past of drug use. He started at age 16 with pot and it quickly escalated into pretty much every type of drugs and a 4 year addiction to heroin in his 20s. He's 32 now and I've only known him clean. The only thing he still does on an occasional basis is pot. He doesn't do it often (maybe a few times a year) but the fact that he still does it makes me really upset. I don't understand the fascination with pot/drugs in general and I'm concerned that he's still into that stuff after recovering from addiction. I guess I just wish ALL of this was behind him. I fear that pot could still be the gateway to going back other things. Are my fears valid? Is it ok for a former addict to still smoke pot once in a while?
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female
reader, So_Very_Confused +, writes (5 November 2013):
 Most folks I know who are awesome in their recovery do not use any drugs of any kind, including some legal pain meds.
POT is psychologically addicting but not physically addicting... and I do not buy the whole "gateway" drug argument about it. I think it should be legal.
As for "is it ok" well that's between him and his higher power.... and not for you to say.
what is for you to say is if you want to stay with a man who is smoking pot now and again.....
A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (5 November 2013): I am a cannabis addict. You can become emotionally dependent on it.The trouble with occasional use is that is can creep into more regular use, often without the user noticing and since we addicts and (former addicts) are used to playing down their substance usage and it's effects to ourselves as well as everybody else.Why is he still smoking it? Is it because he needs to "escape" for a while or is it because he sometimes gets together with friends that smoke?If it's because he needs to "escape" he may find that when a rough patch in his life comes along he needs to escape more often and then he may find that his cannabis use will get out of control again. He may be better off working out other ways of relieving stress/distress instead of canabis.If there's a more social element to his smoking... who is he smoking with? If they are old friends from his hard addiction days then this is a bad idea; they may well still be using themselves (even if they say they're clean) and although they may outwardly profess to respects his new life, they will still be exposing him to temptation through their stories and anacdotes or being high when they see him or even using in front of him.Or are friends from those days and who are only "social smokers" at house-parties? Are there other temptations at these parties (such as alcohol) that could set him off again?These are some things to think about. I think if you've been with your b/f a while and you're SURE he's really only been smoking a few joints a year for at least 2 years and everything else in his life is pretty much under control then I don't think you have too much to worry about.Just be aware (as the partner of many former addicts may need to be)Take Care
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (5 November 2013): People smoked pot since the humanity existed. I personally know people who used it since the very young age, first often, but then with age to almost nothing like your boyfriend few times a year, andit never turned them into addicts. My husband smoked it every day until he married me and then less and less, and now even if offered, he doesn't do it anymore.,
Some people are born addicts, and they will get addicted to anything. If its not alcogol, it's cigarettes, if it's not cocain,it's heroin, if it's not pills, it's crazy workouts in GYM.
My husband and I both smoked in our youth, and quit cold turkey in ne day, never going back. We both drink alcogol for many many years, but it never became an addiction. And I know people who never drunk and when started became alcoholics. I went through several surgeries, took pain killers, but never got addicted to them.
The fact that your boyfriend only smokes pot few times a year wouldn't bother me, because I personally don't consider it worse than coffee. It's a relaxer, and I don't think it can turn him back to drugs. But I would be on my watch all the time knowing that he is an addict. One thing is to remember, they can't control themselves when they start, that's what differ these poor souls from non addicts.
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A
reader, anonymous, writes (5 November 2013): There are people with addictive personalities. If there is a history of drug and alcohol abuse in their family history; they are likely to do the same. It could start from prescription medication.
If he does pot on occasion, and hasn't relapsed into harder drug use; it is because he is managing his addiction. Drug addiction and alcoholism are diseases people fight over a lifetime. I wouldn't recommend using any drug; if he has a history of hard use.
Maybe pot is the one drug of choice he feels he can handle with limited use. If he can't hold down a job, and he starts to show signs of deterioration; then be concerned.
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (5 November 2013): I am an opiate and alcohol addict. I will never become a "former addict", nor will I be cured of addiction to mind-altering drugs. While weed isn't the end of the world, it is sill illegal in most states. I personally consider weed to be similar to alcohol in the sense that most people aren't addicted to either one, but many people abuse both drugs. However, people CAN get addicted to pot just like they can alcohol. I've been taught that a drug is a drug is a drug. I've been taught that one can be not only physically addicted, but mentally/emotionally addicted. Even if he's controling his use by smoking weed a few times a year, he may not have that control for too long and it may end up being "not enough". If you're not comfortable with a boyfriend (or ANY friend, for that matter) using anything (weed, cgarettes, alcohol, whatever), then you probably want to make a break from that person. I could never have a drink "once in awhile" or get drunk "once in while" and neither can any addict.
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A
male
reader, CMMP +, writes (5 November 2013):
Everyone is different. For some it's not a good idea, but I know many people that were addicted to hard drugs and swore them off with no intention or desire to go back.
Marijuana is not a gateway drug, that's misleading bs fed to people to scare them.
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