why do people who smoke pot put their addiction before their family?

Question

All of the arguments about how pot is not bad, not addictive, not harmful... then why not give it up if it is causing problems with your family members?

Answer 1

Read the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous (I know you are talking about weed, but the book is for all addictions) The person has an illness. They need help. It is not meant to hurt the family (AT ALL) they love you, but they are lost and need serious help. Call ALANON or ALATEEN and ask them some questions. If you can get a copy of the book Alcoholics Anonymous, read it and you will better understand why they do the things they do.

Answer 2

The same argument could be said for alcohol annd tobacco. Why single out Marijuana? Any substance can be abused and cause issues. Its not the substance, but the person using it. Some people can handle substances better than others. Marijuana is not physicaly addictive, but like any mood altering substance, it can be abused. Ussually drug abuse is a symptom of a larger probem. The common misconception is that everyone who smokes pot is some druggy or thug or lazy person, and thats simply not true. Anyone who says pot is harmless, is misinformed. But if used with responcibility, it is no more harmful than alcohol, or tobacco. If someone in your family or group of friends is abusing it, then they need help. But by linking all pot smokers into one group, you are making a sweeping generalization that is very harmful.

Answer 3

Just say no when you are asked to drive them. You don't have to you know. As the driver, you are responsible for the actions of those who ride in your car, so if you get pulled over while they are smoking, YOU get busted, too, whether or not you were smoking. I'm serious. STOP driving them, and tell them why. If you ever catch them smoking again, call the police. Period, and then call child protective services for your little sister. You should really already have done that if she is as neglected as you portrayed her. She deserves better, and if your parents know you are serious about this blatant disrespect and neglect they are showing you and your sister, they might actually change. They might not, but at least child protective services will be providing what your sister needs. You have to be strong, and take a stand. It sounds to me like you're ready. You and your sister are at extreme risk if you do nothing. You are at risk for being busted for their smoking, and your sister is at risk emotionally by being neglected by her parents. I'm sorry you have to be the one to act like the parent here, but it sounds like you are ready. Maybe your parents continue because they know they can. Make it so they cannot. If you simply throw away their paraphanalia, they'll get more. I like the other guys answer. The next time you are supposed to take them somewhere, tell them before they get into the car that if they light up, you'll drive straight to the police station because you cannot risk having a conviction for pot on your record....and then do it. You have to follow through. Good luck.

Answer 4

I've pondered this question myself. My boyfriend is a smoker, and I don't think that pot motivates you to be anything other than lazy and hungry (I have no trouble doing either of these things without the help of drugs). I think that it is addicting; psychologically at least. They become dependent on it as a form of relaxation. People sure do stick to their guns about it though. My boyfriend and I had to get two separate residences because I didn't want my house smelling and I didn't want anything illegal in my home.

I wish that people could see that they are putting their loved ones at risk if they have pot in their homes. It's still a crime. I think that because there are so many vocal supporters that want to decriminalize marijuana that many people fail to see it as a crime anymore.

Answer 5

Because maybe the person smoking pot realizes, that the pot is not what is causing problems with family members.

It's her family members with the problem.

PS Marijuana is NOT physically addictive. Go ask a doctor.

Answer 6

Pot can really be quite addictive for some people, and that's a good sign that it is a problem.

In the DSM-IV, marijuana addiction is very much defined as use WITH PROBLEMS.... if there are these kind of problems it's not harmless.

Some people can't do pot....
I've got a terribly close friend who really can't, even though I know plenty of people who can. She really, really, thinks that all her friends who think she should quit are bad people but these are all NORML types....
Not an option for me, eitherway, I'm allergic to every plant in that family.

Answer 7

In that case the family just doesn't mean anything to the person and they woudl act the same if their addiction was pot, beer or even food.

Some people ONLY care about themselves.

Answer 8

It's all part of the addiction. Pot makes you not feel and not care and you just drop out of your own life. If anyone tries to reason with them, then the excuses and justifications come out just like with any addiction. They don't mean to be like this. It's partly the addictions fault and partly the addict's fault for not recognizing the need for help.

Answer 9

When I got married I didn't want to give it up,but I did when I became pregnant and I've never really gone back to it. My husband took longer,but as soon as our first child was about a year old - old enough to notice "odd" behavior on our part - he gave it up. There is no answer to your question. Obviously marijuana and raising kids simply doesn't go together. Some people get it. Some don't.

Answer 10

It affects the r-complex of the brain, and people in that state lose all sense of self-control. The r-complex controls involuntary functions of the brain, those things we have no control over, and that produces an addiction and takes over the motivations.