I was an occasional Reefer smoker several yrs ago and gave it up primarily because it affected my guitar playing. I would "Burn One" and go downstairs to practice and just couldn't concentrate on my chops. I would be trying to learn new tabs from books and it became a frustration. I don't drink any alcohol until I finish practicing. Makes me lazy in regards to playing. Good luck to getting clean friend. You CAN do it! As others said, seek help from a physician.

You only need one thing to stop and that`s WILL POWER. Nobody can tell you how, or when, not even doctors. You`ll stop when your ready but if getting high is more important than getting a good job you might want to reconsider your priorities. Don`t think about getting high during the day, keep your mind occupied. After a few days you won`t even miss it and think of all the money you`ll save. You could put that towards new gear as mentioned in another post.

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Good Luck NC.....Persevere.....
Marijuana is addictive, not in the physical sense as other drugs but Psychologically....There was a recent program on Public TV as to it's detrimental effects due to it's detrimental effects on brain matter.....Sorry Guys but that is the reality, Cannabis does affect your brain by shunting certain portions....

Anyway, like any life-style changing decisions, you should seek advice and support, there will be times where it is overwhelming and a support system is key....

Again, Best wishes for a productive outcome....

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"C'est parti mon Kiki "

Danny, I did read your post and the first sentence "I agree with both of you guys A little smoke is neither bad or harmful in my opinion" is where you went wrong. And Yes I have been trained in dealing with drug addiction by the way...which is why I suggested in no uncertain terms that he needed to seek Professional help. Since you have also been trained you should know that your first sentence did nothing but screw your credibility. I commend you on trying later in your post to assist and push him in the right direction but you need to remember you can't have it both ways. A little can't be ok, and it is apparent that NC has little to no control over what he is doing, but he is making the attempt.
I might have been a little harsh on you, but you know how bad this can end up for NC.

T2

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What time is it? It's Fender Time.

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

Withdrawals are just the beginning of "Your Journey".

A good diet and plenty of exercise are a must. Moving away from friends who either helped you along or supported you in this type behavior.

Take time to look at your life and figure out why you needed these substances to start with. Remember life before you started. How was it? Did you have a lot of psychological pain, did you start with these to dull the pain or just to be "cool" or "one of the gang" or just like the way thay make you feel.

Look at your life and be honest with yourself. The withdrawals will come and go, but who you are, and what you think about yourself and life are more dramatic. Do you really want to quit, or quitting just to avoid legal problems.

I pose these questions for you to ponder in private. I am not suggesting you respond to them here on the forum.

Sincerely
OL

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I remember when we were free!

I was never a chronic but I was a recreational weekend toker up until about 6 or 7 years ago or whenever it was that they introduced mandatory pre-access D&A testing in my line of work. Here are my predicitions based on my own experience. Every aspect of your life will improve especially your guitar playing once you're off the weed and you're no longer obsessing about it. You'll eventually find you don't miss it at all. You may also find as I did that on those rare occaisions when you do take a draw, say with your buddies on the golf course when your game is going so bad nothing could make it worse, you'll discover it isn't nearly as much fun as you remember it being.

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

This.......+1

I was in this same boat and feel the same way. Found out it wasn't as good as I thought. Now I need to quit smoking cigarettes again.

I went through phases with inhaled drugs such as marijuana and hashish and booze doing one or another or both at one time.I used to smoke an awful lot and I used to drink like I had hollow legs and sponge feet.

I got to the point where I was always broke the day after I got paid because of money I owed and I'd barely have enough to keep gas in my vehicle. I wasn't what you'd call an alcoholic or a pot head but I was an "enthusiastic overconsumer".One day I just got fed up with it all and quit cold turkey.These days I rarely take a toke or drink and when I do I do it in moderation.

I commend you for realizing that you have a problem with it.I didn't go through any withdrawal symptoms from booze or smoke but I do know what you are going through because years ago a prescription I had for a narcotic pain medication got lost in the pharmacy I deal with and the new pharmacist wouldn't give me any to tide me over. To make a long story short I spent many horrible hours feeling the worst I ever did in a hospital E.R.

You can't do this on your own without great difficulty,there are many professional services out there and many are volunteer associations and are free.Your local mental health association should be able to steer you in the right direction and offer you coping tools to deal with your withdrawal.By facing your problem and admitting to it you have conquered the hardest part of the battle-lots of luck and keep us up to date with your progress. No doubt you have all the forum members pulling for you.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

Thanks for the advice and support, and I feel much better, drinking tons of water, getting a little more sociable amongst people id rarely talked to, just trying to find stuff to keep me occupied. Btw the drug test is actually to be randomly administered by my hypocritical parents(just if anyone was wonderin on the details). Yesterday I actually learned a whole song, solo and all (New York City Cops by The Strokes), got to play some of my own compositions, and noodled and practiced on and off and found myself with my guitar for at least five hours, which felt great.

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Negative Creep, I too am in the same boat as you for the same reason. Alot of what has been said here is true and effective. I'm around two weeks in and am still felling the withdrawals. Keep on keeping on for whatever reasons. You can do it, and thankfully because of the great people around here, you dont have to go it alone.

I've never smoked dope, or taken any illegal drug (outside of drinking when I was underage). I've never even smoked a cigarette, for that matter.

I started drinking regularly when I was fourteen; I quit cold turkey one Saturday morning when I was 28, and don't miss it one bit. Life is better without it. I didn't have a raging problem, I just drank a lot and acted like an idiot when I did. I think I quit just to make sure I wouldn't develop a problem.

The only time it was a problem (me not smoking, drinking, carousing, etc.) was when I used to sit in with a band with a coke addict bassist...because I was so clean cut and "straight arrow," he was convinced I was a cop trying to bust him. I ended up quitting that group because of his hatred and paranoia regarding me.

My marriage improved, guitar playing improved, I picked better friends, and I'm massively proud to say my daughter has never seen me drink (I quit three years + before she was born). I lost a few "friends" who didn't or wouldn't respect my decision...and I see that as their loss, not mine.

Lady Armadillo still has a drink now and again, but she is ridiculously balanced about everything she does (it's almost a little irritating how smooth she can be!) so that isn't a problem. I can go to a bar or a party or a concert where other people are drinking, and it doesn't bother me--I even mix drinks for my wife and my friends (I've been told I'm a good bartender), so I don't know how you'd classify me.

Now, if you took iced tea or chewing gum away from me, we'd have a real fight on our hands!

Negative Creep, I know you think of your parent as hypocrits (and they may be), but you have to think of what they're doing as a good thing. I knew a lot of "recreational" users throughout my life that developed horrible problems based on their "recreation"...not everybody who smokes or drinks has an issue, but a lot more people who smoke and drink have bigger problems than those who don't.

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Good Vibes To Y'all!



Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals

Want iced tea that has a really buttery flavor? Grow a whole patch of mint, or find it growing wild and boil it fresh. Make sure it's really strong. Sweeten accordingly. I made it at my dad's house and he got mad because I manage to convince the other folk my brew was the better brew.

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

Your parents will seem wiser and wiser as you get older, not perfect by any means, but wiser none the less. One day you will look back and see it all in a different light.

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I remember when we were free!

Could always try NA. Its help millions recover.

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08 Fender Highway One Tele-Sunburst
09 Squier Custom Tele II-Blonde
04 Squier Standard Strat Antiqueburst
07 Washburn D10SCE natural with Rosewood backing
Fender Mustang II amp


Experience is the best teacher