Essay Example on Marijuana Addiction: Need for Separate Rehabilitation Group

Marijuana addiction is the constant consumption of marijuana and its related products on a daily basis. It is a drug with a mild effect on the users hence the need to separate a rehabilitation group from the other drug-related rehabilitation groups. Indeed, there are harder drugs such as cocaine and heroine that need more serious intervention than marijuana use. As a result, it is appropriate to have a marijuana anonymous group that helps addicts that are equally keen to stop their addiction. The group I attended is called Stoners Bay that holds their meetings in the University gym in the late evening.

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The group works on the principle of a 12-step program that members have to abide by to end their addiction. The members work under the guidance of a recovered addict who works to assist other members when they need help. Addiction is a serious mental challenge that needs the help of another to overcome it, and that is what the program offers through the group leader. He, of course, works with other long-serving members to coordinate meetings and perform follow-ups. It is thus an organized group with a leader and other relevant team leaders that have served in the group for years.

The group I attended bases its philosophy on religion that guides its 12-step program with the purpose of ending marijuana addiction. The first step of the 12-step program is to admit that our lives are unmanageable because we are powerless over marijuana. We then have to believe there is a power greater than us that can help us overcome our addiction. The philosophy is based on religion that explains how a supernatural entity guides our destiny. We then as addicts have to relieve our control and expect the entity to help us in our struggle. The addicts in the group have to then follow additional more steps guided by the religious belief that God will rescue them. Congruently, one has to follow God's teachings of moral responsibility and then use prayer to reinforce their commitment to morality. The final step of the program is to indict other addicts in the group so that they can get similar help.

The Stoners Bay group had one leader who had other assistants with different functions such as a secretary and coordinator. The purpose of the leader was first to welcome new members and help everyone make introductions. She was thus involved with everyone personally. That connection helped him know our stories and at times call us as a follow-up. There were almost 20 of us in the group, and only a few could share in every session. However, new members were encouraged to share on the second day and those who did not still benefit from listening to another's experience.

Conclusion

My feelings as an observer were educational as I learned a lot from the three meetings they hold in a week. I learned why they are a separate group from other drug intervention groups. It is because other drug addicts view marijuana as the least addictive drug and hence inconsequential. However, it is capable of causing addiction and then ruin one's life especially by reducing productivity. I felt welcome because of the way people expressed themselves openly and the participation of virtually everyone. It was awkward not to engage and react as the group was involved intensely. I would recommend anyone looking for help to go to any marijuana anonymous group because it is specific to the marijuana addiction problem.