Reaction to Marijuana Educational Lecture - Sober Living by the Sea Intern
We know that one of the first steps to overcoming an addiction is realizing that you have a problem. The next phase revolves around education, what it does to your body and how it affects you personally. However one of the most important strides in recovery is the willingness to change, and wanting to do it for yourself.
I was given the option to attend a lecture with the clients at Sober Living and eagerly jumped at the opportunity. When the lecture first began, I sensed that some of the faces were disappointed when the topic of marijuana was announced. “Another lecture on marijuana?” seemed to be a reaction of a few attendees. This made me think. Some of these clients have been in treatment anywhere from five days to sixty-five days (and maybe even more). Another lecture on marijuana? Being here for that long, I wonder how many times they have heard the same lectures over and over again. "Marijuana is bad for you. It is a lead to other drugs... You learn to function with it and soon can’t function without it... " I’ve heard and read it all before. And that’s when it hit me. You can drill these statistics and facts into their heads over and over again, but that is not going to change them.
I personally found the topic very interesting. I personally am not in recovery, but I have
friends that are very close to my heart who are. I’ve read plenty of articles about drug abuse
and addiction, but to get first hand stories from clients and their struggle
with the disease was far more touching than any textbook or manual definition. I was mesmerized by the clients and their
stories about how they related to what the speaker was talking about. Dealing with triggers, having trouble
sleeping, trying to find some sort of motivation and just getting back on a day
to day routine was such a struggle for each person. The part that stood out the most to me was
that each person has their own mountain to climb. No person is the same, and no addiction is
the same either. 
Sitting in and listening to the clients really opened my eyes and made me realize how unique each treatment plan has to be. No matter how long you have struggled with addiction, you can overcome the disease. Every person needs his or her own scale of help, whether it’s a simple care plan and a case manager, or a strict hour-by-hour daily schedule to find your regime.
The road to recovery is possible. So many wonderful staff members at Sober Living have proved that. However the change has to come from within yourself. You can attend education classes, AA or NA meetings, show up for the various lectures and groups, but if you don’t want to be there, it’s not going to make a difference.
All of those are important, but what it truly comes down to is a power found within yourself.
- Intern V.K.
