Case studies
Matt’s Story
See Matt's story in his own words
In the year 2000 I started smoking cannabis at school and on the weekends. cannabis use was about 2-4 cones per day
In 2001 I got my drivers licence which gave me more freedom in my life and also allowed me to access cannabis easier. I was smoking about 4-5 cones per day. It was used to relieve stress about life and HSC. Started to avoid my family and I dragged my friends into smoking cannabis also.
In 2002 I got a job as a apprentice mechanic. I wasn’t treated very well at work and smoked cannabis to ease the pain. I started to supply my mates with cannabis to support my own habit. I would buy an ounce per week. I got very moody and pushed away from my high school friends.
In 2003 I stopped socialising with my mates and family I would prefer to get high on cannabis and go out or play sports. I started to supply larger amounts of cannabis and was earning some great cash and thought it was the way to go. In 2004 I was stones 24/7. I stopped contacting my school friends and started hanging out with other smokers. I wasted all my money on drugs and food. I would some about 15-20 cones per day. If I couldn’t get high I would get angry and distressed. I was worrying about where I would get my next smoke from.
From 2005 -2009 I was high 24/7 smoking 30-50 cones per day. In early 2009 I was introduced to a new group of smokers. and started to supply large amounts of cannabis again
In 2010 I lost my job and was after some quick money so I asked my so called mates to give me a job collecting cannabis from melbourne and transport it to Sydney. In April I was arrested doing my first run from melbourne. I was released on bail and due to face court in May. I was so worried about the consequences of that was going to happen to me when I got back to Sydney Melbourne I smoked 40-50 cones per day.
Later in April I was arrested again and charged with more serious offences. That was the end of the line for me and decided to stop smoking cannabis and seek help for my addiction. I spoke to my parents about the trouble I was in and about my addiction to cannabis. This was the first time I spoke to my parents about problems in my life since I started smoking cannabis. I haven’t smokes cannabis in a month. It was very hard the first two weeks without a smoke. my dreams were more like nightmares, cold sweats, was very adjitated but I pulled through thanks to the help from the cannabis clinic and my family and friends. I feel a whole lot better now that I have stopped smoking. my health is way better and my fitness has increased since I stopped smoking. Some of my friends have been inspired by my efforts to quit smoking that they have also stopped smoking. I still see some other friends that smoke cannabis and the urge for me to have a cone has gone completely. I am back playing sports and also socializing more since I have quit smoking cannabis. I look back now and think I wasted the last 10 years of my life by getting high.
Matt, 28 years old.
