having experience with this, i want to say the problem may often seem "less than" other's problems because we "only did this, and that.. But Never did That and That..." (you know what i mean). It's not about what was done or how much was done, it's about how much control those negative behaviors had. It's about how unmanageable it made life and living. Many people wont stop if these vices dont have control over them, and many others wont stop even if the vices do have control over them. Unfortunately too few people recognize there is a problem, that they lost control in some way, and then take action to stop the behavior(s).
All of that to say - removing yourself from the activity & mindset that had control over you, in one way or another, TEN years ago - is a big friggin' deal! And i wanted to say congratulations! you should feel proud about it!
Well, i can say this - I vape nicotine (eliquid) only and have for 8 years (i have never vaped pot), but - not to get all political, if the news and corporate tabacco has anything to do with it, they will tie Vaping nicotine / tabacco with as many deadly things and horrible things as possible (like this new potentially deadly marijuana vaping your talking about) to propagate the lie that vaping is terrible for you and to push the US senate and judicial branch to scorching it from the earth as if it never existed. And so far, they have been pretty successful.
Im not advocating that vaping tabacco/nicotine is harm-free, but it has enabled me and many people i know closely and personally (like in real life lol) to stop smoking cigarettes, some of them had for over 20 and 30 years. There is evidence that it is a reduced risk over traditional smoking, BUT MORE IMPORTANT than that - it is a choice that we have as free thinking adults of a "free society". I know the news will make it seem like flavored eliquid is going to entice millions and millions of children and toddlers to pick up vape pens from the gas stations every day, but the fact is those things do not have any more of a societal effect on "children" today than smoking did in the 70's/80's/ and 90's (but cigarettes will never be on the chopping block, will they?). to ban vaping and eliquid is an infringement on our personal right to have a choice, and when it is so blatantly obvious that the momentum behind stopping vaping is directly related to a corporate agenda and NOT "in the name of public health", it is very disturbing.
But then again, there are many very disturbing things happening today with much more of a impact on our lives than vaping does..
I take the vaping thing personal, for more than one reason. there is also the impact on small business (many vape manufacturers and shops are small, tax paying businesses in our local communities - i have friends who are closing their shops. which they invested their livelihood in). it would be like if machine shops in each one of our smaller cities and towns started making high powered flashlights and selling them in small retail stores they setup in the front of their buildings. Then Duracell and Maglite went to the media and senate and pushed a narrative that these high powered flashlights are blinding our children and burning their hands and they need to be stopped. and maybe they even paid someone to mildly hurt themselves and go to the hospital, so they could setup an interview and put it on the 6 oclock news (this has happened to vaping) in order to create public outrage against the big bad flashlights. Next thing you know, hundreds of small businesses, who are legally doing business and selling tested and lab created products with legitimate R&D (not all companies, but there are PLENTY that do), are being forced to shut their doors and lay their workers off.
Is that in the name of public health? What is in the name of public health, anyway? Motorcycles are pretty dangerous. I have had far more buddies die in bike accidents than from vaping, should we go after Harley Davidson and Honda too? I don't know..
Anyway, i am sorry for the rant. the whole thing disgusts me though.
If this opinion of mine causes too many people too much grief then i will simply delete it, no fuss about it. I know how polarizing it can be to publicly share an alternative (maybe?) view on a controversial subject.
Being clean for almost 27 yrs —- I was one of the worse type —- I made plenty money— Drank / Smoked / Snorted anything I could get my hands on— That Glass Pipe got a hold of me so bad I had to change or Else—— My only advise I give people is to not convince yourself you can be a rational user —- Just don’t Drink — Just don’t Smoke — Go buy stuff you don’t need LOL —- Lights
FIRST I wanna say “NICE” RACOON CITY and Congrates. A decade clean and sober is an accomplishment that a good chunk of people never make to. I’m definitely glad that you found yourself before you completely lost yourself!
Being an NA member myself. I can truly appreciate you sharing this part of yourself. And in no way trying to steal your thunder! I just wanted to identify that you’re not alone on this platform.
Sometimes I wonder if I’ve traded one obsession for another with flashlights.
I’ve been clean and sober for 18 years. I was recently in your area at the http://www.fourtwentybank.com/ great lounge.
Can I consider myself clean and sober since Cannabis is legal in Cali?
RC, I have the same question about vapes… what is the difference between old and new school? I have never felt the need for anything more than papers and a zippo for the 4 or 5 times a year I partake. I guess, at least I mostly know what is in it that way.
I am glad that you were able to stop in time on your own, before you placed your self beyond any and all human aid. When that happens, there is a solution, but it involves taking action to get connected to a power greater than ourselves that will solve the problem of lack of willpower.
oops.
