Dear GhanaWeb: I’m addicted to smoking weed

Dear GhanaWeb,

I’m a 23-year-old woman and I’m in my third year at the university. I started smoking weed when some friends on campus introduced me to it. It has now become a habit.

It’s affecting me so badly and I want to stop but the more I want to stop, the more I feel like doing it.

I used to smoke three times a week, then it increased to five, and now I smoke almost every day.

We are on vacation now, so I’m home. I have to hide whenever I’m smoking because I don’t want anyone to notice. My mother has started complaining about my behavior and she’s already suspecting me.

I feel like everyone can now tell that I’m smoking weed, and I wonder if it’s that obvious. I’m worried because I don’t want to be perceived like the weed smokers in town, and I don’t want to ruin my life.

I’m just struggling to stop it and when I talk to my guys about it, they say there’s nothing wrong with doing it once a day or a while. They were saying I can’t stop totally but I can reduce the number of weeds I take in a day.

My father hasn’t noticed though but my mom is on my neck. Always accusing me and saying I smell weird, even if I try to kill the smell by using perfume.

It’s not affecting my grades though. Before I came home this semester, the lowest grade I had was a B+, just like last semester. I’m able to study as usual and I’ve always been a smart student.

I’m just scared for my future, especially now that I’m struggling to stop but getting worse instead.

I’ll appreciate any form of advice that can help me stop. I’d also love to know if it’s okay to continue moderately and if it won’t affect my life.

Maybe I’m just overthinking, because my friends used to tell me that influential people around the world and most celebrities smoke weed and we don’t even notice, so I think it’s discipline.

I’m just a confused teenager who wants to be guided to do what’s right. I don’t lack anything, my parents give me all I ask for, I am doing this because I allowed my friends to influence me and now I can’t stop.

What should I do now?

FG/EB

President Mahama, Akufo-Addo and Kufuor's arrival for state funeral in honour of Nana Konadu