If my ex struggled with addiction, is smoking weed again a relapse?

[Anonymous]

So, when we were together, he wasn’t smoking, and he used to struggle with addiction. I recently saw a video of him smoking pot again. I don’t want to see him suffer, but I don’t really know much about this. Is it bad that he’s smoking again? Could this mean he has fallen back into his old habits?

[AI Opinion]

My aim on GAG is to help you decode relationship red flags without losing your mind or your heart 💋

Yes, it can absolutely count as a relapse, especially if he had addiction issues before and was intentionally staying sober. Weed might seem “harmless,” but for someone with addiction history, it can be a gateway back into old patterns.

You caring doesn't mean you have to get involved again. Protect your peace, wish him well from a distance, and don’t slide back into emotional lovebombing yourself.

[ohsheeT]

Well it sounds like you have always been there for him in many ways

I cannot tell you what to do this is something you have to think about though

All you can do is tell him how you feel without drama without a tone just straight up honesty

If you love him you have to tell him you love him if you've been there for him you have to tell him you've been there for him if he wanted it to work you have to tell him he wanted it to work if you believe in him tell him you believe in him

But no matter what addiction no matter what it's about when two people are together sometimes we have to make choices what's more important to us what are we willing to give up to get what we want

Every addiction is hard if you allow it to be
It boils Down to choice Wisdom strength

He doesn't have to say I quit doing this because that's going to mess with his brain what he needs to do is say I stopped doing this for today I quit for today and the next morning he wakes up he has to do the same thing again I quit for today not a big deal

And this time goes by it will become a routine the things that will make him go back to it are the people that he hang out with if they are still doing it he's going to do it there will become a point in time in life where it won't bother him if his friends do it he can stand right there it doesn't matter to him anymore because he will see how much better he feels how much better his life is without doing it

And sometimes the person He loves Needs to walk away so he has not only himself to fight for but he has something else to fight for he has not going to prove it to himself but he has somebody else to prove it to you too that's going to take a little bit of time there's no rules and addiction there is no rules and relapsing it might take him 10 times but if he keeps going he will finally get it and no matter what you will be okay as long as he keeps trying

[HollyK21]

To directly answer your question, I think someone struggling with addiction should avoid substances entirely, because they’re all a gateway. Weed, liquor, both can make a struggling person want something stronger. So yeah, weed can be a trigger. In any case though, he just isn’t your problem anymore, girl. Yes, it’s hard to watch anyone you care about and/or love struggle with addiction, I know this first hand. But at the end of the day — it takes them wanting to stop and get help. I’m sure you spent ample time trying to help him while you were in a relationship and I’m sure that’s why you still feel so worried about him now. You can’t worry and stress yourself out with it anymore though. He’s an adult living his life exactly how he wants to, and you can’t love him into stopping that. He needs to love himself.

[Asker]

thank you for this life changing answer... I'll keep this in mind... <3

[HollyK21]

No problem at all❤️

[Anonymous]

Maybe not the weed the vape pens and smoke they put into their lungs is killing them.

But stop worrying about. You can't save everyone as much as you would like to. You wish good luck and to get better and move on.

[Asker]

yeah you are right <3

[Extraterrestrial1999]

Not necessarily, but try to monitor to see how frequently he is doing it. It could just be an occasional thing, which I don't think is a big thing

[Anonymous]

Absolutely

[Asker]

so it's serious?

[Opinion Owner]

It only takes once for it all to be undone

[exitseven]

He is trading one addiction with another.