I smoked weed every day for three years to slow down binge drinking and blacking out every weekend. It was a good trade-off until I stopped caring about almost everything. I switched to hash and winded up in the hospital. It was suggested to me that I stop drinking and smoking weed, but that's easier said than done. The drinking and weed was the only way I could handle how shitty my life felt.

I refused to accept that it was a problem until I truly wanted to quit. That's when I found out I couldn't. By myself, no matter how many commitments I had or how determined I was to quit, I always ended up drunk and high at the end of the day.

I was scared shitless, so much that I started going to 12-step meetings as much as possible and I hated doing it. I wasn't an alcoholic or a drug addict, I told myself, but it didn't matter - spending time around people not drinking and doing drugs helped me slow down, cut back, and eventually stop. My energy came back. The stability came back. Things got better

Other things that helped:

- I kept sweet non-alcoholic drinks on me and in the fridge. Alcohol has a ton of sugar in it and when you stop, even for a little bit, your body will still want that sugar. Sweet things can delay craving and caving in.

- I spent time with 12-step people - they like going to diners after meetings. Yes, it can be boring but I was able to give myself short periods of time without a bong or a beer in hand.

Hope this helps. Stay strong. It will get better.