Participants in a 1997 pilot study reported that one of the reasons they continued to smoke marijuana was that they felt it relieved their symptoms of depression and anxiety. Another study found that marijuana did not seem to exacerbate depression, but rather was another symptom of the condition. Although there is preliminary evidence that marijuana may have antidepressant properties, many argue there are also some important drawbacks to it's usage. Although the depressed person may feel relief from their symptoms, this may be an illusion of well-being if the person loses motivation and productivity. Furthermore, if the drug is smoked, it can be far more harmful to the respiratory system that tobacco use because of the fact that it is not filtered.
Denial becomes a means of self-defense .
First of all, to admit to a problem means that the person must give up the drug that they have come to depend upon to cope with their pain. Perhaps the second most difficult factor is the issue of codependency . Each time the drug or alcohol dependent person falters, a well-meaning friend or family member steps in the cushion his fall. I can't let him lose his job. Because the addicted person is not allowed to face up to the consequences of his actions, he is able to keep up his self-delusion of normalcy.