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Marijuana or a Powerful Antipsychotic?

To the Editors:
I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder…While in college I picked up smoking [cigarettes]. I started smoking a pack a day from the beginning and over the last 22 years have gotten up to over two packs a day. I am now in the process of quitting and doing very well…I abused alcohol for several years. I was able to stop on my own, but…I simply changed my drug of choice to marijuana. I used it periodically over the years, not only for the sense of well being or to get "high," but also because it is well-documented that marijuana is very useful in shutting down mania. Although I have never been psychotic, manic symptoms for me are far-reaching and devastating to family, career, and personal stability.

My disorder is very medication/treatment-resistant and periodically, I will still use marijuana to stop a mania. At this juncture, I no longer use it to get high, but will use it to alleviate symptoms. In a few instances, I firmly believe it saved my career and even my life. However, this is not the case with smoking cigarettes.

I have been on every available medication with the exception of Clozaril, which my doctor has recently prescribed. I am quite reticent about beginning the medication due to the side-effects and the possibility of serious health problems. It is difficult to choose between self-medicating with marijuana and prescribed medication based not only on this fact, but also on the fact that marijuana is very effective for me, with no addiction problem or side effects. I use it no more than twice a year, directly correlating to the times that I cycle into mania…Contrary to what the legal and legislative community would have us believe, it is NOT addictive, and NOT a narcotic.
David Graf Via the Web
Editor's Note: David wants advice from Voices' readers. He can be reached via email at dgraf@state.pa.us

Why Separate the Parents?

To the Editors:
My fiancé and I have been living together in couple-supported housing within a mental health housing agency for little over a year. Prior to that, we had to fight in order to live together. We kept getting the run around, a lot of things…My fiancé and I just found out that we are expecting a child, and the agency does not allow a baby to live in the apartment. Our case manager told us that there is housing for me to go into alone, without him. We don't think it's fair to us or the child for us to be separated. A child needs both parents. It would not be fair for it to have half a family. It's come to the point where we have considered abortion because it appears to be our only option. Even though we are both against abortion…We are not willing to separate. What is wrong with the system-that it's more acceptable for single parenting than [having] both parents as it ought to be? I don't think I would be able to live with myself if I aborted it, but our backs are against the wall…[Living apart] would be harder financially…My fiancé needs me and I need him.
Morry Via the Web