witnessing the angst of a modern Peter Pan

Recently - I have had the fortune of interacting with a number of people in their twenties, approaching thirty or just thirty. What surprises me is the amount of lost syndrome with wanderlust that encompasses some of them-- to the point of this obsession paralyzing them into a status of non-productiveness.

What do I mean? Well, one young man, who is an interesting conversationalist, has had it very tough over the past few years. However, before those years, he was free-wheeling in California and even signed up to have a 'medical marijuana' card by finding a doctor who would allow his complaints to be written with such treatment. He is no longer on the west coast, but did manage to finish his degree in arts and he is completely at the mercy of his mother's salary in order to survive. His behavior one day is cognizant and coherent. The next day, things are breaking, he is stumbling and slurring - and he sounds just like Keanu Reeves from Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure.

One day, he finally opens up to let me know how easy it is to get fake marijuana, as he starts to roll up the items directly in front of me. I assumed he could not afford much, so he couldn't possibly be doing that much.

So, when asked about his stumbling and 'stupor' like symptoms, he starts to explain he is on clozapine, ritalin, elavil, among other items. He says he is seeing a psychiatrist for depression. For some reason--- I can't help but wonder exactly how much of his diagnosis was based on conjecture and not evaluating the amount of 'fake pot' he is doing (or how much real pot he has done in the past). Did the psychiatrist really evaluate his habitual problems, or did he assume an immediate diagnosis?

Why do I ask? I am certainly not damning psychoactives-- as too many I know experiment-- and shamans I know have used to treat people. But they also say-- 'weak soul, weak mind-- stupid and addicted' ...

In other words-- not all people come out able to handle responsibilities in life from using any recreational drug a few times. Some people get stuck.

All I know is, after he goes to gas stations and comes back with a supply--- he parks on top of curbs, stumbles and breaks things... says he is hearing voices and suddenly things work very differently for him than for anybody else--- and his mood goes up and down, and he might crash for 20 to 24 hours straight--- and binge eat.... and then he claims it's all about being tired or having the wrong meds again.

(No - this person is NOT romantically attached nor is he a close associate-- these are just observations.)

I cannot help also notice there are other 28 year olds who are in their career early mid-point, going to graduate school, having children, moving to cities, going on adventures----

And I cannot help wonder-- exactly what is in the 'fake' stuff that he is such a mess? Why can't the psychiatrist see or understand what else is going on?

Strange---