What is California Sober?
Have you quit drugs? Have you quit drinking? Are you going California Sober? There is no official definition of California Sober. Some people refer to it as only using substances or “soft drugs” such as marijuana while cutting out all “hard drugs” such as cocaine, heroin and alcohol. One definition of the term refers to the occasional use of alcohol or even other hard drugs in a controlled setting because of the belief that it can offer mental health benefits. Other definitions of the term refer to only using marijuana and alcohol in moderation and avoiding other drugs. Advocates for this semi-sobriety approach claim that marijuana offers therapeutic benefits when trying to overcome an addiction.
What is California Sober?
The term California Sober was first popularized in 2021 by celebrity Demi Lovato who promoted the lifestyle saying it helped her control her substance use as she was in the midst of trying to get clean from substance abuse. She described it as “a form of balanced sobriety.” The California Sober lifestyle craze boomed and became increasingly popular with advocation by other Hollywood celebrities. However, she has since changed her tune saying she is no longer engaging in the California Sober lifestyle saying it can lead to relapse and has become completely sober.
The concept of California Sober is a very controversial topic. It doesn’t work for everyone. It is not medically proven or regulated and there is limited research and studies on the actual effectiveness of this type of treatment. The practice of reintroducing “soft drugs” into a person’s system can be risky and eventually lead to cravings for other “hard drugs.” This would ultimately lead the user back into the negative patterns of their substance addiction.
What are the Advocates for California Sober saying?
- Advocates believe weed and alcohol are so completely different substances that they cannot become substitutes for one another. Using marijuana cannot lead to cravings to use alcohol because they are not the same type of drugs and they do not produce the same type of effects.
- Advocates believe marijuana is a safe and much healthier alternative to alcohol because it is a natural and naturally occurring substance. Marijuana can even provide medical benefits.
- Advocates believe the California Sober lifestyle allows them to understand and become more aware of their boundaries and forces users to constantly and intentionally think about the choices that will work for them. It can force users to take a more in-depth look into their cravings, triggers and overall ability to maintain progress towards their goals in sobriety. This method promotes self-awareness and critical analysis of oneself rather than saying no to everything just to be able to maintain sobriety.
- Advocates believe this type of treatment or lifestyle can help users find effective ways to cope in social settings, and how to effectively manage their emotions and behaviors when it comes to substance use.
- Advocates say California Sober is an effective form of harm reduction practice. This type of harm reduction method means you are not fully abstinent but you are using a less addictive substance that you are able to manage and control. Harm reduction strategies aim to minimize negative health and social consequences associated with drug and alcohol abuse. Harm reduction acknowledges that abstinence may be the goal for some people, but it is not the goal for everyone who may seek a more practical and realistic approach to managing their substance use.
- Advocates for California Sober also believe this lifestyle can become a segway into complete recovery and should be seen as a tool to sobriety. It can allow you to reevaluate your relationship with substances, ease the transition into sobriety, keep you away from substances that can cause the most harm and permit you to understand who you are and what you need in your recovery journey.
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What are the Critics of California Sober saying?
- Critics say both alcohol and marijuana are used by many, often used together and often associated with one another. It is most likely that when using marijuana, the user will then move into using alcohol and then into other hard drugs.
- Critics say the California Sober lifestyle is not helpful when trying to avoid mind-altering substances because marijuana is considered a gateway drug and can lead to relapsing on other substances.
- Clinicians and researchers say weaning yourself off addictive substances using marijuana isn’t the most helpful method.
- Critics say over time, users can begin to develop a cannabis dependence or even addiction. More than 11.8 million people admit to using marijuana and about 30% of them have a marijuana use disorder.
- Critics say being California Sober can lead to the development of addiction to marijuana and alcohol. This is counteractive when the ultimate goal is to achieve sobriety from all mind-altering substances.
- Critics say that research has found replacing alcohol with marijuana will eventually lead users to start drinking again. This is in comparison to those who give up both marijuana and drinking. Replacing one substance for another does not work. And when people who were once addicted to a substance return to drinking or smoking marijuana, they are much more likely to relapse. According to the American Medical Association Journal, an estimated 50% of people relapse within a year of treatment.
- Critics say the consumption method of marijuana can affect the level of enjoyment. Smoking weed and consuming weed edibles provide different types of experiences. Edible can make it more difficult to control the dosage of the drug and can lead to more cravings for marijuana which can lead to dependence.
- Critics say marijuana itself has its own set of negative effects. Side effects include short-term memory loss, learning and concentration difficulties, short-term impairment of judgment and motor coordination, decreased motivation to finish things, short-term paranoia, psychosis, lung damage, tolerance and dependence.
- Critics say there is no set or official definition of what California Sober is. Everyone defines the moderation of drugs differently. There is no baseline.
- Critics say using “soft drugs” is just procrastinating and delaying true sobriety and complete abstinence and recovery.
- Critics say the California Sober lifestyle promotes marijuana and alcohol use and that there is an acceptance of these substances while overlooking the fact that they can both lead to dependency and dangerous health issues.
- Critics say marijuana can damage your brain, especially when consumed by young people and young adults whose brains have not yet fully developed.
- Critics say being California Sober can easily lead to relapse and can provide more work for users in terms of establishing self-discipline. It can also leave you isolated from support groups and recovery communities that practice abstinence.
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The California Sober lifestyle doesn’t work for everyone. Although the definition of California Sober varies, it involves giving up highly addictive substances such as illicit drugs and switching to less additive or less dangerous drugs such as marijuana or alcohol. Some involved in this style of treatment sometimes participate in moderate use of substances. However, researchers found that the California Sober treatment method has no legitimate or peer-reviewed studies showing its benefits or that it works.
Some alternatives to this method can include complete abstinence, Moderation Management, harm reduction or behavioral therapies. Staying away from substances is necessary to become sober and completely heal from a drug addiction. Behavioral health treatment programs such as Hotel California by the Sea provide exceptional care in treating substance use disorders.
We offer all levels of care such as detox, residential and outpatient programs. We utilize evidence-proven treatment methods such as CBT, DBT and EMDR therapy. Hotel California by the Sea provides the tools, resources and support clients need to overcome their addiction and live a healthier life in sobriety.
References:
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-is-cali-sober
https://www.verywellmind.com/the-rise-of-california-sober-7966759
https://rehabclinicsgroup.com/what-does-california-sober-mean
https://www.addictioncenter.com/community/what-does-it-mean-california-sober
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/use-your-brain/202303/a-new-assessment-of-california-sober