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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.

Sobriety can be a lifelong journey. The physical, psychological and emotional toll substance addiction takes on a person can be devastating. Because of that, the road to recovery and sobriety can become a constant work in progress for many people. One factor that can greatly contribute to sobriety success is finding and surrounding oneself with sober friends. Sober friends are people who also abstain from all forms of mind-altering substances such as alcohol and drugs. Having sober friends can be very beneficial to your emotional wellness, maintaining sobriety and maintaining important relationships during recovery.

Track marks are a series of needle or small puncture wounds across various areas of the body that typically indicate drug use. It is most commonly seen in more severe substance addictions. Track marks are a sign of intravenous drug use and are known as needle marks, injection marks or puncture marks. Puncturing the skin and veins repeatedly over a long period of time causes, bruising, collapsed veins, discoloration, scabs and the development of scar tissue at and around the injection site creating what can look like “track marks” on the skin.

Healing from the throws of addiction is a physically, psychologically and emotionally taxing ordeal. It can be both cognitively and spiritually draining and lead to an overall sense of exhaustion. In some cases, it can even exacerbate feelings of anxiety and depression. These feelings will most often manifest during the early stages of immediate addiction recovery and it is also known as sobriety fatigue. Sobriety fatigue is a natural reaction to the time, energy and efforts the user has invested into breaking free from and overcoming the challenges of their addiction.

Cyclobenzaprine is a type of muscle relaxant usually prescribed for short-term pain management from muscle injury including strains, sprains and spasms. It is more commonly known by the brand name Flexeril. Though the medication Flexeril is no longer available, many people still refer to this type of muscle relaxant medication as such. It is one of the most commonly prescribed medications used to treat musculoskeletal pain.

Klonopin is a prescription medication used to treat varying mental health conditions such as anxiety disorders, seizure disorders, panic disorders and agoraphobia disorders. It falls under the substance category of benzodiazepines and is a commonly abused drug. All benzos carry a risk of misuse and dependence. According to the FDA, exposure to benzos can increase a user’s risk of abuse, misuse, addiction and overdose. However, an overdose of the anti-anxiety medication alone is rare. In fact, most cases of Klonopin-related overdose almost always involve other substances or doses that are greater than the maximum recommendation from a medical provider.

Is shaking after drinking alcohol normal? In fact, many people experience shakes or tremors after drinking or when they are hungover from alcohol. The timeline in which a person experiences shakes or tremors will depend on how much alcohol they consumed and other factors such as individual metabolism, the type of alcohol and if they have been consuming alcohol alongside other substances. Alcohol shakes are a common mild symptom of alcohol withdrawal or alcohol-related brain damage. They typically occur when the depressant effects of alcohol wear off and the brain is experiencing overwhelming amounts of activity that it is not used to after being on alcohol for a long period of time.

Edibles are food products such as drinks, candy and baked goods that contain cannabinoids. The cannabinoids in the edibles often produce a psychoactive effect without the user having to inhale the substance into their lungs. Edibles are a tastier and often easier way to consume, an alternative to smoking cannabis. Cannabis edibles can affect every user differently. However, an edible can stay within your system anywhere from 3-12 days. This is much longer than when a users smoke or vapes cannabis.

Addiction and obsession are terms that can look the same, and are used interchangeably but are actually very different in both technical and practical terms. In many cases, they can occur simultaneously together making it very difficult for a person to overcome their obsession and addiction. People who have an addiction are often driven by the desire to escape their reality. People who have an obsession are often driven by fear of their reality. Recovery from either or both mental health behaviors can be difficult and should be treated separately in order to understand the root causes of both.

Online rehab, telehealth and telemedicine services have grown and evolved significantly since the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. These types of virtual and digital health services were created to better serve patients with their medical needs. Since 2020, there has been a growing number of online rehab and online therapy treatments available for those in need of help with substance use disorder. It has become a way for millions of people to connect with medical providers and access mental health and behavioral health care with more convenience and ease.