Ever heard of “California sober?’ Maybe you came across the concept online or in songs by popular musicians. It could even sound intriguing as certain celebrities tout its benefits as a harm reduction strategy for softer forms of substance use and semi-sobriety. However, the California sober approach to substances isn’t without its own harms, and it can set you up for relapse if you’ve struggled with addiction.
What is California Sober?
To understand California sober, you must first understand the harm reduction focus behind it. In public health circles, harm reduction encompasses ideas and strategies aimed at reducing the negative consequences associated with drug use. According to the National Harm Reduction Coalition, such harm reduction strategies may include safer use, managed use, abstinence, meeting people who use drugs “where they’re at,” and more.
With harm reduction in mind, California sober or “Cali sober” promotes the idea of cutting out certain addictive substances from your life by replacing them with substances that are theoretically less harmful. Instead of abstaining from substances altogether, you’re hoping to reduce the risks involved, shares the Cleveland Clinic.
At the same time, the California approach has other specific variations, too. According to The Guardian, using weed but no other drugs or alcohol is essentially the meaning of California sober. Other variations add the use of psychedelic drugs like mushrooms, LSD, or ayahuasca to the broader concept of being Cali sober.
For decades, the definition of sobriety has meant abstaining from a behavior or substance and committing to a substance-free lifestyle. The California sober movement, however, has sought to redefine this traditional definition by adopting a more flexible, open-minded view of sobriety.
Is California Sober a Good Approach?
With California sober, the idea is that if you’re going to use substances, it’s better to stick with the “soft” ones instead of harder, more dangerous options. Some people even advocate the approach as a way to reduce the use of certain substances. One study by Brown University even suggests that using marijuana, for example, can temporarily cut down how much people drink.
While it may sound intriguing on the surface, California sober has some serious drawbacks that can ultimately leave your deeper issues unaddressed and make your substance struggles worse:
Drawbacks of Being California Sober
- New addiction challenges: Embracing marijuana usage as a better alternative can still leave you vulnerable to substance abuse and addiction. Already an addictive drug in its own right, marijuana today—with the rise of high THC weed, for example—can generate dependence and withdrawal symptoms. Rather than overcoming one addiction, California sober may lead you to take on a transfer addiction instead.
- Continued unhealthy coping patterns: With California sober, you’re not truly sober from addictive or mind-altering substances. You’re simply substituting one (or more) for another. That means you’re still using substances to cope with negative feelings, stress, and other issues, which can eventually lead to addiction. You’re not learning how to regulate your emotions in healthier ways.
- Underlying struggles remain: If you’re struggling with substance abuse and addiction, there’s often a deeper root cause driving your behavior. For many, this is unresolved past trauma (including childhood trauma). You may even have a co-occurring mental health disorder like depression or anxiety. Being California sober means that you’re not treating the underlying causes behind your substance abuse in the first place. You’re missing out on true healing from your struggles.
- Unclear boundaries: The California sober approach can mean different things to different people, depending on who you ask. It’s essentially a personal, self-led form of substance use. It’s not promoted or officially supported by health professionals. That means there’s no consistent, evidence-based guidance or expertise to follow. As a result, your own approach could put you in harm’s way for additional health problems and continued substance abuse.
Not a Real Path to Long-Term Sobriety
And if you’re reading this while struggling with substance abuse or addiction, you should know that the California sober approach is not an advisable path to long-term sobriety. Taking on a new, “less harmful” drug like marijuana (which is actually still harmful) may lead to a new addiction or a drug or alcohol relapse.
Trying to go California sober only keeps you from getting the help you really need to heal, and your sobriety remains delayed. Even Demi Lovato, whose 2021 song gave the California sober movement renewed attention, has since stopped endorsing the semi-sober lifestyle, according to Everyday Health.
True Healing at Sana at Stowe
If you’re struggling with substance abuse and addiction, trying the California sober approach with a different substance instead isn’t going to create the healthy change you want. Becoming your authentic self and reclaiming your life from substances requires more. You need to seek professional treatment in order to achieve true, lasting sobriety.
At Sana at Stowe in Stowe, Vermont, we provide holistic addiction treatment programs designed to help you find long-term recovery from alcohol and drugs. Addressing the root causes of your struggles, we can also treat co-occurring disorders as well. If you’re ready for real healing, call our team today.
