California Sober

By Author: Care Addiction
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What is California Sober?

The term California Sober was made popular by Demi Lovato when she released a song with the same name. In her documentary, “Dancing with the Devil”, Demi Lovato mentioned that she uses both marijuana and alcohol in moderation and labeled this activity as being California Sober.

Traditional sobriety involves abstaining from all drugs and alcohol, but California Sober advocates moderate use of marijuana and alcohol. According to this lifestyle, drugs like cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines, and opioids do more harm, are more likely to be misused, and are more easily abused.

Cannabis has been legalized for adult recreational use in 19 states, according to USNews, with more to follow. That means there are more options when it comes to going California Sober.

Why California Sober Isn’t Recommended

There are no clear criteria or standards for California Sober, and it has not been medically proven. Some people use alcohol and avoid marijuana, while ...
... others take shrooms and avoid alcohol. Additionally, the term "moderation" can mean different things to different people. Drinking frequently, for example, can slowly lead to excessive drinking as a result of tolerance building up.

Using alcohol or marijuana in place of drugs such as cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines, or opioids is not the right solution, even if abstaining from them is a good thing. Continued substance use of any kind carries inherent dangers - alcohol and marijuana are still addictive substances.

The signs of marijuana and alcohol addiction are similar to those of other drugs, including:

Isolating to use alone.
Missing obligations like work or responsibilities at home or school.
Legal issues (ie., DUI, domestic violence).
Concerned loved ones, estrangement of family members caused by substance use.
Hospitalization attributed to consumption.
Minimization of use and denial.

Due to the loose definition of California Sober, it becomes easy for individuals to adapt it to their own tastes. A substance use disorder can be dangerous because part of addiction is rationalizing the use of substances. If there is constant change in your definition of recovery, it can lead to regression and relapse.

Even Demi Lovato no longer endorses California Sober and now praises an abstinence model of recovery.

Alternatives To California Sober

It is important to stop and consider if your substance use is an addiction. How do you know when substance use has turned from a relaxation method or social activity into a substance abuse disorder? Below are several warning signs:

Not able to stick to limits
Drinking or using more than you planned or intended
Increase in tolerance - meaning you need more of the substance to achieve the desired effect that you’ve had in the past
Using in situations that are hazardous - for example, drinking and driving
Continued substance use regardless of negative impacts - for example, problems in relationships, spending too much on alcohol, or health problems

If you think this might be an addiction, or you want to know if you need help for an alcohol problem, call and schedule a screening assessment with an addiction specialist.

If this is not an addiction, there are several alternatives to California Sober.

Other Activities

Instead of trading one substance for another, try other activities that can be similarly rewarding without substance use. Engaging with literature, journaling, meditating, and incorporating regular physical activity.

Mindful Drinking

Mindful drinking is not about quitting alcohol or going dry, instead it’s being aware of why and how much alcohol you drink.

Sober Curious

Sober Curious means an individual chooses to avoid alcohol for personal or health reasons by experimenting with sobriety. It encourages individuals to live a sober life and explore the benefits and the challenges.

If you or a loved one need help with substance abuse or addiction, Care Addiction Center can help you along every step of the way. Call our Illinois rehab today at 630-402-0144.

Care Addiction Center provides compassionate, confidential & professional treatment services for adults suffering from alcohol & substance abuse. We believe that recovery from alcoholism and drug addiction is possible, even in very late stages. Our experienced and caring staff is dedicated to providing comprehensive drug treatment services for alcoholism and substance abuse with multiple levels of care. Substance Abuse Treatment for Kane County, Geneva, Batavia, St. Charles, Elburn, South Elgin, West Chicago, and Aurora Illinois.