First, let’s look at what AA entails and whether it’s right for you. While AA is typically the first thing people think of when considering alcohol recovery programs, there are other sober communities and support groups that may be better suited to some people. His account also lampoons self-identified sober people who smoke weed and former heroin users on suboxone as maintenance therapy. Stresses that his account is meant to be a good-natured troll of recovery communities, not a critique of individual choices. If people have surmounted their addictions and are back to work, healthy, and living fulfilling, meaningful lives, what does it matter if they are abstinent, on cannabis, using Suboxone, or microdosing with psychedelics? One may yearn for a perfect world in which we would all do yoga, eat tofu, and meditate, where no one feels the need to rely on a drug or a substance to help get us through the day.
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You’ll discover how our recovery center can connect your loved one to counseling and support to stop alcohol/drug abuse. Alcohol and marijuana comfortably how to stay sober without aa rest in the same category when it comes to people in recovery. They both produce mind-altering effects that too often become maladaptive coping mechanisms. For this reason alone, they do not create a safe environment for recovery.
What Are the Dangers of Marijuana Maintenance and Smoking Weed in Recovery?
This may entail, among other things, stopping the use of the drug as soon as the symptoms worsen or increasing your participation in therapeutic activities. Addictive behavior can occur in response to any drug as long as it produces a high even if the intention was purely medical. If you are recovering from addiction and want to avoid any addictive behavior, talk to your doctor so that they administer other alternatives that are non-addictive. Every path out of addition and into safe, stable recovery is unique to the person walking it. But all of us who are recovering from addiction nourish and support one another, not to be divided along lines of rigid approaches and inflexible ideologies.
I use weed prescribed by a doctor to help with certain medical conditions.
We use the tools of the MA program to help free us of our addictive tendencies and physical dependence on the substance that has caused damage in our lives. Some critics feel that sobriety isn’t a trend and the term ‘Cali sober’ makes light of addiction. Others feel that terms like ‘clean’ and ‘sober’ have their own problems. So far, cannabis use in Canada—where both medical and recreational weed are legal across the country—doesn’t appear to be changing significantly post-legalization. “I never formally decided to start smoking pot again,” Annie says with a slight shrug. “It just sort of happened.” Annie is 32, and has been alcohol-free (thanks to San Francisco AA) for almost five years.
- Avoiding normal triggers that may lead to a desire to smoke marijuana will help, as well as being surrounded by loved ones who can offer support.
- As noted in the Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous, the only requirement to attend AA meetings is a desire to stop drinking.
- Consulting healthcare providers who are informed about your sobriety goals can offer personalized guidance on whether medicinal marijuana will aid or hinder your recovery.
- “I never formally decided to start smoking pot again,” Annie says with a slight shrug.
She has over a decade of experience in building and operating metrics-driven brand, demand generation, and customer experience teams. One organization that has shown successful results in helping alcoholics remain sober is a Christian recovery organization. The theory is that through a dedicated commitment to the church that celebrates life, an alcoholic can overcome their sickness.
What Does AA Think About Being Sober but Using Marijuana?
Sobriety is often a lifelong commitment that requires dedication, support, and continuous effort. While the https://ecosoberhouse.com/ path to sobriety can be challenging, it is also incredibly rewarding. This broader definition acknowledges that different people have different paths to recovery and that what works for one person may not work for another. However, modern interpretations of sobriety recognize that total abstinence may not be realistic or necessary for everyone. The following questions may help you determine if you have a problem with marijuana… Meanwhile, two of the best-known organizations for people who identify as sober—Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous—are staying out of the discussion.
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People with lived experience are an asset and can help you make the right decision on smoking weed or using other substances while in recovery. Your journey is uniquely yours and may come with its own set of recovery challenges. When contemplating the role of marijuana in your sobriety, consider your personal sobriety goals, the risk of cannabis dependency, and any history of cross-addiction or dual diagnosis. Conversely, some people find a moderate approach more realistic and sustainable, particularly when medicinal marijuana is involved. If you’re considering this route, it’s critical to consult healthcare providers and to be completely transparent about your past and current sobriety goals.
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“He came up to the bar and ordered a soda water with a lime—‘But will you put it in a rocks glass? He came in a few more times, and every time it was the same thing … And he’d go back to his internet date and nurse the drink. He didn’t seem creepy or anything; he was just protecting his story,” Champion said. In the same way, watching people cut lines and snort powder isn’t really an activity that promotes serenity, well-being, or centeredness in the sober viewer.
Those who are sober from other drugs or alcohol but use cannabis regularly affirm that using this form of harm reduction supports their recovery. Suppose you have been diagnosed with a substance use disorder. In that case, you have a physical or emotional dependence on alcohol, or you cannot control your drinking even when it causes problems, an abstinence-based approach, such as A,A is likely in your best interest. Maintaining your desire to drink some alcohol while in AA will impede your recovery and increase your risk of relapse. After the first step, the program is focused on spiritual principles designed to help members live better lives and reach their full potential. It’s implied that doing so requires being free from the influence of drugs and alcohol.
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I see it as a fairly harmless way to just relax and unwind on the odd occasion. This process Substance abuse can be physically and emotionally challenging, with symptoms ranging from nausea and headaches to anxiety and mood swings. However, once the withdrawal phase passes, individuals can start to experience the benefits of sobriety. These benefits may include improved health, better relationships, and a clearer mind. The goal of sobriety is not just to abstain from drugs and alcohol but to achieve a balanced and healthy life.