I’ve seen the term “California Sober” thrown around on here a few times and would like to throw in my two sense as an active AA member on step 12. Do not consider myself an AA guru by any means but I believe literally it states the ONLY requirement for AA is a desire to stop drinking. I have not had a drop of alcohol in any shape or form in 178 consecutive days but I use marinol and medical marijuana for ptsd, anxiety, and pain from 13 broken bones and about to be surgery number 7. And I have to hide this because in the AA community it’s unacceptable. I am fully aware it is a drug, and still federally a schedule 1 narcotic, but if I can go to my doctor, explain my symptoms and he says this will work, how can anyone say that’s breaking sobriety? I’ve never heard anyone mention to me that I shouldn’t be taking the 4mg of klonopin a day for six years, chewing a can of tobacco a day for 16 years or the 3 cans of Red Bull I consume a day since Red Bull has come out. Both of these products contain a drug, one of which you must be 21 to purchase even but that is acceptable? This in my opinion is where I start to lose trust in the program. It seems it’s deviating from the big book and starting to just use personal opinions or ideas that certain states or areas want to have be considered sobriety. Welcome to any thoughts and idears because I will continue AA, as it is what worked for me to get here, but don’t want to form a resentment against AA and would like to understand how one drug is okay as an alcoholic and another is completely forbidden? Thanks and hope this dosent cause to much of a fuss, just looking for clarification!
This has come up before. And I’ll say again as a sober person in California, it wasn’t sober people in California that made the phrase trendy, as far as I know. Please call it anything else.
Edited to add: What is discussed and decided between a person and their medical professionals is their business though, far as I’m concerned.
I can tell you if I were to go to my home group and explain that I am using a prescribed THC pill for those symptoms I would be asked to find a new home group and my sponsor would drop me. But he is fine with the benzodiazepines, nicotine, caffeine and numerous other meds.
I live in NY but went to rehab for alcohol in California and I do not like the term at all either.
I may have misread that. But I won’t lie @SoberGuyUSA i was hoping you would reply to this with something more than I dropped alcohol to pick up cannabis and be a sober pothead.
By the definition of the word “sober”, it’s not sober. That is factual.
HOWEVER - what does and doesn’t work for you, is up to you. If other people want to view that with contempt or have some “holier than thou” behavior towards you because of it - fuck 'em. You’re using it for medical reasons, same as other medications, as you’ve stated. Your doctor is aware and suggested it. You’re not pretending you’re not using it. As long as you’re honest about it (with yourself, most importantly), not abusing it, and it truly helps you in the medical sense - then do what you want.
Your journey is your own, man. We get too hung up on labels and what others think. Do you.
Right the labels aren’t what bothers me as much as I can’t be honest about it with my home group or I’d be shunned. It shouldn’t be that way.
And I would add, @HillbillyChris and others, that any discussion encouraging (nonprescription) use of mind altering substances isn’t ok on this particular forum. Most of all, out of respect for those here struggling with sobriety from those substances.
Per the guidelines, we rather keep the discussion on the desire to not use.
And also that’s where the technicalities come in. If someone drinks a soda they aren’t sober. They invested caffeine a mind altering drug. If some smoke a cigarette it’s the same thing. But none of that gets looked at. It’s actually encouraged in recovery.
Understood @Eke. I do not believe I overstepped, but if I have it wasn’t my intention. I would never push any medication on someone.
I apologize, I guesss I didNt read that correctly. No I am not comfortable because I am lying. That’s completely against the brutal honesty part of AA. But I’ve tried to get clean before on my own and didn’t make it more than two days. With Covid there hasn’t been anything open near me. Guess I’m finding it difficult to pick a good home group via zoom.
Guess I should of analyzed this a tad better before I posted. One of my defects speaking before I think. I’m not trying to go to my home group and gloat that I’m using cannabis medicinally. But I also don’t want to go there knowing that if they find out I’m going to be asked to leave. I don’t want it to be a secret.
Thank you. Was one of the reasons I came here was an outside opinion on things from my home group.
I agree with Chris’ take here. And for the most part, it’s how I’d expect my AA sponsor and home group would feel too. This is what falls under “outside issues” as I understand AA. No opinion. It’s between you, your doctor, and whatever HP you believe in.
Then again, every group is different. And surely continuing to work toward freedom from that as well is worth discussing and pursuing.
I enjoy AA personally. The steps really brought light to my defects and makes me work everyday to attempt to better myself. But like you said I may have to stick it out with this home group until things open up.
Your recovery is your journey and yours alone. Maybe someday you give up chewing, sugar, or your prescriptions. It really is your journey. Best wishes
Thank you Dan. I am tapering off of klonopin after 6 years on that dosage. Contacted the VA few days ago and have the nicotine gum coming. My end goal is I want to take a multi vitamin and that’s it.
The term California sober, was coined popular by Lindsay Lohan I think, which means that you don’t drink alcohol or use other drugs, but recreational use of Marijuana. Why California sober when other states legalized recreational use first? I don’t I guess they thought it sounded cool. Whatever
Honestly, it’s something that should be taken in consideration, naturally for AA, the idea is complete abstinence, which hey I am ok with, but there is and what should be wiggle room.
Recovering Opiate addicts often take Suboxine or methadone, as prescribed by a physician and are labeled not sober, why? Idk, if your Doctor felt that the best treatment modalities for your specific conditions is a form of marijuana then that is the decision you both have felt was the best path moving forward.
I take prescriptions daily,
- I do not take more or less then prescribed
- I follow my medical providers directions
I was also in your shoes in early sobriety, I was prescribed adderall to help with my ADHD I took it as prescribed but was labeled “Not Sober” by my peers cause it can be a mind altering drug if abused. Against medical advice and peer pressure I decided not to take the drug, and the effects on my daily life are still present, I struggle to sit still focus or do anything that involves periods of continuous repetition, my doctor dropped me because of it and my current psych is on the fence.
If you feel that you are being shunned by a group because of your prescribed medications, maybe look for another group,
TLDR - follow your doctors orders, AA attendees aren’t all Doctors, your physician should know what is best for you
Hey buddy! I’m sorry you are going through all of this as that is a lot of pain to deal with. Just so I make sure I am understanding. . . A doctor has prescribed medical use of marijuana for your pain. Your AA group would NOT want you to participate in their group if they knew this. Would they be okay with you taking prescription pain pills prescribed by your doctor. Do they just expect it’s members to tough it out through pain management?
Sorry for the questions. If they have a problem with the marijuana but not pain pills, I’d have a hard time being in that group. That being said, with my AA home group, I’m only there for alcohol abuse. I don’t think I would feel the need to tell them about substances I was using with a doctor’s guidance and not abusing.
Hi mate, I think because AA was set up a while back, when there wasn’t so much science proving how beneficial weed could be, plus a more conservative attitude at the time, that may influence why the AA is more black and white about drugs of any kind (accept traditional meds) is quite negative.
I think if you’re taking weed for being in legit pain then you are fine mate. It’s only if weed becomes a negative in your life, like drink and other drugs. And well done for staying off the booze!