What is "California Sober"?

The term “California sober” has been thrown around a lot in recent years, and you may have even heard about it in music, movies, or on social media. California sobriety is often seen in a positive light, as it is said to promote responsibility, substance abstinence, and mental wellness.

To determine if there is any truth to these claims, let’s take a look at what it means to be California sober and if it’s an effective form of sobriety. 

What Is California Sober? Understanding What it Means and Why People Do It

California sober means different things to different people. It’s not a clinical term, so there are variations in what substances someone uses when they consider themselves California sober.

That being said, California sober generally means replacing harmful substances with less harmful substances. To some people, this means using drugs like cannabis instead of alcohol or dangerous, illicit substances. To others, California sober could mean using cannabis and light amounts of alcohol, rather than drinking heavily and using other drugs.

Why Do People Get California Sober?

There are several reasons why someone would choose to get California sober over abstaining from drugs and alcohol completely. 

Sometimes, people choose to get California sober because they want to cut out certain drugs, but they don’t want to cut out everything altogether. For example, if someone is addicted to hard substances like cocaine or heroin, then they may substitute them with cannabis instead. Although cannabis comes with its own negative consequences, it is often perceived as a safer and healthier alternative to harder substances.

Learn more about addiction substitution.

Other times, people will choose to be California sober even if they aren’t struggling with an addiction. Although California sober is often used as an addiction substitution, some people simply don’t enjoy the effects of alcohol or other drugs. If someone exclusively uses cannabis and doesn’t use any other substances, then they may also consider themselves California sober. 

Read our related article to discover the differences between drug misuse, abuse, and addiction. 

Is Cannabis a Safe Drug? Uncovering the Risks of Cannabis Use

In many ways, using cannabis is often considered to be a safer alternative to drinking heavily or using harder drugs like heroin or cocaine. However, cannabis isn’t a safe drug, and it comes with its own negative consequences. 

Cannabis is known to have harmful effects on the body and mind. Some of the negative effects of cannabis include:

• Short-term memory impairment
• Concentration problems
• Decreased motivation
• Increases irritability, depression, and anxiety
• Paranoia and psychosis
• Lung damage

In addition to these harmful effects, cannabis can also lead to addiction. Long-term cannabis use leads to an increased tolerance, which causes someone to have to use larger amounts to achieve the same effects. When someone is addicted to cannabis, they will suffer from withdrawal symptoms and intense cravings if they don’t use it.

Read our related article to learn more about cannabis addiction, as well as psychological dependence.

Moderation Management

Moderation management is a strategy that can help people who want to reduce their alcohol use to a controllable level. Although it is specifically designed for alcohol, the same principles can be applied to cannabis use. 

The main principles of moderation management are:

• Limit consumption or use to a few times per week
• Ensure consumption or use doesn’t interfere with your personal life
• Set consumption or use goals, and work towards achieving them
• Seek support from support groups or mental health professionals
• Find healthier alternatives to consumption or use

Moderation management can help some people avoid excessive cannabis use, but it’s not for everyone. People that are dependent on cannabis or are prone to addiction may not be able to effectively maintain moderation. 

Moderation management is also not an effective alternative to complete abstinence for those seeking a full recovery from substance use.

Read our related article for more information on alcohol addiction.

Does California Sober Work? Understanding if California Sobriety Is a True Sobriety

Although some people claim that cannabis helped them cut out alcohol and other drugs, being California sober is generally not recommended by doctors and mental health professionals. 

Substituting one substance for another leads to an increased risk of falling back into the original substance addiction. Although drugs like cannabis can distract someone from their original addiction, it doesn’t address the underlying issues that led to addiction in the first place.

If the root causes of addiction aren’t addressed, it can eventually cause someone to take up their old addiction again.

Read our related article to learn more about gateway drugs.

Achieving True Sobriety

California sober isn’t the same thing as sobriety. If someone is seeking a full and effective recovery from substance use, then they should avoid using cannabis as well. It’s important for individuals in recovery to achieve mental wellness without substances, and using cannabis can severely interfere with this process. 

Seeking help from a mental health professional can greatly increase someone’s chances at achieving a true sobriety. Therapists and counselors can help you identify the root of your addiction problems and teach you effective strategies for coping with them in a healthier way. 

Inpatient and outpatient treatment programs are specifically designed for helping individuals learn how to achieve mental wellness without relying on substances. They provide a structured and supportive environment for learning how to live a sober life. 

Overcome Addiction with Sequoia Behavioral Health

At Sequoia Behavioral Health, we understand how hard it can be to live a life that’s free from substances. That’s why we’re committed to helping individuals stop the cycle of substance addiction to rebuild healthy, happy, and accomplished lives. 

If you or a loved one is struggling with substance addiction, contact our mental health experts today to see how we can help.