Summary

The article critiques the 'Cali Sober' movement, questioning the efficacy of replacing alcohol with marijuana and psychedelics as a path to genuine sobriety and personal growth.

Abstract

The author of the article expresses skepticism about the 'Cali Sober' trend, which advocates for substituting alcohol with cannabis and psychedelics to manage alcohol use disorder. The piece argues that this approach may not address the underlying issues that lead to excessive drinking, such as trauma, dissatisfaction with life choices, ADHD, and boredom. Instead, the author suggests that true sobriety involves confronting these root causes and finding healthier, more constructive ways to fill the void left by alcohol, such as through physical activity, creativity, and maintaining a busy, focused schedule. The article concludes by comparing 'Cali Sober' to a fad diet, implying it's an ineffective detour from the challenging journey of self-improvement and understanding one's own behavior.

Opinions

The author questions the effectiveness of the 'Cali Sober' lifestyle, suggesting it may be a form of escapism rather than a solution to addiction.
Personal experience is shared to illustrate that simply swapping one substance for another does not resolve deep-seated personal issues.
The article emphasizes the importance of self-esteem, dealing with past trauma, and finding fulfillment beyond substance use.
It is suggested that staying active, keeping busy, and engaging in creative activities are preferable to substituting one drug for another.
The author cites their own transformation after quitting alcohol, highlighting the benefits of true sobriety and the power of addressing the root causes of substance abuse.
Celebrity examples, like Demi Lovato, are used to reinforce the idea that complete abstinence is the most effective approach to recovery.
The article criticizes 'Cali Sober' as a potential distraction from the genuine work required for sustained sobriety and personal development.

‘Cali sober’ is a road to ruin

I tried every which way to justify my excessive drinking for years, so excuse me if I approach the term ‘Cali Sober’ with suspicion.

The definition of Cali Sober varies depending on who you talk to, but effectively it’s the idea that you can replace alcohol use disorder with a more mindful approach … and possibly psychedelics?

This article provides a good summary of the cultural movement, which favours either moderation or replacement of alcohol with marijuana and/or psilocybin.

The term seems to originate with two pieces of art:

A Vice article by an author who switched from booze to pot and mushrooms when she moved from New York to California
A song by well-known musician, addict and recovery advocate Demi Lovato

This outcropping of the “sober curious” movement suggests a kinder, gentler, less harmful approach to drug use.

Yet, if you’re just replacing one drug with another, are you really solving a problem?

My accidental experience

I tried, sort of by accident, the Cali Sober lifestyle before it was really a thing.

During one of my past alcohol quitting attempts, I ordered some combinations of THC and CBD as a way to cope with the cravings and withdrawals associated with booze (I live in Canada, you can get this stuff in the mail).

This was a weird move on my part since I get absolutely no enjoyment out of cannabis whatsoever.

Whenever I tried it in the past, it just made me quiet and paranoid. But I was desperate, so I took a crack at it as a way to shake booze.

At the end of the day, I accomplished nothing.

While I did avoid alcohol during the month or so I tried that strategy, I never stopped looking forward to not being sober.

As soon as my THC/CBD supply ran out, I just went back to drinking again.

By trying to replace one drug with another, I was avoiding the root problems that were causing me to drink in the first place:

Lack of self-esteem due to past trauma
Dissatisfaction with my past life choices
Inability to slow down my ADHD brain
Boredom

All of these combined to create the main reason for my excessive drinking: I was uncomfortable living in my own head.

As I’ve said before, I don’t think humans were made to be idle.

My favourite quote from musician James Tayor, which I think is worth posting here again, sums up my brain and experience with substances:

“The way I felt about it was that, the way I’ve come to feel about it, is that I was probably, like, rowing some Viking boat across the seas in a former life. And when you sit me down in a sort of suburban context, my nervous system and my body and my entire wiring is just not ready for it.

“I’m ready for something else. I’m ready for war, I’m ready to battle the elements or to raid villages or defend villages. But I’m not comfortable on the couch watching baseball.”

Or as the success guru Grant Cardone says: “If you want to meet the Devil, have white space on your calendar.”

Replacing booze with something better

The combination of strategies, schedules, supports, and activities that have turned my life around in so many positive ways since I quit four months ago revolve around keeping physically active, keeping busy, and staying focused on creating things instead of destroying myself.

So if you’re considering Cali Sober, ask yourself this question first: rather than using the empty solution of more drugs, what else could you replace alcohol with instead?

What could you create with more time and energy?

What could you build?

One of the low-key tougher things you need to adjust to after quitting alcohol is what to do with all the free time you were previously pissing away on drinking and being tired.

I needed a plan to manage my brain, and you probably will too. But the benefits on the other side are incredible.

I really believe that Cali Sober is to addicts what a fad diet is to people who overeat or are sedentary.

It’s just a detour away from the long road toward figuring out the root causes of your behaviour.

Just ask Demi Lovato.

The singer has since disavowed the movement, writing on Instagram: “Sober sober is the only way to be.”

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