Can a Member of AA Smoke Cannabis?

After mulling it over for a couple months, Annie decided to try pot, too. Now she smokes every few weeks when non-AA friends have it (she avoids buying it because she fears getting addicted). The use of weed, in general, is harmful, especially if used long-term and/or excessively. For those in recovery in particular, the use of marijuana can result in dependency, inability to cope with daily stressors that result from early sobriety, and the use of more dangerous substances.

• The debate about where cannabis fits into sobriety is in continual evolution, but at this point, Sarah says she hasn’t personally experienced much tension related to her choices.
• Such symptoms are often related to mood and may include irritability, anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and fatigue.
• Cannabis hasn’t been proven to be physically addictive, although there are anecdotal reports that it can be.

And using one (albeit less dangerous) crutch to ween yourself off of another is very tricky. If you are trying to find a way to stay sober without AA, consider placing words of wisdom and positivity in your home, workplace, and on your social media pages. Words may help you and provide light and positivity to your loved ones as well. The alcohol prompts them to hide behind their stress and fear instead of coping with it.

Treatment

If someone wants to continue in recovery, they will find a way to do so. Equally, if someone wants to return to use, they can do so in the rooms or outside of them. And we should not shame or ridicule either of those choices. Kelly believes this journey of recovery needs to be more widely accepted. What is important to remember here is that recovery is fluid. Our needs change, so our need for various support systems and interventions evolve as well.

This can be difficult without a supportive, clean environment following alcohol abuse treatment. In other words, they will tell you not to smoke marijuana if you want to be sober, even if you believe alcohol was your only real problem. This becomes a much more pertinent https://ecosoberhouse.com/ question as cannabis is now legal or being legalized all over the country. When marijuana was an illegal drug, it was slightly easier for drug counselors and 12-step sponsors to treat it as such, simply treat cannabis as one of many illegal drugs to be avoided.

Stay Cool and Calm

It may seem that relapse is the last thing that could happen to you, but the truth is they are very common for people new to recovery. If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, it’s important to find the right program. With so many options, it’s always a good idea to talk to professionals.

You may also experience what is commonly called sobriety fatigue, which refers to the overall exhaustion that may occur as a result of the emotional and physical stress of staying sober. So, it’s extra helpful to have a support network available to you when you need it. Some of the immediate changes you will need to make will be obvious—like not hanging around the people getting sober without aa that you used with or obtained drugs from. After all, you can’t hang around your drug dealer or old drinking buddies and expect to remain sober for very long. But for most people, staying sober isn’t that straightforward. The more strategies you learn to identify triggers, cope with stress, and manage your new sober life, the easier it is to prevent relapse.

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Those who remained sober for a year or more relapsed less than half the time. And those who abstained for five years remained sober and avoided relapse 85% of the time. Licensed medical professionals review material we publish on our site.

• It does this by providing compassionate care and evidence-based content that addresses health, treatment, and recovery.
• If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, it’s important to find the right program.
• Of course, one should avoid homes in seedy neighborhoods if given a choice.
• Overall, it is a cheaper alternative to residential or inpatient treatment centers, where treatment services are provided.

Residents may not have to pay for utilities at all, making housing very affordable. Another way to stay sober without AA is to exercise regularly. Exercising can produce endorphins such as serotonin and dopamine. These substances are chemicals in your brain that help you feel happiness, pleasure, and satisfaction. Looking at old photographs may help some people stay clean and sober.

Residents may remain in a sober living home for as long as they want – if they continue following the house rules. The length of time depends on an individual’s unique journey and how long their treatment and recovery take. One study reports that an average stay lasts between 166 and 254 days. The rules can vary, with some houses being stricter than others.

There is no obligation to enter treatment and you can opt out at any time. It’s important to remember that there are innumerable approaches to recovery, and whatever you choose to help you, you’re not alone. I know of hundreds of people who have successfully left AA and continued in their recovery. Ultimately, my realizations led me to leave 12-step fellowships. That was the hardest decision I’ve had to make in my recovery. I was conditioned to believe that this was the first step of relapse and that I may never get the opportunity to find recovery again.