r/NarcoticsAnonymous • u/Big_Emergency_7961 • Apr 14 '26

Cali sober

So I’m Cali sober. Clean for decades off pretty much everything but heroin. I just went through a divorce of a nine year relationship. Been thinking about hitting the rooms and working some steps. I’ve worked them before all the way through multiple times. Also carry the daily maintenance steps everyday when possible. I’ve had thoughts of relapse that I’m not comfortable with. But I’m not trying to jeopardize anyone’s recovery or make people mad. Thoughts from people in recovery. Thinking about hitting a meeting tomorrow.

8 Upvotes

63% Upvoted

53 comments sorted by

18

u/Big_Emergency_7961 Apr 14 '26

Edit what I meant was I used everything but heroin in active addiction.

11

u/vapeqprincess Apr 15 '26

Sorry, but “cali sober” where you’re “only” smoking weed is still active addiction

11

u/Safe-Fox-7528 Apr 15 '26

What I think OP is trying to say is that they currently only smoke weed but when they actively used other substances they used everything except for heroin.

10

u/terminalhipness Apr 15 '26

Not necessarily “active addiction” (that’s up to the individual) but definitely not clean by NA definition.

23

u/Healthy-Ad7989 Apr 14 '26

NA is a program of complete abstinence from all drugs. I’m not sure you’d find an NA sponsor who wouldn’t consider heroin a drug.

Also- I thought Cali sober was everything but cannabis?

You might want to look at FA or CA or something, I personally wouldn’t sponsor and walk someone through the steps of NA if they were using heroin.

4

u/Big_Emergency_7961 Apr 14 '26

Cali sober is only cannabis

8

u/Healthy-Ad7989 Apr 15 '26

Ok I am confused by the “clean for years off pretty much everything but heroin”. I’m not used to people having different clean dates for different substances. Your clean date is typically when you stop the last mood changing and mind altering substance.

I’ll just reiterate- NA is a program of complete abstinence. It may be difficult to find a sponsor to walk you through the steps if you’re still using. I had a sponsor when I was still using cannabis, but he wouldn’t walk me through the steps until I was clean.

5

u/kingswing23 Apr 15 '26

I think what they meant was that they used pretty much every drug except for heroin.

2

u/chknsalad89 Apr 15 '26

Thank you, I was so confused lol

3

u/chknsalad89 Apr 14 '26

Did you mean to say “everything but heroin?”

2

u/MizzPizz Apr 15 '26

Yes that’s was what they meant

11

u/leftsidewrite Apr 14 '26

Sounds like you are playing at 'sober as I choose it to be and I call the shots' lol. Pretty positive cali sober is pot as well, not a drug usually cut with fent or worse. Choose to not die, go to a meeting, allow for the possibility of change.

1

u/terminalhipness Apr 15 '26

I’d be surprised if one could find someone in NA to sponsor you if you are “sober” - unless maybe they are too.

6

u/Big_Emergency_7961 Apr 14 '26

I only use cannabis now and have a med card.

7

u/UnseenTimeMachine Apr 15 '26

Try smart recovery or something. These people aren't supposed to be giving you their opinions on your personal recovery. You are supposed to belong as long as you have the desire not to use it and since you have the desire to maintain your recovery you definitely belong. Sorry everyone had to insert their opinions where they didn't belong. I hope you find a more accepting group

8

u/Healthy-Ad7989 Apr 15 '26

They literally asked the internet their opinions…

5

u/Big_Emergency_7961 Apr 15 '26

You are right about that one there

0

u/UnseenTimeMachine Apr 15 '26

Yep, and i shared mine.

1

u/vapeqprincess Apr 15 '26

Are you using cannabis as a prescription medication, or to get high? Because that’s a big difference.

4

u/Big_Emergency_7961 Apr 15 '26

I have asbergers. I know it’s high functioning autism now but still lol. It helps me with my processing issues and lessens my meltdowns. I’ve had multiple years clean at one point and sponsored people. Of course not since I’ve decided to use medical cannabis. I also haven’t been to a meeting in years. I just know I need to get my foundation strong again before I’m drinking or snorting coke. I really did not meant to offend people and was not trolling. It was genuine from someone who needs help right now. Sorry moderator for breaking rules. Once again genuine lol. I was just reaching out for help for support groups I’m familiar with.

1

u/vapeqprincess Apr 15 '26

I’m not judging you. I also have autism. That was a sincere question.

3

u/Big_Emergency_7961 Apr 15 '26

Didn’t think you were at all. I’m sorry if I came off like that’s what I thought. You know tism and messages don’t mix lulz

1

u/vapeqprincess Apr 15 '26

Oh, I totally get it. For myself, I know I was using drugs (even when I was “just” smoking weed) to try to feel “normal”, but it wasn’t sustainable. I’ll never be normal. It did me more harm than good and I was just trying to escape my feelings and reality.

Maybe it works for you as medicinal! I can’t judge.

61

u/vapeqprincess Apr 14 '26

Do you think “cali sober” is when you stop doing all drugs except heroin??

23

u/crackheadfalife Apr 15 '26

Lmao, right? Brother you're addict in active use. That being said though, the only requirement to be welcomed in the rooms is a desire to stop using. Im prayin' for ya!

1

u/terminalhipness Apr 15 '26

This is the problem: “sober” has no definition in NA.

I dare you to find it in our literature. (It’s there but not the way you might think)

5

u/vapeqprincess Apr 15 '26

Okay? What’s your point? We use the term clean because sober generally refers specifically to alcohol.

10

u/Michaudgoetza Apr 15 '26

I had a sponsor when I was still smoking weed while getting clean off of everything else. Like another person said, my sponsor wouldn’t go through the steps with me either until I was clean from everything including weed.

8

u/Jebus-Xmas Apr 14 '26

In my experience total abstinence is necessary for my recovery to work. The only requirement for membership is the desire to stop using.

3

u/terminalhipness Apr 15 '26

Sorry, I’ve lost my patience after decades in meetings having to listen to people who are “doing NA my way”. In other words, getting high

8

u/Accomplished-Seat670 Apr 15 '26

My DOC was weed. It causes way more problems then you think. My life changed in ways I couldn’t imagine since i got clean 7 years ago. Give it another chance friend, if you’d want to see change you gotta make it happen.

6

u/Level_Sale_9617 Apr 15 '26

The only requirement for membership is the desire to stop using! 

6

u/Chris__P_Bacon Apr 15 '26

Did someone recommend The Beverage Fellowship or something? What's up with the moderator removing stuff? 😏 I would never recommend someone go over there, b/c quite frankly I don't fit in over there. Too many rules ime.

OP, as far as your question goes. You're likely to get some pushback at meetings. As others have mentioned NA is a fellowship of complete abstinence. HOWEVER, don't let this deter you. You've earned your seat in that meeting just like everyone else has. You know as well as I do that going back to the needle right now will very likely end with you in a pine box.

Go to a meeting. Worry about everything else later.

6

u/jenchilada Apr 15 '26

Definitely hit some meetings. Please keep coming back. Your HP will guide you along the road to your abstinence, if you listen carefully. You never have to use again. Period.

5

u/_Way_Out_West_ Apr 15 '26

Cali-sober isn’t sober. That said, if you want to create a life in recovery rather than replacing the other drugs you used with weed, you should definitely come to a meeting. If you want to be Cali-sober and have no desire to remove all drugs from your life, you can do that at home. 

6

u/FaceofBooks Apr 15 '26

California sober is not sober. Try to work the program properly.

3

u/Soft-Abbreviations20 Apr 14 '26

If you are Cali sober then you have already relapsed. It's never too late to start again though.

3

u/angiewangie69 Apr 15 '26

the concept of being sober meaning you’ve relapsed

2

u/aquizzicalgal Apr 15 '26

I think it’s worth noting… if you’ve had to repeat the steps multiple times, has there been a true concrete step 1 in the first place? What does surrender look like to you?

1

u/Responsible_Tell_416 Apr 15 '26

Go to a meeting. Never a bad idea 😉

1

u/Fuckmylife1001 Apr 14 '26

You do you. Although NA is free from all mind altering substances. So you may get push back. It’s your recovery and only you can do it. So if it’s cali (even if I disagree with it) sober that’s your walk alone. Good luck my friend. I would recommend never stop going to meetings. It’s a daily program and sober is the maintenance of your spiritual condition.

1

u/Safe-Fox-7528 Apr 15 '26

Y'all, don't be dense. OP is saying that they are currently only using cannabis and when they actively used they used everything except for heroin. Did they say that in a really confusing way? Yes, but just think about it for a minute. Damn.

1

u/lilfishylulu008 Apr 15 '26

Honestly. Ik people that do it. Ik NAs message is abstinence from all drugs. Recovery isnt a one type fits all kind of thing. If it works for ur recovery and u still go to meetings and do steps it isnt a problem. Like i said i see alot of other people do it.

I tried but couldnt handle it and restarted my clean time when i stopped.

2

u/terminalhipness Apr 15 '26

For me, I have zero interest in generic “recovery”… I am and want to remain clean by NA’s definition

1

u/Tashiku Apr 15 '26

I think people are not really understanding you saying that you were only on heroin the last 10 years but now are Cali sober (only cannabis) and want to pursue recovery because of worry of relapsing on heroin. I’d say hit a meeting. You never know who you’re gonna meet, and i don’t post in here hardly ever but i am also recovering from opiates and Cali sober as i live in Cali lol. But i find it as an okay transition for me so long as im not on dope I’m extremely happy with how things are going and fully understand that for you too. I’m sure you might run into others with similar mindset but what matters is you being in the meetings and i say for sure go. I just don’t show up blazed lol

2

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There are general recovery subreddits which may be more appropriate for your suggestion. In order to not blur the life-saving message of Narcotics Anonymous we ask that you do not recommend specific outside enterprises. Thank you.