“Yet, there is no rationale or evidence to impose this model on all people seeking recovery.” Thank you for saying this. As a harm reductionist part of my job is explaining that imposing abstinence can actually be harmful.
Even vitamin B12 can be a "mind-altering" substance if it is methylcobalamin used sublingually. And, as a pharmacist once told me, with a drug the DOSE is the poison!!
I think this isn't a black or white issue. You can't just say that Cannabis can never work for someone's recovery but you can't also say that it would never harm someone. Each person's addiction process is unique. I know people who HAVE substituted opiates for weed and are using it as a crutch rather then dealing with underlying patterns. At the same time, I know someone who smokes Cannabis and has good mental health now and has not used Crack in over a decade. It helped him calm down and make better decisions. Harm reduction needs to include the pros AND the cons of using and allow the recoveree to make a decision. I personally don't use any substances let alone Canna, but that doesn't mean other people are not entitled to use in their own way provided it is done safely.
Sober guy here. 20 year addiction to alcohol (I’m 40). Now recovered. Now sober. Can’t stand the 12 steps, don’t worry about converting me away from them. I’m as opposed to it as you sound. I just have a couple of questions.
Why would a sober person wish to change their state with a substance anyway? Would that not be the problem at its core?
Surely you’ve heard of SMART and other approaches that aren’t the 12 steps? Your argument seems a bit binary to me: choose the 12 steps or choose to take different drugs to the ones that destroyed your life. What about being grounded into a totally drug free life? Becoming someone who wouldn’t want or need to take drugs?
“Yet, there is no rationale or evidence to impose this model on all people seeking recovery.” Thank you for saying this. As a harm reductionist part of my job is explaining that imposing abstinence can actually be harmful.
Even vitamin B12 can be a "mind-altering" substance if it is methylcobalamin used sublingually. And, as a pharmacist once told me, with a drug the DOSE is the poison!!
I think this isn't a black or white issue. You can't just say that Cannabis can never work for someone's recovery but you can't also say that it would never harm someone. Each person's addiction process is unique. I know people who HAVE substituted opiates for weed and are using it as a crutch rather then dealing with underlying patterns. At the same time, I know someone who smokes Cannabis and has good mental health now and has not used Crack in over a decade. It helped him calm down and make better decisions. Harm reduction needs to include the pros AND the cons of using and allow the recoveree to make a decision. I personally don't use any substances let alone Canna, but that doesn't mean other people are not entitled to use in their own way provided it is done safely.
Sober guy here. 20 year addiction to alcohol (I’m 40). Now recovered. Now sober. Can’t stand the 12 steps, don’t worry about converting me away from them. I’m as opposed to it as you sound. I just have a couple of questions.
Why would a sober person wish to change their state with a substance anyway? Would that not be the problem at its core?
Surely you’ve heard of SMART and other approaches that aren’t the 12 steps? Your argument seems a bit binary to me: choose the 12 steps or choose to take different drugs to the ones that destroyed your life. What about being grounded into a totally drug free life? Becoming someone who wouldn’t want or need to take drugs?