Trends, by definition, are popular for a short time and then disappear. Remember back in high school when all the “cool kids” were rocking a style that is cringe-worthy today?
That’s what happens as cultures develop. We recognize things that aren’t working and strive toward making something better. It’s why the old trend of smoking cigarettes is no longer acceptable to most of us.
This same idea is seen more and more with drug abuse and addiction. As we learn more about the dangers of these issues, particularly as recovering addicts, we understand that education and alternatives to dangerous substances are key.
One state that has taken this knowledge to the next level is California. Here, recovery culture in the form of sober living has become an accepted and encouraged part of life.
What is this type of lifestyle, and why is the Golden State embracing it so passionately? We’ll take a deep dive into recovery culture in California here.
What is Recovery Culture?
Going through recovery after a substance addiction is a lifelong process. You must say no to anything addictive, not just drugs and alcohol, on a daily basis. Addiction is a compulsion in our nature. Without structure and strategies, it’s easy to turn from one form of addiction and replace it with another.
This knowledge wasn’t gathered overnight. It’s taken decades of research to recognize the damaging effect of substance abuse on our bodies and minds and the obstacles that come with a lifetime of recovery efforts.
With that collective body of knowledge, recovering addicts and those who dedicate their careers to helping them have developed something called recovery culture. This is a strategic implementation of structure and strategies designed to help improve societal knowledge and understanding of the reality of drugs and alcohol, with the goal of promoting healthy alternatives.
Through recovery culture, recovering addicts can have conversations with others without the stereotypical judgment that once surrounded ex-addicts.
What Does Recovery Culture Look Like?
Even if you’ve never done drugs, you can imagine what it might look like to live in a drug-addicted culture. Certain aspects surround that idea like scenes from a movie: Clandestine meetings to swap drugs for money, hiding away to engage in your addiction, arguing with loved ones that you don’t have a problem, and spiraling into an abyss where drugs become more important than anything else.
Recovery culture attempts to flip the script completely. Drug users bond over the experience of illicit behavior. But recovering addicts form a bond over the shared goal of staying clean.
Through organizations that focus on this type of culture, those in recovery can find ways to enjoy activities where they feel safe and can connect with peers. Since isolation is one significant reason for relapsing, this safe connection is vital.
Full recovery from substance abuse requires long-term behavior and thought change. In recovery culture, those who wish to participate engage in activities that promote health and wellness while continuing to live independently. These activities are designed to include one-on-one counseling sessions, mutual-help groups, and living communities.
What is Sober Living in California?
Sober-living homes have existed since the 1830s. At that time, they were usually created by religious organizations like the YMCA and the YWCA. The idea was sound, but the practices of that time didn’t include the research we have today.
Now, we understand that most people don’t quit cold turkey and thrive in recovery without continued structure. They would frequently leave the rehab facility and return to their old lives, complete with exposure to the same stresses that turned them to substance abuse in the first place.
Since California’s drug abuse is a commonly known problem, those in the government have designed programs purposely created to reduce addiction and improve recovery rates. Many addiction recovery startups initially settle in California because of the state’s supportive legislation.
Today, you can find a variety of ways to get and stay clean here through sober living (as seen here in Studio City) and other recovery culture areas.
So, what makes Cali such a welcoming state for recovery culture? The recent changes in legislation, enacted mostly post-COVID, were implemented to get proactive with the increased rate of drug use connected to pandemic mental health disorders. SB 1338, in particular, focuses on mental health and substance use services.
CARE (Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment Court Program) is a pathway that streamlines services to those in need, funded by the California State Department of Health Care Services. Concerned parties such as family members or behavioral health providers can petition the Court to have a loved one evaluated for need of substance or mental services. If approved, the individual can voluntarily receive treatment for recovery and long-term stability, including housing and transition back into society after completion of the program.
Voluntary and involuntary guidelines are included here, but with CARE and other substance use programs streamlining access, it is easier and more acceptable to admit you need help — and get it affordably. This open-minded government extends to its citizens, ensuring recovering addicts that they can view California as a haven through sober living and recovery culture.
Conclusion
While government legislation doesn’t mean 100% of the state’s citizens support a policy, it does help those affected receive help by knowing their rights. Through recovery culture, more people learn to recognize the realities over the myths of addiction, and addicts learn how they can reach out for and receive help.
