Is anyone else here completely sober?

[Xorkoth]

I believe the first goal is to be a positive and happy individual, I'd hope that what followed would be contributing some of that positivity and happiness to the world at large....and I havent even got long hair

I think this is a great point Allein. The goal is to be a positive and happy (and healthy) individual. If complete sobriety is necessary for you to achieve this, then that's what you need. If cutting out certain drugs and using others in moderation allows you to do this, then that's what you need. I think that if you NEED any substances to be happy (with the exception of pharmaceuticals for those with mental imbalances, clinical depression, etc), that's a bad thing. If I felt I NEEDED to do psychedelics to be happy, then I'd see that as a problem. But for me, I use them still because they aid in my ability to keep on top of myself and they aid in my appreciation of life. If I didn't use them I'd still be happy right now, but since they're beneficial for me, I use them, even though it means I'm not a completely sober individual. It works for me, but different things work for different people.

 

[Allein]

^^^
I've not only found it to be very much different from one person to another but it can change over time, for me once I've entered into abusing a substance rather than using it for genuine enjoyment, relaxation etc I can't turn the clock back.

I drank alcohol occasionally right up to my 30's then it became more and more of an issue until it became a serious health issue, it must be more than 3 years since I've had a drink (discounting one occasion when a brought a bottle of whiskey had 2 shots and tipped the rest down the sink). My partner drinks a glass of wine most nights and clearly has no issue with it at all.

Cannabis is much the same although my addiction was mixed up with tobacco (which is a truly worthless habit IMO) I gave both up after 15 years of daily use at 30 and apart from a handful of times when I've had a few draws of straight weed I've left them both behind.

Currently I'm a daily opiate user.....but since it's prescribed for pain relief I don't consider it to as dangerous as me deciding to start using illicit drugs but it doesn't change the fact that I have a moderate dependence.

Much like the beard I've grown of late, it's not black and white but many shades of grey