Cali Sober in 2025: Redefining Recovery or Just Rebranding Relapse?

When Demi Lovato told Joe Rogan she was “Cali Sober,” it lit up the recovery world. The idea - that someone could live a “sober” life while still using marijuana or drinking occasionally - wasn’t new. But it was the first time a mainstream celebrity had said it that plainly, and to an audience that large.

Fast forward to 2025, and “Cali Sober” has become its own kind of movement. Wellness influencers use it. Psychologists debate it. Treatment centers market around it. Depending on who you ask, it’s either a pragmatic approach to harm reduction - or a dangerous dilution of what sobriety really means.

So who’s right?

Let’s start with the basics.

so·ber/ˈsōbər/adjective: abstaining from drinking alcohol or taking intoxicating drugs; refraining from the use of addictive substances.

By that definition, “Cali Sober” isn’t sober. But language evolves - and so does recovery. What matters more is intent and outcome: are people getting healthier, safer, and more connected, or are they rationalizing continued use?

To Lovato’s credit, she was transparent: her version of recovery worked for her. And that’s the nuance often missing from viral takes. There is no one-size-fits-all path to recovery, but there are real risks in redefining terms without context.

Let’s look at what the data shows:

• Roughly 13% of U.S. adults now meet the diagnostic criteria for Alcohol Use Disorder, according to JAMA Psychiatry.

• Nearly 1 in 4 adults reported binge drinking in the past month - and that number has continued to rise post-pandemic.

• Overdose deaths remain 3.5 times higher in the U.S. than in other Western nations, underscoring the need for compassionate, evidence-based solutions.

• And a landmark review out of Stanford University confirmed what many already knew: 12-Step programs like AA remain among the most effective long-term recovery models - but only when people actually engage with the process.

So where does “Cali Sober” fit into all this?

If someone replaces cocaine or heroin with cannabis and finds stability, that’s progress. If someone replaces nightly blackout drinking with occasional social use and avoids withdrawal, that’s harm reduction - not failure. But if someone uses “Cali Sober” as cover to avoid addressing the root of their addiction, that’s not recovery. It’s avoidance dressed up as wellness.

At YANA, we don’t take sides in ideology wars. We care about outcomes - what keeps people alive, connected, and healing.

Whether you identify as sober, sober curious, or Cali Sober, the question isn’t what you call it - it’s whether it’s working.

Talk to your doctor. Talk to your family. Talk to someone who’s walked the path. And most importantly, stay honest with yourself. Because at the end of the day, recovery isn’t about labels - it’s about freedom.