Everything You Need To Know About Surviving Your First 420 In Sobriety
It shouldn’t seem like a big deal. You’re in recovery now. You’ve chosen to leave all drugs and alcohol behind. Likely, you haven’t even cared about the drug-saturated ‘holiday’ of April 20th. Or, perhaps, it was one of your favorite days of the year because marijuana was your substance of choice. Anyone who has altered their brain chemistry as a result of drug and alcohol abuse feels triggered, even in the slightest degree, by holidays which are associated with substance abuse. In the first year of recovery, April 20th, or “420” can be a difficult day to get through as millions of people around the world excessively indulge in marijuana intoxication. Learn the history of the holiday, understand the reality of marijuana addiction, and detach yourself from the fear of missing out. When you’ve finally found recovery and you’re saving your life on a daily basis, you’re not missing anything when it comes to drugs.
The History Of 420
“420” is a widely used code word for marijuana. People celebrate the April 20th holiday. They call marijuana “420” or will describe their homes as “420 friendly”. Every day at 4:20pm it is considered a universal time to smoke marijuana. Marijuana history is clouded at best, due to the fact that marijuana does, in fact, kill brain cells. Origins of “420” have been hard to trace, but many believe the term is an evolution of a police code once used for “Marijuana Smoking in Progress”. The Huffington Post detailed an intensive history on the origins of the 420 code in “420 History: The Story Behind April 20 Becoming ‘Weed Day’”. According to the author, the term started with a group of San Rafael, California teenagers on the hunt for a field of marijuana plants and evolved through nothing other than the Deadheads following The Grateful Dead and made its mark in High Times magazine. Now it is a worldwide phenomenon.
Marijuana Addiction Is Real
The marijuana of today is nothing like the marijuana teenagers were smoking in the 60s and 70s. Marijuana today is intentionally and scientifically bred to be as intoxicating as possible. As a result, marijuana has become an addictive substance. Considered the ‘holy bible’ of mental health diagnostic information, The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders recognizes “marijuana use disorder” as a substance use disorder, or an addiction. Marijuana has been proven to halt psychological development, inhibit the brain from physically growing, and damage the prefrontal cortex. Though marijuana addiction is deadly and life threatening like heroin addiction, for comparison, being addicted to marijuana can greatly reduce quality of life. People lose jobs, friends, relationships, physical health, and mental health due to marijuana addiction. Additionally, people who become chemically dependent on marijuana experience extremely uncomfortable symptoms of withdrawal and detox.
You’re Not Missing Out
You may feel as though everyone else gets to celebrate something on 420 and you’re missing out on it. As someone in recovery, you are celebrating every single day because your life is no longer being controlled by addiction.
The best move to make for recovery from drug abuse is the quickest move by calling and asking for help immediately. Recovery is possible and healing will take place in mind, body, and spirit. Enlightened Recovery Solutions offers a holistic based, 12-step inspired, clinically proven program for alcoholism and co-occurring disorders. Call (844) 234-LIVE today for information on our partial care programs.
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