SAM comms director Derrick Robinson penned a deeply personal op-ed for The Afro on just how dangerous the rising trend of THC-laced beverages is both in general and specifically to people (like Derrick) in recovery:
For those of us in recovery, these drinks are less a wellness trend and more a threat in a can. Some will say we are overreacting. That THC isn’t as harmful as alcohol, that it’s about personal choice. I get it. But recovery isn’t just about not drinking. It’s about building a life that doesn’t depend on substances to feel OK.
The addiction-for-profit industry pretends that because some THC comes delivered in a fizzy drink wrapped in on-trend branding instead of being smoked or eaten it’s somehow OK for people in recovery. Or even beneficial for people looking to improve their “wellness”:
I see THC drinks marketed with the same glossy language that once hooked me on alcohol: relaxation, fun, social ease. They’re plant-based, low-calorie and supposedly a “natural” way to unwind. That’s a dangerous proposition. . . . When you’re in recovery, the idea of a “safe” high is seductive. Alcohol nearly destroyed my life, but the urge to escape, to numb, to belong didn’t vanish with my last drink. THC drinks offer the illusion of risk-free indulgence, but the reality is far murkier. As addiction specialists warn, swapping alcohol for THC is substituting one psychoactive substance for another.
The piece is a crucial reminder that THC is a threat no matter what form it comes in–and that addiction profiteers don’t care that they are putting people who are fighting the battle of recovery in danger.