The short answer is... maybe?
I'm a firm believer that sobriety can look different for different people. The Alcoholics Anonymous model is 100% abstinence from mind-altering substances — and that model works, for a lot of people. But AA isn't for everyone, and it isn't the only way to practice sobriety.
My longtime sponsor actually parted ways with me — amicably — because I wanted to try ayahuasca. That experience ended up being one of the most profound of my life, and it actually strengthened my sobriety rather than threatening it.
In fact, there's a growing offshoot of AA called Psychedelics in Recovery, for people who want to stay sober while also using psychedelics intentionally. They hold meetings, practice the 12 steps, and talk openly about how psychedelics have supported their recovery from addiction rather than derailed it.
Now, having said all that — here are the three things I'd want anyone thinking about this to sit with first.
1. It Matters How You're Using Psychedelics
Are you using them carefully and with intention — as a way to better understand yourself and your experience? Or are you just trying to get high and escape your reality?
Those are two very different things, even if they can look similar from the outside.
2. You Want a Firm Handle on Your Sobriety First
If you're newly sober, my honest opinion is: focus on being sober. At least for the first year, before jumping into plant medicine or anything else.
Sobriety itself is a massive adjustment. You want to feel strong and stable in it before adding anything else into the mix. I didn't do any psychedelics myself until I was about five years sober — and I don't think that was a coincidence.
3. Preparation and Integration Matter More Than the Trip Itself
The experience itself is not the end-all-be-all. What actually determines whether it helps you or just rattles you is the work around it — preparing beforehand with intention, and processing afterward with someone who can help you make sense of what came up and how to actually use it moving forward.
This is where working with a therapist matters most. Not during the experience — before and after it.
I work with people both on sobriety and on psychedelic integration. If any of this resonates, reach out for a free consultation.
And remember — your sobriety is yours, and no one else's.
