my rule is that I’ll use any sufficiently safe drug (no street drugs with solvents still in them, gross), but I won’t use any drug more than one day in a row, and some drugs I guarantee a longer period without - e.g. I’ll let myself smoke cigarettes or use nicotine, but then I take note of the date or month and then won’t use it again for a whole month. Usually I get cravings in the first few days after, sometimes even a week or two after, but they go away and eventually I lose interest. Part of the reason for this is also to reduce the health impact of nicotine use (not just addiction, but cancer risk).
I also prefer to not let myself use any of the same class of drug two days in a row, e.g. not taking downers two days in a row. Part of this is to ensure I stay healthy and protect my sleep, etc. - but part of it is also just so I don’t build up any tolerance and so the drugs stay at their most effective and useful to me.
then yes, I’m “substance free”
EDIT:
my rule is that I’ll use any sufficiently safe drug (no street drugs with solvents still in them, gross), but I won’t use any drug more than one day in a row, and some drugs I guarantee a longer period without - e.g. I’ll let myself smoke cigarettes or use nicotine, but then I take note of the date or month and then won’t use it again for a whole month. Usually I get cravings in the first few days after, sometimes even a week or two after, but they go away and eventually I lose interest. Part of the reason for this is also to reduce the health impact of nicotine use (not just addiction, but cancer risk).
I also prefer to not let myself use any of the same class of drug two days in a row, e.g. not taking downers two days in a row. Part of this is to ensure I stay healthy and protect my sleep, etc. - but part of it is also just so I don’t build up any tolerance and so the drugs stay at their most effective and useful to me.