Newsom’s Remarks on Sobriety Being ‘One of the Biggest Damn Mistakes’ Draws Backlash from Recovery Advocates [WATCH]

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is facing renewed criticism for past remarks about addiction and sobriety, with recovery advocates calling his comments harmful and demoralizing to those working toward recovery, as reported by The Blaze.

As California continues to struggle with a worsening homelessness crisis, Newsom has publicly suggested that strict approaches to sobriety are misguided.

“Clean and sober is one of the biggest damn mistakes this country’s ever made,” Newsom said previously when addressing homelessness and addiction. He also acknowledged in the same context that he has been known to “self medicate” with a glass of wine.

Hey @grok, would doctor’s agree that “Clean and sober is one of the biggest damn mistakes this country ever made…We all need to self medicate periodically” ? https://t.co/3eQZhpN7xz

— Monterey County Republican Party (@MCGOP_CA) September 4, 2025

The remarks resurfaced as California leaders debate policy solutions for addiction and homelessness. Critics say the comments undermine the efforts of individuals working to rebuild their lives.

Matthew Barnett, founder of the Dream Center in Los Angeles, which provides support to those struggling with homelessness and addiction, said the governor’s words were deeply discouraging.

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“When I heard that comment I’m like, we’ve given up. We have no belief that people can change. We have no belief that people can escape darkness. And when I heard that, my jaw dropped. It was almost like something that was said that came from the spirit of darkness,” Barnett told BlazeTV host Allie Beth Stuckey on her program Relatable.

He added that the statement represented “kind of like a really creepy, defeatist mentality.”

Stuckey agreed with Barnett’s assessment, saying the comment reflected a message of hopelessness: “The great accuser. You’ll never get better. You’ll never defeat drunkenness or whatever.”

Barnett, who has worked for years with people seeking to overcome addiction, said he has personally seen individuals recover even from fentanyl dependence. “They’re getting free and getting clean, and they’re excited. They’re praising and worshiping the Lord,” he said.

He argued that Newsom’s stance is harmful to those pursuing recovery.

“That comment was simply kind of like the cultural feeling over the last five years. We can’t overcome stuff. We can’t win. We can’t fight poverty. We can’t achieve on our own,” Barnett said. “And so we just kind of have to rebuke that message every day by the way that we live.”

California has struggled for years to address homelessness and substance abuse. According to state data, tens of thousands of people in California face chronic homelessness tied to drug or alcohol abuse.

Programs such as Barnett’s continue to advocate for treatment and rehabilitation as pathways out of homelessness, in contrast with approaches that seek to remove restrictions on addictive behavior.

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