Many young people engage socially with alcohol and substances. While this is certainly troublesome, it is also the reality of the situation. However, young people are often unaware of the dangers of social drinking. Many times, they consider social drinking to be wholly safe because they see addiction as something that will never affect them. The truth is that social drinking can have many devastating effects over time, including leading to alcohol use disorder (AUD).
Better Understanding Addiction
Millions of people struggle with addiction every day. This is especially true in the United States. Many of these people also start by social drinking and end up with an addiction like alcohol use disorder (AUD). Social drinking can also lead to other addictions, as alcohol is often considered a gateway drug.
The term “drug” is also important when it comes to alcohol because that is exactly what it is. It is an addictive substance that changes one’s perception cognitively and emotionally. It also changes what one feels physically (yes, it is a drug).
Just as alcohol is a drug, it can also lead to AUD, which is a disease. Many people mistake AUD as some type of moral failing or choice. However, this is a fallacy. In fact, AUD has more in common with other chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease than it does with a “choice.” This disease often starts to manifest innocently with social drinking.
Better Understanding Alcohol Use Disorder
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), “28.9 million people ages 12 and older (10.2% in this age group) had AUD in the past year. This includes 16.8 million males ages 12 and older (12.1% in this age group),” and “12.0 million females ages 12 and older (8.3% in this age group).” Many of these people started as social drinkers.
AUD is also a long-term disease that affects the entire family. This is why AUD is often referred to as a “family disease.” It is also why many people refer to AUD as “a tornado that destroys everyone and everything in its path.” Again, for many families, this devastation starts with a family member’s social drinking. The good news is that family members can often be the first defense in helping a social drinker avoid the path of addiction.
The Dangers of Social Drinking and AUD
Issues with social drinking and AUD have many distinct signs and symptoms. Now, of course, the signs and symptoms are going to vary based on the individual, but there are some universal signs. The following are just a few of the signs and symptoms:
- Wanting to drink even when there will be consequences
- Drinking in the morning
- Having a drink before an important event
- Not being able to stop drinking once started
- Having trouble with sleep cycles, including sleeping too much and not sleeping enough (hypersomnia and insomnia)
- Losing interest in activities once enjoyed
- Isolating away from family and close friends
- Experiencing trouble at work or school
- Loss of appetite and a lack of care regarding physical appearance and well-being
- Exhibiting excessive mood swings
- Causing harm to oneself or others
- Having suicidal ideations
Now, as one can see, these signs and symptoms are significant and can be deadly (not to be minimized). This is why reaching out for professional help as soon as possible is vital. Doing so could mean the difference between experiencing short-term side effects and long-term consequences. The good news is that there are many effective modalities for recovery.
Social Drinking Leading to Addiction: How to Recover
When social drinking leads to AUD, it is important to utilize the right recovery center and the right recovery plan/program. The recovery center should focus on the multi-angled approach, meaning they offer multiple means, methods, and modalities for recovery.
One of the most common and effective modalities for recovery is psychotherapy, especially cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). CBT and DBT can be particularly effective because they help get to the underlying issues of why one’s social drinking evolved into AUD.
CBT is also particularly effective because it makes the individual an “active participant” in their own recovery. According to the peer-reviewed journal Cognitive Therapy and Research, “Consistent with the medical model of psychiatry, the overall goal of treatment is symptom reduction, improvement in functioning, and remission of the disorder. In order to achieve this goal, the patient becomes an active participant in a collaborative problem-solving process to test and challenge the validity of maladaptive cognitions and to modify maladaptive behavioral patterns.”
Long-Term Success With Lantana Recovery
Here at Lantana Recovery, we believe in long-term success over short-term “fixes.” This is why all of our recovery plans are individualized and comprehensive, with a focus on the future.
Recovery is out there. It’s time to reach out and grab it.
Many young people falter under the pressure of their peers to begin drinking. However, they don’t realize the dangers of even minimal social drinking. It can lead to bad decision-making, such as driving intoxicated and risky sexual behaviors. Over time, it can also lead to addiction and long-term health issues. If you feel like you or a loved one are struggling with issues of addiction, mental illness, or both, we can help get you on the right path toward long-term recovery right away. You don’t have to go through this process alone. For more information about social drinking and alcohol use disorder (AUD), please reach out to Lantana Recovery today at (866) 997-2870.
