Social drinking is ingrained in the culture of the United States. It’s common for social events that are geared toward adults to involve alcoholic drinks. Because it’s such a common part of life, it can sometimes be tough to notice if your drinking habits are slowly tipping into problem drinking. At our rehab in Arizona, we have seen many people struggle to know where that line was.
A survey revealed that 224.3 million people in the country aged 12 and older reported drinking at least once in their lives. It also showed that 10.2% of the U.S. population experienced an alcohol addiction.[1] Many of these people began drinking socially, and slowly, that transformed into dependence and then addiction. But how does this transformation occur, and what signs can you watch for?
What Is Social Drinking?
A social drinker is someone who drinks in the company of other people. They may consume alcohol during a celebration or particular event where drinking is considered normal and acceptable. Usually, social drinking means that they engage in moderate alcohol consumption, meaning they drink responsibly and do not get drunk.
Social drinkers typically know when to stop drinking to avoid experiencing the worst effects of alcohol. They’re also fine with events that don’t offer the option to drink.
Although there’s no set amount of alcohol assigned to social drinking, moderate drinking for women means having just one drink, while moderate drinking for men means two drinks.[2]
A Rehab in Arizona Explains What Is Problem Drinking
Problem drinkers are people who misuse alcohol but who don’t necessarily need structured programs to get sober. They are heavy drinkers who aren’t always sure how much alcohol they’ll consume when they begin drinking. Typically, heavy drinking means 15 or more drinks per week for men and eight or more drinks per week for women.[3]
Problem drinking can also involve binge drinking, which can put you at risk of alcohol poisoning. Binge drinking involves drinking a substantial amount of alcohol in a short amount of time.
Other signs that can point to problem drinking include:
- Engaging in risky behaviors
- Missing work or class because of drinking
- Experiencing blackouts
- Having episodes of anger, violence, or depression
- Not knowing when to stop drinking
- Getting arrested for behaviors while drinking
- Drinking alone
- Driving under the influence
A problem drinker who has an embarrassing or traumatic experience as a result of consuming too much alcohol might self-correct and cut back on their consumption. That’s because they’re not yet emotionally and physically dependent on it, but that can quickly change.
When Does Heavy Drinking Become Alcohol Abuse?
The lines between heavy drinking and an alcohol use disorder can start to blur the moment that occasional over-indulgence becomes the norm. As you drink larger quantities of alcohol more often, it starts to affect your brain’s pleasure center, leading you to crave alcohol. That’s when you develop dependence. Dependence isn’t addiction yet, but it is an attachment to alcohol that impacts your life.[4]
Someone who has an alcohol dependence knows that drinking leads to adverse effects but feels unable to stop. They also start developing a higher tolerance for alcohol, which means they might end up drinking more to get the results they want.
Withdrawal symptoms can start during the dependence stage of alcohol abuse and may include sweating, body tremors, irritability, and other physical and emotional symptoms.
If you don’t receive help during the dependence stage of problematic drinking, you’ll likely develop an alcohol use disorder. At this point, drinking is no longer about getting pleasure but about preventing negative symptoms. Once you reach this stage, it’s essential to get addiction treatment. Doing so can save your life.
How a Rehab in Arizona Can Help
Alcohol addiction is a complex, chronic, and relapsing behavioral issue that requires ongoing treatment. In order to receive the right level of support, it may not be enough to speak with a counselor once a week. For most people, rehab centers offer the comprehensive assistance they need.
Treatment centers provide hours of therapy each week. Using evidence-based modalities, rehab centers offer the guidance you need to get to the root cause of the disorder. FoDual-diagnosis programs provide additional support for those with co-occurring mental health concerns; another vital part of treatment centers is that they make it possible for you to meet others who are also struggling with addiction. Battling an alcohol use disorder can be isolating, and that can only make symptoms of the condition worse. By being able to listen to what others are going through and to also speak about your experiences, group therapy sessions offer a wealth of benefits.
Treatment centers provide help with managing triggers. You may associate certain people, places, or even moods with drinking. By knowing your triggers, you can learn how to manage them and prevent relapsing. You will also receive information on how to create a relapse prevention plan so that you know what to do if you feel like you’ll drink.
These treatment programs also give you the chance to build your support system. You will learn how important 12-step programs can be and how maintaining sober relationships can impact your chances of achieving long-term recovery.
Choose a Trusted Rehab in Arizona
If you’re struggling with problem drinking, now is the time to act. Even if you know you don’t yet have a dependence or addiction, getting help for heavy drinking can prevent the problem from escalating. At Desert Cove Recovery, we offer outpatient treatment programs to assist you in the process of getting control over your drinking.
We offer evidence-based care combined with holistic therapies to help you rediscover your sobriety and start healing. Contact our team to learn more about our treatment program options.
Sources:
[1] https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health/alcohol-topics/alcohol-facts-and-statistics/alcohol-use-united-states-age-groups-and-demographic-characteristics [2] https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/about-alcohol-use/moderate-alcohol-use.html [3] https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/about-alcohol-use/index.html [4] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8583742/
