Stories of people who have recovered from their alcohol addiction and returned to moderate, social drinking can be tempting, but those cases are rare and may not always be truthful. It is important for individuals in recovery to carefully examine their own relationship with alcohol and make the decision that is best for their personal health and well-being. Many rehabilitation programs offer support and guidance in navigating this decision, including https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/how-to-avoid-drinking-again-after-sobriety/ tools and resources and strategies. Ultimately, the most important factor in an alcoholic’s recovery process is maintaining sobriety and finding ways to live a fulfilling and healthy life. If someone tells you that it’s fine for recovering alcoholics to drink in moderation, consider why this person is telling you this information. Are they a well-meaning friend who doesn’t really understand alcoholism and everything you’ve been through?

Everyone is different, so the best way to maneuver this situation is to just be honest. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) and alcohol abuse are often used interchangeably, when, in fact, they are not the same thing. Understanding the difference between the two can be especially helpful when trying to spot alcohol addiction. While no level of alcohol abuse is healthy, not everyone who abuses alcohol has an alcohol use disorder. Remember, most moderation programs are designed to help problem drinkers who exhibit risky drinking behavior but do not meet the clinical definition of alcohol use disorder.

How do alcohol use disorders affect people?

Specifically, the risk for alcohol addiction increases in veterans who struggle with post-traumatic stress or other invisible wounds of war. These wounds can be the result of things like combat exposure or military sexual https://ecosoberhouse.com/ trauma. Alcohol provides temporary relief from these wounds, but prolonged abuse can lead to addiction and serious health conditions down the road. I certainly am.That being said, sobriety alone cannot make you happy.

That means every effort to drink ‘normally’ is a considerable risk. Alcohol has one of the highest relapse rates – between 40-60%. For our purposes, a relapse is a return to active addiction.

What Are the Benefits of Quitting Alcohol?

This can make it extremely difficult for them to control their consumption and limit themselves to only drinking in moderation. The question is whether drinking during or post-recovery is worth the risk. You must honestly evaluate the control alcoholism had and whether attempting to assert control by becoming a moderate drinker is safe. Abstinence may be a challenge, but in some cases, it is safer than the pursuit of occasional social drinking. In other words, the extent of a person’s addiction can directly impact whether an alcoholic can ever drink again. Mild to moderate alcoholics might have a chance to drink socially and not relapse, but the risk is undeniable.

• Keep reading to learn more about this new approach and if it might be right for you.
• Your primary care physician or insurance provider can also point you to local addiction treatment facilities or wellness centers that can work with you on your path to a clean and sober life.
• Again, these are only a few suggestions that I have for anyone asking the question if it is okay to drink around a recovering alcoholic.
• I encourage you to listen to and read stories from people who quit drinking and completely transformed their life.

Additionally, alcohol affects the brain’s neurotransmitters and can hinder progress in therapy or relapse prevention strategies. Ultimately, abstaining from alcohol allows recovering alcoholics to heal and grow in a healthy and sustainable way. However, more information and options are available, such as moderation management, enabling some people to partake in controlled drinking.