Being a Social Drinker Vs Alcoholic

Do you have friends that say they are social drinkers and not alcoholics? It is easy to confuse the two, especially when people are out drinking heavily. There is a fine line between being a social drinker and an alcoholic, what makes a social drinker vs alcoholic? And when should you look for alcoholism treatment?

There are many types of alcoholics. Do you know which type you or a loved one is? Call us today at 866.605.0532 for more information.

Social Drinker Vs Alcoholic

Drinking is an everyday social activity. In fact, it is not unusual for people to go out and have a few or even several drinks once in a while. Drinking throughout society seems to be acceptable as long as the drinker can keep up with their daily activities. When they are not, they tend to be labeled alcoholics. This is only because others can see that their drinking is affecting their lives.

Technically an alcoholic is someone that needs more alcohol to get the same effect later on, and they don’t know or can’t stop drinking when the time comes. In order to hit this point, a person usually has to undergo patterns of drinking regularly or often in social situations. An alcoholic may also never know that they became one if they were able to stop the cycle before it became a noticeable problem.

Here is what happens with social drinkers:

• They drink occasionally
• Alcohol does not cause problems in their lives
• They rarely (if ever) blackout
• They seldom get in trouble with the law

Alcoholics are more likely to:

• Drink to excess often
• Think about alcohol often
• Get in trouble with the law while intoxicated
• Have shame round behavior while drinking
• Use alcohol as a reward
• Blackout often

As you can see, there are some pretty clear differences, but if you are not having problems in your life due to drinking yet, you might have a tough time deciding if you are an alcoholic or not. One good rule of thumb is that people that are not alcoholics generally do not question their drinking habits. Another good way to tell is if you are struggling to get to work on time or prioritizing activities that include drinking over other important things.

Are You an Alcoholic?

If you are still questioning whether or not you are an alcoholic, you can ask yourself some further questions.

• Have you wanted to cut back, but couldn’t?
• Do people take issue with your drinking?
• Do you drink more than the recommended weekly amount?
• Do you feel guilty about drinking?
• Have you ever lied about or hid your drinking?

If you say yes to any of these questions, you should seriously consider alcoholism treatment. If you answered yes and still do not believe that you have a problem, then find a counselor with individual therapy or someone you feel comfortable with and have a chat about what you need to do next.

What Happens in Alcohol Addiction Treatment?

Alcohol addiction treatment helps people stop drinking and stay sober. Treatment can last for a short time or a long time, depending on the person’s needs.

Most alcohol addiction treatment programs follow these steps:

• Detox: This is the first step in treatment. During detox, the body gets rid of the alcohol in the system. This can be a difficult and dangerous process, so it’s important to detox under medical supervision.
• Rehab: This is the second step in treatment. In rehab, people learn how to live without alcohol. They also learn how to deal with triggers and cravings.
• Aftercare: This is the third step in treatment. Aftercare includes things like sober living houses to help people stay sober for the long term after they leave treatment.

Finding Help With Alcohol Addiction Treatment in Florida

As mentioned, if you think you might have a problem, do what you would do if the doctor gave you a diagnosis you didn’t like. Talk to someone else about it. Find a licensed counselor, or have a chat with a Florida alcohol rehab center in your area, go to some AA meetings and see what people have to say there.

There are many places for you to go for help, whether you need it or not as a social drinker vs alcoholic. Don’t take the chance of ruining your life because you are afraid of thinking you might be an alcoholic. Be proactive and do something about it before it’s too late by giving us a call at 866.605.0532.