Myths About Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse

There are so many misconceptions about alcoholics, and this is one of the biggest ones. People believe that there’s no coming back from intense alcoholism, and if you’re an alcoholic you’ve somehow hit “rock bottom”, meaning that life simply cannot get any worse.

Some people seem to do better with the help of a recovery fellowship like Alcoholics Anonymous, but there are other people who prefer to go it alone. Many people benefit from therapy in recovery, but this is not something that appeals to everyone. There is no one right way for how people should achieve sobriety. In fact insisting that a newly sober person takes a path that does not suit them could even be detrimental to their recovery. The highest level of patient care is offered by a residential program. In this type of program, the individual lives at the treatment center for a duration of time that meets their needs.

Myth: If I Can Hold My Liquor, Then I Don’t Have a Problem

A different sickness could easily keep a person home from work. This fact sheet is to inform parents how to effectively talk to their young adult about the risks of underage drinking. As a healthcare writer for RCA and a recovery advocate, Nick Goldberg covers all aspects of addiction and treatment. Nick holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from Johns Hopkins University.

• Do not attempt to talk to the person when they have been drinking or are stressed.
• An alcoholic will likely suffer from symptoms for the remainder of his or her life.
• Some people seem to do better with the help of a recovery fellowship like Alcoholics Anonymous, but there are other people who prefer to go it alone.
• A person does not need to have character flaws, be sick or suffering, or have a hard time managing stress, to develop an alcohol problem.

And yes, you do have a choice of whether you reveal that you’re in recovery, but we should not hide. A 12-ounce bottle of regular beer has the same amount of alcohol as a 5-ounce glass of wine , or 1.5 ounce shot of liquor or distilled spirits . There’s a common misconception out there that alcoholism https://ecosoberhouse.com/ isn’t as big of a deal as other dependencies and addictions, such as heroin or prescription pills. This is not only completely false but can also be an incredibly dangerous ideology to have. You continue to drink, even though alcohol is causing problems with your family or friends.

Office of Justice Programs

A person does not need to be drinking all day and/or every day to be an alcoholic. Heavy drinking is not defined by how often you drink but how much you drink in a day or a week. Shot of hard liquor, also known as distilled spirts (e.g., whiskey, vodka, rum, tequila, gin, and brandy). Alcohol can potentially be addictive, but this myths about alcoholism doesn’t apply to everyone. Individuals may be genetically predisposed to develop alcoholism; for one person, one drink may be enough to lead to a downward spiral if the person has a family history of alcoholism. Others may drink heavily and frequently, but their drinking behaviors do not necessarily lead to alcohol addiction.

• You need to drink more than you did to get the same effect from alcohol.
• There are alcoholics who can go without having a drink for days or weeks at a time.
• Heavy drinking is not defined by how often you drink but how much you drink in a day or a week.
• The fact sheet covers age ranges, gender trends, and alcohol use consequences.

Now that you know the myths about alcoholism, here are some ways to help. – Peer pressure, particularly among teens and young adults, can increase a person’s risk of excessive drinking and developing alcoholism.

Myth #1: I Do Not Have a Problem Because I Can Hold My Liquor

In fact, some people develop problems with drinking at a later age. Being able to have a few drinks without feeling any effects may seem like a good thing. In fact, if you need to drink increasing amounts of alcohol to feel an effect, it could be a sign you have a problem with alcohol.

There are several myths about alcoholism that portray this substance use disorder as a very specific and unbeatable condition. However, this is simply not the case and help is always available. Today, we’ll be looking at common alcohol myths and the truth about this life-changing addiction. Although it is a serious disease, there is treatment for alcohol use disorder.

Myth #4: Controlled drinking is possible

It’s much easier to get sober by joining a treatment program that offers medically supervised detoxification and more. That way, addicts won’t have to worry about the anxiety surrounding quitting all on their own and can instead work with a team throughout the process. While many people who are addicted to alcohol lose a lot of important things in their lives, like families, friends, jobs, homes, and more, calling this “rock bottom” can be damaging. On top of that, not all addicts hit “rock bottom” and many realize they need treatment before their life gets bad. In fact, chronic alcohol consumption can actually increase pain. If you have symptoms of alcohol withdrawal syndrome, you may be more sensitive to pain.

• Drinking makes you feel anxious, depressed, and forgetful or causes other health problems, but you continue to drink.
• Click each of the myths below to show the facts about alcohol.
• If the person has had second chances and failed, they will have plenty of excuses.
• It keeps us from seeing alcoholism in our families and friends, or at our jobs.
• Drinking at that level increases your risk for alcohol dependence and addiction.
• In fact, if you need to drink increasing amounts of alcohol to feel an effect, it could be a sign you have a problem with alcohol.