12 Myths about Alcoholics and Alcohol Abuse

Here are some of the most common myths and corresponding realities about alcoholism. Finally, the expense of getting treatment versus the cost of continuing in addiction must be considered. Then there is the toll on the addict’s health and their relationships. Not being able to earn wages or progress in a career puts an addict thousands of dollars in the negative every month. Finally, the ever-present risk of overdose means that continuing down the addiction path can lead to the ultimate price of death.

• Each of these patterns is indicative of a person who may be an alcoholic.
• It is worth adding here that although alcohol itself does not kill brain cells, alcohol withdrawal can kill you.
• But certain facts are clear—there’s no way to make good decisions when you are intoxicated and there’s no way to sober up faster.
• Many alcoholics resist treatment and only begin to want to be helped after recovery is underway.
• On top of that, not all addicts hit “rock bottom” and many realize they need treatment before their life gets bad.
• The unfortunate truth is that it’s more difficult than that.

A lot of people believe that addicts choose to be addicts, but that’s not the case at all. There are a lot of factors that play into whether or not someone will become addicted to any substance, including alcohol. For many people, drinking alcohol doesn’t turn into an addiction.

Myth #3: I Am Too Old to Have a Drinking Problem

These myths can be harmful, leading to issues with alcohol use, which is why it’s important to know facts from fiction. Below are several myths that are frequently and incorrectly reinforced as https://ecosoberhouse.com/ fact throughalcohol marketing, the media, and even in our own social circles. Some people believe that if those suffering from addiction simply had better willpower they could quit drinking.

There is a common myth about alcohol that choosing to drink beer instead of something harsher won’t lead to alcohol dependence. Some people may look at wine and think that it won’t be harmful to drink it in excess. The reality is that it doesn’t matter what kind of alcohol is consumed, alcohol dependency is always possible.

Myth 4: It’s mostly young women who drink

You haven’t been able to stop or cut down on your drinking on your own, even though you have tried to or you want to. Please check the COVID-19 webpage and social media for updates.

• Some older adults may start to drink more because they are bored or feel lonely or depressed.
• In fact, those who try are fighting their own brains, hard-wired for survival, for quite some time after quitting the drug.
• People tend to think that just quitting ‘cold turkey’ is easy, and anyone who is not able to successfully do so is simply lazy, dumb, or does not want it badly enough.
• You’re a woman, and you consume more than 3 glasses a day or more than 7 drinks in a week.
• There are a lot of factors that play into whether or not someone will become addicted to any substance, including alcohol.

This alcoholism dependence can end up creating several issues in a person’s life. Dr. Gerald “Jerry” Grosso is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 20 years of experience assisting individuals and families struggling with addiction, depression and trauma.

Freedom From Addiction is a Call Away!

Alcohol abuse can become alcohol addiction if the individual does not take steps to reduce or abstain from drinking. Alcohol consumption turns into alcohol myths about alcoholism abuse when a person’s drinking patterns start to disrupt his or her daily routine, affecting one’s ability to perform on the job or at school.

Learn the facts about alcohol use so you can make healthy decisions. Offer a variety of nonalcoholic drinks—water, juices, sparkling sodas. Nonalcoholic drinks help counteract the dehydrating effects of alcohol. Also, the other fluids may slow the rate of alcohol absorption into the body and reduce the peak alcohol concentration in the blood. Finding an inexpensive place to detox before you go to that less-expensive outpatient facility is another way to cut the cost. Detox facilities that are funded by state dollars or by private donations can be the best place to start.

Myth #5: There isn’t a problem if they only drink wine or beer

For those with social anxiety, drinking can seem like the perfect solution for social situations that seem intimidating. However, using alcohol to cope with socializing can quickly become a vicious cycle. In fact, according to an article fromHealthline, about 20% of people with a social anxiety disorder also suffer from alcohol dependence. This is a false ideation because women are actually more likely to suffer health effects because of the rate with which women process alcohol based on their biological differences from men.