Alcohol Abuse and the Myths Surrounding It

by Maxine McKew

Alcohol Abuse And The Myths Surrounding It

In the American culture, drinking alcohol is a common occurrence.  During celebrations of birthdays, job advancement, a new baby, marriage and so many other special moments in time, champagne or another alcoholic beverage is toasted to punctuate the event and show a sense of joy.  As well, Friday “happy hour” is a common occurrence in many offices and places of employment.  Unfortunately, for some, what happens is Friday happy hour ends up becoming part of the entire week and before you know it, every day you are drinking.  Eventually, this seemingly harmless “social drinking” becomes an addiction with your body craving alcohol.  Most people, in the beginning, shrug this off as just a phase.  Soon, it changes your personality, your job function and every area of your life for the worse.  Yes, at this point, alcohol rehabilitation is necessary.

Unlike the need for drug treatment, alcohol rehabilitation is, unfortunately, often times more difficult for people to realize they need treatment.  The reason is that alcohol is legal and an accepted pastime.  The problem is that this innocent social drinking can and does turn into alcohol abuse when it becomes the focus of your life.  Those that need alcohol rehabilitation many times are reluctant to attend events that aren’t serving alcohol.  After work, the Friday happy hour turns into a daily regimen with it becoming more important to you than getting home to your loved ones.  Again, unlike the need for drug treatment, most of these alcohol abusers never believe they have a problem and therefore will not seek alcohol rehabilitation.

Unfortunately, there are common myths regarding this disease which prohibit individuals from getting alcohol rehabilitation.  Myth: “I don’t abuse alcohol…I don’t even drink hard liquor…only wine and beer.”  The fact of the matter is that wine and beer can create a dependency just a hard liquor can; again, disguising the need for alcohol rehabilitation.  Myth: “Alcohol isn’t a drug, so I can’t get hooked on it like drug abusers.”  The truth is that alcohol “is” a drug and can be as long term and deadly as any illegal drug on the market.  Drug addiction recovery for the drug addict is the same as alcohol rehabilitation for the alcohol abuser.  Only difference is their drug of choice.  There are many more myths but those are two of the most popular.  There is a way out of this downward spiral through alcohol rehabilitation in a treatment center that understands this disease and specializes in alcohol and drug addiction recovery.

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