It does not matter if a person with alcohol dependence is just thinking about treatment, is in a clinic or has completed a rehabilitation course. Sooner or later he will begin to think about whether it is possible to consume alcohol moderately. This is argued by the fact that a small amount of drinks will not hurt, after all, it is not much. But it should be understood that there are no former alcoholics: addiction does not go anywhere even after the most effective rehabilitation course, just a person learns to fight it. Therefore, there can be no moderation in the use of alcohol for a person with addiction. Or can there be?
Complete withdrawal or moderate drinking?
Universal advice: if the thought of a small dose of alcohol appears, you should take it as an alarm signal. Do not forget that there are special alcohol addiction treatment programs that help to cope with temporary weakness and work on motivation.
Any alcohol is a psychoactive toxic substance, simply put, it is a poison for the body. But due to its effects, legal sale and affordable price, it is occasionally consumed by most adults.
There is even a concept of moderate use: 7 or 15 servings per week for women and men, respectively. A serving is defined as 375 ml of beer, 100 ml of red wine or 30 ml of hard alcohol. If you try hard enough, you can even find a study by scientists that showed that moderate consumption helps preserve brain function in adulthood. But all of this applies to healthy people who have not gone through a complicated addiction treatment procedure.
If there was a fact of addiction, which was overcome by great efforts independently or with the help of rehabilitation centers, then moderate consumption is out of the question. Any dose of alcohol is a powerful trigger. Even more, it is better for people with addiction to avoid places where alcohol is consumed altogether. It can trigger a relapse. Because there will always be a “well-wisher” who wants to get another person drunk.
Risks of moderate drinking
For some time after rehab, people with addiction feel a sense of tremendous confidence in their abilities. In some cases, even overconfidence, which is accompanied by euphoria. It is a feeling of victory and complete control over their lives. They even came up with a special name for it – “pink clouds”. This state is very dangerous. Just at this time, the thought that moderate alcohol consumption is possible can appear. What risks does this carry?
What can go wrong:
- a huge risk of relapse. In most cases, drinking a mug of beer or a glass of wine ends in a prolonged binge, poisoning is possible;
- rapid intoxication. Even small doses of alcohol can lead to severe alcohol intoxication, caused by a special restructuring of the brain of an addicted person and inefficient work of the liver, which has not yet fully recovered from the previous lifestyle;
- exacerbation of health problems. Many people with addiction develop chronic diseases for which alcohol is not the best medicine;
- guilt. A lot of work has been done up to this point, so even a small dose can be perceived as a defeat.
Benefits of a completely sober life
Complete withdrawal from alcohol avoids powerful triggers and subsequent relapse. Sober living has its own philosophy and is a kind of continuation of treatment. It is necessary to realize that if addiction has already been there, you will have to live with it. There will definitely come days when the desire to use alcohol will be huge. But the rest of the time it will be possible to live without it, to rejoice, to remain happy. All this is the result of the therapy you have undergone before and constant work on yourself.
What to do if I want to drink after rehabilitation?
This is a sign that you need help. It can be found in family and friends who do not drink alcohol and are familiar with your past. Lonely people can always find support in AA communities. This is the essence of such groups: they share their experiences and worries – it helps a lot to cope with thoughts about alcohol.
In the most difficult cases, it is necessary to seek help in a rehabilitation center. This does not mean that inpatient treatment will necessarily be required, there are many different programs, starting with individual consultations with a psychotherapist and ending with partial hospitalization.
Remember, once you have decided to give up alcohol, it is for good. There is no such thing as moderate drinking. After a while, you will realize that you made the right choice in favor of a healthy sober life.