We live in a society where drinking alcohol is central to social situations and group gatherings. Unfortunately, this can be especially difficult for individuals working to establish or maintain sobriety in their daily lives. Suppose you have recently completed treatment or find yourself in long-term recovery. In that case, you may wonder whether or not you have any leeway in your recovery, especially amidst social situations and other group gatherings. Furthermore, you may even ponder the question, “Is it okay to have a drink once in a while in recovery?” While this question is certainly loaded, it is important to recognize that such a question may pose a red flag for your ability to sustain sobriety.
At NorthStar Transitions, we understand that the recovery journey looks different for every person. However, we also recognize that the impact of substance use on the brain is long-lasting. As you have already completed treatment, you must also acknowledge the inherent dangers of having a drink, even if you plan to only drink during future social situations. We can help you understand these dangers and hope they encourage you throughout your lifelong recovery journey.
As an alumnus of a treatment program, you are likely familiar with how addiction has affected your brain. Still, it can be helpful to have a refresher, especially if you are contemplating future substance use. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use despite adverse consequences.” Moreover, it is acknowledged as a brain disorder, as repeated substance use informs lasting impairments in brain structure and functioning.
In another publication, NIDA highlights specific brain chemical systems and circuits compromised due to long-term substance use. As a result of these impairments, the following functions are also affected:
When you actively engage in substance use, your brain becomes increasingly sensitive and vulnerable to the chemical effects of alcohol and other drugs. Such adaptations likely played a role in your inability to experience pleasure from natural rewards and interfering with the quality of your interpersonal relationships. Unfortunately, no amount of time spend sober can reverse these brain changes. Because your brain has already experienced these shifts in structure and functioning due to substance use, your brain will always be vulnerable to substance use.
Understanding how addiction affects the brain can help you recognize why your potential for relapse will always exist. As NIDA explains, addiction is treatable, and treatment programs utilize research-based methods to “help people to stop using drugs and resume productive lives, also known as being in recovery.” Thus, recovery is a lifelong journey that demands total abstinence from alcohol and other drugs to fully heal the brain from the lasting effects of substance use.
It is an unfortunate reality that the majority of celebrations and other social events involve substance use, with alcohol serving as the main culprit. Attending social events of any kind can certainly bring on temptations to drink or engage in other forms of substance use. However, when these temptations arise, it is imperative to remember the lasting effects of substance use on your brain.
Likewise, given that your brain is already sensitive to the effects of alcohol and other drugs, there is minimal possibility of having only one drink. You may start with one drink, but once the effects of alcohol begin to kick in, your brain will urge you to have another. Cravings for continued substance use can quickly become unmanageable, triggering an undeniable potential for relapse.
If you are still questioning whether or not you can have a drink at social events, it is also necessary to understand that pondering such a question is a concern in and of itself. To consider engaging in future alcohol use, you may first reminisce on your past alcohol use or even glorify others' use of substances. These experiences facilitate mental relapse, which happens to be the second step of three leading up to a physical relapse. The first step, emotional relapse, occurs when you are ill-equipped to navigate emotional distress. Thus, take your question as a sign that you may require additional guidance and support to protect yourself from relapse altogether.
At NorthStar Transitions, we understand how challenging it can be to attend gatherings and other social events where alcohol is present. Moreover, we realize that pondering your potential for having a drink in the future is something that many people in recovery experience. That said, we want to emphasize that having even one drink during recovery can greatly hinder your recovery progress.
Fortunately, we offer the support you may need as an alumnus working to navigate sobriety in the “real world.” Our aftercare support consists of an alumni program that can be customized to fit your ever-changing needs. By participating in our alumni program, you can lean on the social support of others who are likely asking similar questions and experiencing the same temptations that you are in long-term recovery. Similarly, you can build a sober support network to help prevent relapse and protect your sobriety alongside other treatment alumni.
Recovery is a lifelong journey; once your brain becomes sensitive to the effects of alcohol and other drugs and addiction develops, your potential for relapse will always remain. Therefore, even in social circumstances, it is best to avoid the use of alcohol and other drugs at all costs. If you are struggling with temptations and cravings for having a drink, you may benefit from aftercare support. At NorthStar Transitions, we offer an alumni program to help those who have completed treatment best maintain sobriety through social support. Our program is flexible, allowing you to choose how often you'd like to participate in programming. To learn more, call us today at (303) 558-6400.
