Can a Recovering Alcoholic Drink Socially?

Read more to learn if a recovering alcoholic can drink socially and how you can receive help for your alcoholism.

Overcoming alcoholism is a major accomplishment. Heavy drinking can lead to major consequences with your health, career and social life. Deciding to get sober and completing a recovery program puts many alcoholics back on the right track to rebuilding a great life. So, now that you are no longer a heavy drinker and compromising your health and wellbeing on a regular basis, is it ok to have a drink or two when you are out with a loved one or at a party with friends? This is a question that has been posed by many health professionals and recovering addicts. If you look at the future honestly, you will more than likely be confronted with this choice multiple times in your life after addiction.

Addiction therapy is constantly evolving. In the past, absolute abstinence was the ultimate goal, leaving no room for even one drink. In modern programs, “moderation management” is a notion that is touched, rather than shunned. To answer the question, you must look at yourself as a unique individual. Can you, a recovering alcoholic, drink socially?

Alcohol and Your Brain

The length of time that you drank and the amount that you consumed have a significant impact on the changes that occurred in your brain. A dependence on alcohol can result in problems with memory loss and even prohibit the brain’s ability to generate new neurons. Those who drink long-term also diminish their brain’s ability to produce dopamine. Dopamine is one of the major chemicals that is used to cause a person to feel euphoric. You might go to a party and tell yourself that you will stop at two drinks, since you are now a recovering alcoholic, but your brain is addicted to the substance and it wants much more than those two drinks. For people who are addicted to alcohol, true abstinence from the substance provides them with the very best chance for remaining sober.

The Problem Drinker        

Some alcoholics drink due to emotion, rather than craving. While they are still considered addicts, they are not physiologically addicted to the substance. Their addiction is driven by cause and effect. For instance, stress at work sends many people home to pick up a bottle. These addicts receive therapy to help them to overcome this bad coping mechanism and learn new ways to deal with their stressors. Some professionals suggest that these types of alcoholics are capable of drinking socially without a high risk of relapse.

Seek Help for Your Alcoholism Today

If you are a problem drinker, addict or recovering alcoholic that is struggling with relapse, there is help to aid you with overcoming your addiction. Rehabilitation programs and counseling services can put you on the right path towards thriving in a sober lifestyle. If you would like more information on these programs, visit for more info about  Alcohol Rehab Orange County  page or contact a representative with South Coast Counseling today.