Living a life of recovery from drug addiction is a Herculean daily task that requires non-stop effort, perseverance and commitment. Even after quitting, the road of recovery remains a lifelong journey.
One question that arises on this path is: “Why can’t I drink alcohol?”
Alcohol, despite being both legal and socially acceptable, is a substance, not unlike illicit drugs, that is highly addictive. For someone who already has a history of addiction to mind-altering substances, alcohol can have the same negative effects as drugs.
It can lead to relapse, slow or even halt the healing process, and ultimately destroy any growth mentally, emotionally, and physically.
For all of these reasons and several others, let’s talk about why it is highly recommended to maintain total abstinence from all substances in recovery.
1. Cross-Addiction
Cross-addiction is a term to describe the behavior of trading in one addiction for another. Addiction centers in the mind of the addict. Alcohol, as a highly addictive substance, affects the same regions of the brain as other drugs.
A drug addict might be abstinent from the drug that they became addicted to, but by drinking alcohol they inadvertently awoke those pleasure centers becoming addicted to alcohol. As with any addiction, the addict builds up a tolerance to the substance requiring increasing amounts to achieve the same effect.
Eventually, most addicts find their way back to the original substance that they initially identified with. The basic fact remains that a person who has been addicted to any substance has a dramatically higher chance to become addicted to other substances.
2. Alcohol Impairs Judgment
One of the most well-known and highly sought after effects of alcohol is its proclivity to lower inhibitions. One might be afraid to dance or go out on a date, add a couple of drinks and like magic, they have the courage to try new things.
Unfortunately, the same inhibitions are what give a person pause when they are about to do something unsafe, like take drugs or gamble. In recovery a person needs these inhibitions to make good judgements and we all agree that staying sober leads to better decision-making.
Being intoxicated with alcohol could cause someone to throw caution to the wind and say “What the heck! I can do a little cocaine tonight. It’s all in good fun. I haven’t touched the stuff in a month!”
3. The Impact on Health
From a purely objective standpoint, alcohol use is dubious and risky at best. That is to say, it is not the healthiest option for any individual, let alone a recovering person. Alcohol is proven to cause depression, anxiety, and even PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder); these are just the mental health risks.
Higher risk of heart attack, stroke and certain cancers are also facts of prolonged alcohol use. Alcohol also increases the risk of liver disease, kidney disease, pancreatitis, and hepatitis..
Alcohol is not a harmless solution or coping mechanism. Many drug addicts that have been able to “kick” hard illicit drugs such as heroin or crack cocaine view alcohol as a safe alternative. This is again, objectively false.
In Closing
Breaking free from the bondage of addiction is a difficult and strenuous process, one that will last a lifetime for most. It is clear that along the road of recovery there will be many temptations and obstacles.
Believing that alcohol is different because it is legal, readily available, inexpensive, and socially acceptable is one of those tempting illusions.
The vividly clear reality is alcohol presents the same risks, and some unique to itself. Drinking alcohol can instantly undermine all the progress a recovering person has made and can land them back to a place more dark and dangerous than before.
By avoiding all substances and remaining committed to a new way of life, of sobriety, we can heal, grow and live happy lives.
Why take the risk? For anyone in recovery who is learning a new life and finding purpose outside themselves, the risk far outweighs the slim rewards.
We hope you found this article helpful. If you or a loved one is struggling with recovery or addiction, give us a call 24/7 at 1-800-725-0922 or fill out our contact form. We can help.
