Many people enjoy casual drinking with friends, family, or even alone. Unfortunately, casual drinking can lead to an alcohol addiction problem. It is vital to realize when this takes place, so appropriate action is taken to help stop addictive behavior. Read on to learn the signs of an alcohol addiction problem and when to seek the Benton City alcohol rehab center in WA.
Casual Drinking Versus Excessive Drinking
With so many types of alcohol on the market, many people indulge in the consumption of beverages daily. Twenty-four million people drink up to 74 drinks a week. How do you know when casual drinking becomes more? Are there signs to be aware of? When should you consider stopping if you are one of these 24 million people?
Casual drinking can quickly turn into an alcoholic addiction problem if you find you are drinking more and more than you had in the past. For example, subtle differences in the way you drink can indicate whether you are struggling with an addiction to alcohol. Casual drinking is when you infrequently consume alcohol. It is done in moderation and not daily. Occasional drinking can lead to problem drinking if you find you drink too much in one session, if you do it often, or if you do it when situations in your life are unhealthy. Problem drinking can lead to alcoholism if treatment is not acquired.
Know The Signs Of A Problem
If you enjoy casual drinking for specific situations, you might not have an addiction to deal with. These situations include people who drink on holidays or as a celebratory action. But they avoid alcohol for the rest of the year. Casual drinkers tend to drink one day or less a week. If you find you are thinking about drinking more often than not, or if the focus of an event is the alcohol you are to consume, you may be a problem drinker. Contact Crestview Recovery for treatment when you require alcohol to get through your day, you are likely to have an addiction to it and the feeling it provides to you.
Other signs that indicate casual drinking has escalated to something more includes:
- You take risks such as driving after drinking or becoming involved in unhealthy relationships as a result of your drinking
- You spend more money on alcohol than you had in the past and find it hard to keep up with bills when you didn’t have a problem before
- Your friends have changed and tend to center around those who will drink along with you
- You avoid situations where alcohol is not present
How To Get Help If Casual Drinking Leads To An Addiction
If you are worried about the amount you drink, you may require treatment for alcohol addiction. Knowing when to get help is the first step to recovery. Crestview Recovery is an alcohol treatment center located in Portland, Oregon, that provides a variety of services to help those who struggle with addiction in the Pacific Northwest region of the country. Our services include:
- Extended care treatment – Treatment is provided within a range of 30 to 90+ days to help those with addictions to learn coping mechanisms as a basis to start a life without drugs or alcohol
- Outpatient treatment – Extended treatment is offered as an outpatient service to help with the transition back into social situations and public settings. This type of treatment is often conducted with a gradual reduction in time spent with assistance as the patient progresses positively in the real world.
- Monitoring and support- The first six months of sobriety are best handled with testing and weekly case manager calls. These checks instill accountability and help to keep a recovering alcoholic from sliding back into addictive behavioral practices.
- Alumni and family programs in OR – Treatment centers offer family and alumni programs to give those struggling with alcohol addiction a sense of belonging. Programs also create an environment that helps with lasting sobriety.
If you believe your drinking is more than casual drinking, getting help is necessary if you cannot quit on your own. Call Crestview Recovery at 866.262.0531 to get started with a treatment program today.
Since 2016, Dr. Merle Williamson, a graduate of Oregon Health Sciences University, has been the Medical Director at Crestview Recovery, bringing a rich background in addiction medicine from his time at Hazelden Treatment Center. He oversees outpatient drug and alcohol treatments, providing medical care, setting policies, detox protocols, and quality assurance measures. Before specializing in addiction medicine, he spent 25 years in anesthesiology, serving as Chair of Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Chief of Anesthesia at Kaiser Permanente. This experience gives him a unique perspective on treating prescription drug addiction.
