A social alcoholic, or a social drinker is known as a low-risk drinker. You may not think that you have a problem and become defensive when your friends or family members begin to question your drinking habits.
You're just a social drinker, after all, and there is really nothing to worry about.
But what does that even mean?
Of course you can go to a party and have a few drinks while being social; however, might you be having the same symptoms as an alcoholic but just in a social setting? Or are you saying that you're a social drinker to hide your true patterns of alcohol abuse?
A true social drinker should be able to stop drinking without having any cravings, without wanting to suppress emotions, or without feeling like you have to sneak around to get a drink.
Addiction expert at Rosecrance, Dr. Thomas Wright, MD, explains the differences between a social drinker and an alcoholic, as well as the signs to look out for if you or someone you know is a social alcoholic.
Are You a Social Alcoholic?
You say you don't have a "problem" because you only drink at social gatherings. But is that just an excuse?
Additional Info
- Segment Number: 2
- Audio File: staying_well/1407sw1b.mp3
- Featured Speaker: Thomas Wright, MD
- Organization: Rosecrance
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Guest Bio:
Dr. Thomas Wright oversees all medical operations for Rosecrance. He specializes in working with adolescents who have a co-existing or secondary diagnosis in addition to an addiction disorder.
He has more than 20 years' experience in the field. Dr. Wright is certified as a child and adolescent psychiatrist by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and in addiction medicine by the American Society of Addiction Medicine.
He served on the faculty at Northwestern Medical College in Chicago and at The University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago and Rockford.
Dr. Wright is a regular conference presenter and has been recognized as a medical educator and leader in the field of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. He joined Rosecrance in 2005. - Length (mins): 10
- Waiver Received: No
- Internal Notes: eWaiver
- Host: Melanie Cole, MS
Published in
Staying Well