When it comes to alcohol and other drug use, people always assume that certain forms of substance use are considered “better” or “less harmful” than others. This assumption can lead people to ask questions like, “Can I drink if I’m in recovery from drug abuse?” Certainly, substances differ in terms of the type, severity, and intensity of potential health risks they can pose to an individual’s well-being. Despite this, individuals in recovery from drugs must avoid turning to alcohol and other destructive behaviors to minimize the risk of not only replacing one addiction with another but also the risk of relapse in recovery.
At Renaissance Ranch, we understand that every person journeying through addiction recovery will have different and individualized goals for sobriety. However, there are undeniable risks to consider for those whose end goal does not involve complete and total abstinence from all forms of drug and alcohol use. For this reason, we strongly encourage our clients to consider these risks and, when necessary, ask themselves why they feel called to drink alcohol or engage in other substance use. Total sobriety is achievable, and we are committed to making this a reality for all our clients.
The Interrelationship Between Drinking and Drug Abuse
It is not uncommon for people to view drinking alcohol and using drugs as separate activities, with the latter considered more “dangerous” than the former. After all, alcohol use is widely accepted and normalized in today’s day and age; nearly all social gatherings involve alcohol in some way or another. Drug use, on the other hand, is not as widely accepted, mostly because those who use this phrase are referring to illegal drug use. Yet, with the rise of marijuana legalization and use in recent years, this narrative continues to change.
Although they are often categorized differently, it is vital to understand that alcohol is a type of drug. It is a central nervous system depressant, which means it slows down activity in the brain and body, leading to impairments in cognitive and motor functioning. Aside from alcohol, some of the most commonly used depressant drugs are prescription medications that help with symptoms like anxiety, insomnia, and seizures. That said, it is important to understand that even prescription medication can have its risks, especially when they are misused and abused.
Thus, aside from their legal status and societal acceptability, alcohol and other drugs are far more similar than they are different. Both legal and illegal drugs and alcohol pose undeniable addictive potential alongside immediate and long-term consequences to a person’s health and well-being. Recognizing this interrelationship helps avoid replacing one addiction with another.
The Risks of Drinking While in Recovery From Drug Abuse
When an individual participates in treatment for drug abuse, they learn about the intense and devastating ways that their drug use has altered their brain. For example, the brain’s reward center, which is responsible for motivating us to engage in behaviors that please us and reduce discomfort, becomes overwhelmed with drug abuse; sometimes so much so that the brain reduces its ability to experience pleasure from anything else.
As explained by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “Drug use can lead to serious changes in the brain that affect how a person thinks and acts.” In addition to affecting how a person perceives and experiences pleasure, drug use can also induce uncomfortable feelings of stress and anxiety, particularly through drug withdrawal. Furthermore, with ongoing drug use, an individual will struggle to make good judgments, resist harmful impulses, and prioritize behaviors that strengthen their health and well-being.
These complications do not merely subside once drug use is ceased; rather, to reverse the brain changes caused by drug abuse, an individual must commit to sobriety and other healthy lifestyle habits. Drinking alcohol, even well into short-term and long-term sobriety, can cause the brain to remember habits once associated with drug abuse and send an individual into relapse. In addition to the risk of long-term complications from alcohol use itself, these risks must all be considered when one poses the question, “Can I drink if I am in recovery from drug abuse?”
Treatment for Alcohol and Drug Use at Renaissance Ranch
At Renaissance Ranch, we offer a number of support services for individuals seeking recovery from substance abuse and mental health concerns regardless of where they are on their recovery journey. Our treatment center for adult men is structured to meet clients where they are by individualizing treatment to fit each client’s unique needs, experiences, and goals for recovery.
Once alcohol or other drugs have taken control of an individual’s brain, the brain will try to do whatever it can to seek out continued substance abuse. Starving the brain of these chemicals by practicing total sobriety is essential for successfully establishing and sustaining recovery. With the right tools and professional support, individuals can recover from addiction and live happy and worthwhile lives in sobriety.
When an individual is working to recover from dangerous drug abuse, it is common for them to wonder whether there are “less harmful” forms of substance abuse that they can turn to to fill the void. Some may even pose the question, “Can I drink if I am in recovery from drug abuse?” While every addiction recovery journey is unique, it is important to consider the implications of using alcohol when in recovery from drugs. Not only can this risk replacing one addiction with another but it can also cause the brain to revisit dysfunction brought on by previous drug abuse. Moreover, it can increase the risk of relapse. Learn more by calling (801) 308-8898 for treatment and support.