The question of alcoholics being able to drink again is a loaded one. For an alcoholic, the desire to become sober may be strong, but when they think of never being able to have a casual drink again, it can throw them off. For someone who uses alcohol consistently, never having another alcoholic beverage again may seem too overwhelming.
In this article, we’ll answer the question of ‘can alcoholics ever drink again?’ We’ll also discuss the background of alcohol use disorder, why staying sober is important, the differences between abstinence vs. moderate drinking, and the consequences of drinking during recovery.
What is Alcohol Use Disorder?
Alcohol use disorder is a neurological condition where a person consistently drinks alcohol regardless of the negative effects on relationships, finances, physical and emotional health, and other detrimental side effects of alcoholism. While many people enjoy drinking alcohol, most people aren’t struggling with alcohol use disorder because they can control their alcohol intake.
People with alcohol addiction use large quantities of alcohol compulsively until they become dependent on it. This means that their bodies can not function optimally without the usual amount of alcohol in the system. Refraining from alcohol results in physical, psychological, and emotional withdrawal symptoms that drive alcoholics to drink again to relieve themselves of the symptoms.
Alcoholics Drinking in Recovery:
Alcoholics often wonder, ‘Can recovering alcoholics ever drink again?’ Indeed, recovery would seem more manageable if so. Additionally, attending parties, weddings, and social events while abstaining entirely from alcohol is a tough challenge. For an alcoholic craving a drink, it could be too difficult to watch other people casually drink while they can’t even have a sip.
Most recovery models, including the 12-step recovery model (Alcoholics Anonymous, or AA), believe that complete abstinence is the only way to achieve sobriety. This means that alcoholics can never have another drink again because their brains aren’t wired to manage ‘just one drink.’ In other words, alcoholics who take one drink will quickly spiral out of control and find themselves drunk again in no time.
Abstinence vs. Moderate Drinking:
Abstinence means that the alcoholic undertakes never to have a drink again. In contrast, moderate drinking involves the alcoholic learning how to drink moderately like those who aren’t addicted to alcohol.
Although it has widely been believed that total abstinence was the only way to recovery, recent discoveries show that people struggling with mild alcohol use disorder may be able to learn moderate drinking instead. Programs like ‘moderation management’ and the like aim to help people who still have some level of control over their drinking.
The Consequences of Drinking in Sobriety:
Because the brain of an addict is wired differently than non-addicts, having just one drink isn’t always possible. Alcoholics crave a drink, but they aren’t usually able to stay at just one because the brain has been altered and is unable to control alcohol intake. After having just one drink of alcohol, they most likely will have another and another until they are drunk again.
Additionally, getting drunk just once during sobriety will cause the addict to relapse back into the cycle of addiction, which is difficult to get out of. For an addict, losing sobriety brings shame, guilt, despair, and other unpleasant feelings, which they can easily bypass by getting drunk again. And so the cycle continues.
Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms:
Getting sober again after a relapse is especially challenging, because alcoholics experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms every time they use alcohol and then stop. While some symptoms are uncomfortable, others can be downright dangerous, so it is advisable to undergo medical detox at a licensed rehab facility, hospital, or other medical institution.
Here are some of the withdrawal symptoms alcoholics experience when abstaining from alcohol:
- Confusion
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Anxiety
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Elevated blood pressure
- Hallucinations
- Excessive sweating
- Breathing issues
So, Can Alcoholics Drink Again?
The short answer is that it depends on several factors, including history of use, level of addiction, and recovery type. Very moderate drinkers may be able to learn to control their drinking, whereas severe addicts must abstain from alcohol as long as they want to stay sober.
The reality is that successful drinking after sobriety is rare. For alcoholics ready to transform their lives and finally get sober, it may entail aiming never to drink again, or else they will be unable to stay sober for the long term.
Benefits of Staying Sober:
An addict often cannot imagine life without their substance of choice. Becoming sober and never having a drink again may seem too overwhelming and almost impossible for alcoholics, but knowing the benefits of staying sober can help you stick to it.
Here are some of the benefits:
- Lower risk of cancer
- Lower risk of cardiovascular diseases
- Healthier eating habits and weight
- Better sleep and daily schedule
- Improved memory and cognitive function
- Improved personal relationships
- More stability financially and in other areas.
Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder:
If you or your loved one is struggling with alcohol use disorder, it may seem impossible to gain sobriety. When imagining a life without alcohol at all, an alcoholic may feel despair. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
At Avenues Recovery, we have guided thousands of alcoholics to recovery with our medical detox program, mental health counselors, and one-on-one and group therapies. Although alcohol may never be able to feature in the life of a recovering alcoholic, you may find that everything you gain instead - true happiness, inner peace, self-respect, genuine relationships, love, improved mental and emotional health - is well worth the trade.
Reach out today to find an Avenues Recovery facility near you that can guide you to sobriety and a life of serenity, freedom, and happiness.