1 of 34

No

Write now Article Tools

Can an alcoholic ever drink again socially? If the person is a real alcoholic, and not just a heavy drinker, then absolutely not-unless the person wants to go back into addiction.

To explain why this is the case, it's important to understand a bit more about the nature of alcoholism, which is a perplexing disease that affects millions of people worldwide.

First, alcoholism afflicts people from all races, socioeconomic backgrounds, religions and nationalities. It has its grip on people in their early teens as well as on great-grandfathers who are in their 80s.

Some alcoholics have a long history of drinking before they cross the line into full-blown addiction; others are affected early in life, even upon taking their first drink.

No matter what the circumstances, the one thing that all alcoholics share in common is that they can no longer safely drink alcohol again under any circumstances. They should not have even a sip of a drink, far less several of them.

Even one drink can cause an alcoholic to start drinking uncontrollably, and often for long periods of time. An alcoholic is completely powerless when it comes to alcohol, and must commit to getting through each day without touching alcohol, no matter what the day may bring.

To explain why this is the case, it is necessary to better define the nature of this terrible disease. First and foremost, know that addiction is very hard to grasp from a rational level.

After all, if you know that a behavior will harm you, why not stop engaging in this behavior? Why not use some self-control?

We have to apply discipline in many areas of our lives, so why not in this area? It seems pretty logical and simple for those who are not addicts.

The thing about alcoholism, though, is that it defies common sense and logic. It manifests itself in people in two ways. First, there is a physical component.

When someone has crossed the line into full-blown alcoholism, he will experience a strong physical allergy if he intakes alcohol. This allergy is an abnormal reaction to the liquor or beer.

It's similar in many ways to other allergies. If you are allergic to peanuts, for example, and accidentally take a bite of a Chinese dish that contains them, then you soon may break out into hives.

Someone without this allergy will just enjoy a good take-out dinner. You, on the other hand, will be in for a very uncomfortable experience. As a result, you avoid peanuts whenever possible.

An alcoholic who takes a drink also has an

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Can an alcoholic ever drink again socially??
We want to hear your view. Write now!