Myths and Misconceptions about Alcohol Consumption

Alcohol use is widely accepted in our culture, causing us to sometimes forget that it is a drug. Since alcohol is so commonly used in our society, it is important for the users to know just how much alcohol can affect our bodies. There are several myths and misconceptions about alcohol use that must be addressed – if you are going to use alcohol, you should know the risks and effects it could have on your health and well–being. With that being said, let’s explore some of these myths and misconceptions. 

Myth #1 Alcohol only affects your liver. 

This is a common misconception about the negative effects of alcohol use. In our society, we tend to always associate chronic alcohol use with harm to our liver. While extended and continued alcohol use can affect the liver, alcohol consumption also impacts our brain, heart, central nervous system, and peripheral nervous system. Over time, drinking too much alcohol can cause high blood pressure, an enlarged heart, and even a stroke. It can make it harder for your body to fight off and resist diseases such as pneumonia. With all of this said, prolonged alcohol use affects more than just one’s liver.  

Myth #2 Your health won’t be affected, and you won’t become addicted to alcohol if you only consume it in social settings.  

This is another common misconception about alcohol use. While each person is unique, even consuming alcohol in only social settings can cause you to develop cravings, eventually leading to alcohol abuse and possibly addiction. Our culture includes alcohol in so many social environments such as weddings, family gatherings, and sporting events, and it’s offered in essentially all restaurants. Therefore, alcohol is all around us all the time. It can be very tempting to increase your consumption of alcohol as you are exposed to it in so many social settings.  

Myth #3 If you’ve always been drinking alcohol responsibly, you won’t become addicted. 

Even those of us who classify ourselves as responsible drinkers can still be at risk for developing an alcohol addiction. Frequently alcohol addictions develop in those who are retired – even if they drank responsibly during the period they were employed. This occurs because during retirement, there may be less structure to one’s day, and less of a daily routine. This can cause one’s alcohol use to become more frequent, leading to an addiction. Therefore, the more you expose your brain to alcohol, the more likely it is that you will develop an addiction.  

Myth #4 Alcohol is a safe drug. 

There really is no such thing as a “safe” drug. Alcohol, while it is legal and widely consumed, can cause extremely negative impacts to our health (as described above). Additionally, the addiction factor is one that should not be ignored. Alcohol is very addictive, and it can be very difficult to overcome that addiction. When considering consuming alcohol, it is important for you to have a full understanding of all the impacts it can have on your health.  

Victory Recovery Partners is a network of five addiction and recovery centers on Long Island, New York. Our patients seek our services to help them with their addictions to drugs and alcohol. Victory is unique in that we provide all services under one roof; this includes behavioral health, medication-assisted treatment, psychiatric, and wellness services. If you or someone you know is struggling with an addiction and would like to recover and lead a positive, healthier life, visit our website www.victoryrp.com to see how we can help.