Summer means lazy days by the pool and late evenings on the patio, which is why it is no surprise it is the season most people wait all year for.
However, many summer events involve alcohol, so it’s easy to drink more than usual. This could be every weekend, several days a week or even every night. How do you know when to worry about your summertime drinking habits? Will they go away when things pick back up in the fall? Or could this be the start of something serious that needs an individual to seek alcohol rehab in Phoenix, Arizona?
Why people drink more in the summertime
People drinking more during the summer months is not an illusion. According to research published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol, it was found that the summertime is the most popular time of year to drink, excluding December. Heavy drinkers tend to drink year-round, but others pick up the habit in the summer when their friends are doing it, too.
There are several theories why people tend to consume more alcohol in the summer. First, drinking beer and wine is associated with relaxing and having a good time, which there is more of in the summer. Second, there are several big holidays to celebrate along with countless weddings, graduation parties and barbecues. Again, alcohol makes its grand appearance at these events.
Of course, summertime is not a free pass to drink all the time. Unfortunately, the fact that alcohol is readily available can start some people on the wrong path.
Are your drinking habits a concern?
If you have a family history of substance abuse, or have gone through addiction treatment, avoid drinking altogether.
Addiction doesn’t discriminate, but it latches onto people who are at risk. There are many other activities you can enjoy without putting your sobriety at risk. You must also make smart, strategic decisions about where to go and who to spend time with.
For those who don’t have addiction in their background, the NIAAA defines at-risk drinking as having more than four drinks a night (or 14+ drinks a week) for men and more than three drinks a night (or 7+ drinks a week for women). This isn’t exact science, but it does give you an example of when drinking crosses the threshold to becoming a problem.
Aside from the number of drinks you are having each week, here are some more signs of a drinking problem:
- Drinking more alcohol than intended
- Having to drink more to achieve the same effects
- Spending a lot of time nursing hangovers
- Giving up your favorite hobbies
- Neglecting your responsibilities
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms
- Engaging in high-risk behaviors
- Wanting to stop but being unable to
Contact Calvary Healing Center
Calvary Healing Center, located in Phoenix, Arizona, specializes in treating drug and alcohol addiction through a variety of programs.
If you are concerned about drinking in yourself or a loved one, don’t wait to get help. An inpatient program at a Phoenix treatment center is not the only option. You can also consider an intensive outpatient program that doesn’t pull you away from your responsibilities.
To learn more about Calvary Healing Center, contact us today online or by phone. We have been helping adults work through addiction issues since 1964 in the Phoenix, Arizona, area.