Drinking and Social Media - Living After Addiction

If you think you might be drinking too much, you can always find someone on social media who drinks more than you do (or someone who posts more alcohol-related content than you do). This might make you feel better about your own choices instead of seeking alcohol addiction treatment. Social media helps us feel connected to others who post about the issues we care about. It can also reinforce unhealthy thought patterns and behaviors.

In a 2018 study on alcoholism, researchers found a correlation between alcohol-themed social media posts and alcohol abuse. We know that people who post a higher-than-average amount of alcohol-related content are more likely to have problems with alcohol in the future, but this doesn’t mean that everyone who engages with an alcohol-themed post is an alcoholic.

On social media, an advertisement is far less effective than an organic post, but most of the alcohol-related content is either produced by alcohol companies or sponsored by them. Advertisers are also very good at manipulating the public into doing the work for them. Advertising plays a huge role in the type of alcohol people consume. A decade ago, men wouldn’t dare drink an alcoholic seltzer drink in public, but it’s normal now. Why? Advertising.

If your social media use has led to an alcohol use disorder, our Oregon addiction treatment center can help. We give you the tools to put addiction behind you. To learn more, contact Sunstone Recovery today at 855.833.9199.

Advertising Works

For most people, drinking in social situations is normal. But alcohol researchers are concerned because so much of the content posted on social media normalizes binge drinking and daily alcohol use. Maybe you’ve noticed that people with larger-than-average body types are being featured in social media ads for certain types of alcohol. This isn’t because alcohol companies want to promote body positivity; it’s because, these days, inclusivity sells.

People Love Laughing at Drunk People on the Internet

Actually, people love laughing in general, especially with people they care about. During quarantine, the thing many people miss most of all is laughing with/at their friends. Social media makes it easy to associate drinking with laughter and friendship. Why do you think the sale of alcohol has increased since the coronavirus pandemic began?

Being a fan of a certain brand of alcohol can have a profound impact on drinking behavior. Being attached to a particular brand of alcohol at a young age has been linked with higher levels of alcoholism and heavy alcohol consumption in the future. There are many reasons people get attached to a particular brand. Relating to or admiring people who are shown consuming the product makes people more likely to become loyal to a brand.

Social Media in Substance Abuse Recovery

Social media can be an obstacle for people recovering from substance abuse disorder. After completing treatment, people can feel isolated when they begin their new life. Most people look to social media to help them feel connected to others, but it’s impossible to filter social media posts containing alcohol and drug use. For someone who has recently completed men’s or women’s rehab programs, seeing photos of people drinking can increase feelings of isolation. Seeing photos of friends using alcohol and drugs can make sobriety even more difficult to hold onto.

When you use it mindfully, social media can give you the opportunity to connect with others. It’s a big, beautiful world out there, and there are plenty of people who want the sober version of you.

Get Treatment at Sunstone Recovery Today

At Sunstone Recovery, we give you the skills you need to overcome substance abuse. We offer a wide range of treatment options, including:

To learn more about your treatment options, contact Sunstone Recovery at 855.833.9199 today.

Sunstone Recovery is an intensive outpatient program (IOP) that treats primary mental health and primary substance use challenges for adults 18 and older, located in Bend, OR. Our team of doctorate and master level clinicians is dedicated to helping our clients develop new skills so they can begin to thrive and increase their quality of life. Learn More