It is common for people to drink alcoholic beverages on special occasions. This may include holiday events, wedding receptions, birthday celebrations, vacations, and more. It is also common for young adults and college-aged kids to drink alcohol and misuse party drugs together at clubs, bars, and house parties. This can be especially risky as it can lead to addiction and severe health complications.
It can be hard to say “no” to peer pressure from others. This is why it can be helpful to seek professional support and direction from addiction treatment centers. Various behavioral therapies can provide individuals with new skills to cope with addiction and co-occurring mental health conditions.12 South Recovery’s friendly staff members work hard to teach the importance of staying sober and impart strategies for maintaining abstinence. Taking time to understand the risks of misusing alcohol and drugs can potentially save one’s life.
The Risks of Drinking Alcohol and Misusing Party Drugs
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), polysubstance use is the act of using two or more substances together. This can be done intentionally or by accident. For example, polysubstance use is where an individual may drink alcohol and concurrently use other substances such as opioids, marijuana, and illicit drugs. These are known to be party drugs.
The practice of polysubstance use is incredibly unsafe and may intensify the negative effects of any individual substance. Drinking alcohol and misusing party drugs can involve severe health risks that may include:
- Injuries
- Violence
- Risky sexual behavior
- Alcohol use disorder (AUD)
- Substance use disorder (SUD)
- Chronic diseases
- Damage to the brain, heart, and other organs
- Caved breathing
- Overdose
- Death
Overdose Statistics From Misusing Party Drugs
As stated in the aforementioned CDC study, it was estimated that about one out of five emergency room visits were associated with alcohol and prescription drug abuse. Approximately one out of seven people died from drinking alcohol and misusing opioids in 2017. Polysubstance use deaths increased by 41% between the years 2019 and 2020. These estimations have varied state by state ranging between seven and 29%.
Participating in Sober Activities
The best way for an individual to prevent certain health risks and dangers associated with alcohol and misusing party drugs is by committing to sober activities. Sober activities can be a healthy outlet for those who confront challenges with addiction.
Choosing to spend time without using certain substances can bring new connections with others with a similar mindset. This can be a great way to make friends and create healthy relationships. Signing up for weekly clubs or group activities can give a person something to look forward to. This can increase motivation and provide a strong sense of well-being.
One of the best moves to make while in early recovery is to stay busy, become physically active, and avoid environments with drugs and alcohol. By doing this, individuals do not face certain triggers and have fewer cravings. Fun sobers activities may include:
- Bike riding
- Walking trails
- Playing sports
- Swimming
- Reading and writing
- Going to art fairs
- Doing art therapy
How to Effectively Refuse Alcohol and Party Drugs
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), it may be helpful to learn to recognize the different types of social pressure. This pressure may be indirect or direct. When an individual feels intense temptation simply from being in certain environments where others are drinking or using certain substances, this is called indirect social pressure.
Friends or strangers sometimes offer an individual an alcoholic beverage or drugs. This is known as direct social pressure. Being in this situation can be a major trigger for misusing party drugs for those who deal with cravings. There are a few helpful ways to effectively maintain abstinence and build alcohol- and substance-refusal skills. These skills may include:
- Planning ahead in order to stay in control
- Temporarily avoiding special events
- Using coping skills learned in therapy
- Calmly rehearsing different ways to say “no”
- Planning an escape from moments of discomfort
- Being proud of the personal choices one has made
Maintaining Abstinence With 12 South Recovery
Drinking alcohol and misusing prescription medications and illicit drugs can be detrimental to one’s health. Some individuals may experience physical and mental health effects from stopping the use of certain substances. For this reason, professional help can be paramount.
Learning to accept the problem, surrendering to treatment, and putting new strategies into action are just a few of the first steps toward positive changes. By checking these boxes, an individual facing challenges with AUD or SUD can effectively maintain sobriety.
Taking time to research a treatment facility that is tailored to an individual’s needs can be worth every ounce of effort. 12 South Recovery has treatment programs such as relapse prevention to help their clients learn effective coping strategies. The facility’s compassionate team understands that people need to develop certain skills in therapy in order to safely refuse drugs and alcohol.
Drinking alcohol and misusing party drugs is dangerous. Sometimes it can be hard to simply say “no” to family, friends, and new people in social settings. Consulting with professionals can provide helpful guidance and emotional support needed to maintain abstinence. At 12 South Recovery, Our focus is on evidence-based therapy and treatment, medical support, and compassionate care. We help people find purpose and meaning and ultimately become productive members of society. What’s more, if there’s physical or emotional trauma underlying addiction, we can get to the root of it and facilitate deep healing. True healing increases the chances of long-term abstinence. If you or a loved one need additional support, call 12 South Recovery at (888) 830-8374 to learn more.
