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Introducing the New Casual Sobriety

Only a decade or so ago, the word sobriety was associated with serious addiction issues requiring rehab or Alcoholics Anonymous. Nowadays, it seems like everyone is on temporary pauses or circuit breakers from drink or drugs. Former sesh gremlins now celebrate being 20 days sober on Instagram with screenshots of sobriety apps to prove it, and Google searches for “sober curious” have risen 96 percent worldwide in the last year. Even songs aren’t getting pissed any more – DASH Water analysed lyrics for the top 10 songs of each year since 2012, and found that “drunk” references in chart-topping songs are rapidly declining. It seems sobriety has become more of a lifestyle choice than a life sentence…

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Featured

 Sobriety is having a moment. Here come the influencers

Are sober and sober-curious Instagram influencers helpful or harmful for people struggling with addiction? There is a difference between people who need to get sober and those who want to get sober, but social media tends to conflate the two. Instagram hashtags like #SoberCurious, #SoberLife, #SoberAF, #SoberSaturday, and #SoberIsSexy are connecting those who are actively recovering from their addictions and those who are “sober curious” and simply interested in exploring the benefits of sobriety. To be clear, there is a difference between “sobriety” and “recovery”: The former applies only to those who have given up alcohol (and, for some, recreational drugs), while the latter is for those who are actively addressing any underlying addiction issues through therapy or treatment programs.

Articles of Interest

I tried ‘intermittent sobriety’. Here’s what I learned jumping on and off the wagon

While this is by no means health advice, these are a few things I’ve found helpful in case you’re also feeling sober curious.

Getting Sober His Own Way

When Paul Carr decided to quit drinking he eschewed AA in favor of his own 12-step program. WSJ's Kelsey Hubbard talks to the British author and journalist about his new book, "Sober Is My New Drunk," which describes how he gave up booze and what he learned along the way.

Getting Sober on Bravo, as Told by Leah, Lala, and Braunwyn

In the season premiere of Real Housewives of Orange County, Braunwyn Windham-Burke says, for the first time on camera, she is an alcoholic. Here, she opens up alongside fellow Bravo stars Leah McSweeney and Lala Kent about what it's like to show a sobriety journey on screen.

I gave up alcohol 18 months ago and I can't believe the effect on my mental health

When writer Olivia Foster gave up alcohol just under a year and a half ago, she was hoping to see some improvement in her mental health - little did she know it would change completely…

It’s Not Just Dry January: The Rise Of Sober October

Dry January isn’t just a passing fad or a failed New Year’s Resolution anymore. And it’s no longer the only month on the calendar marketed around giving up alcohol.

Our journey to sobriety

Alcoholism is a global health issue which each year results in millions of deaths. Kim Chakanetsa speaks to two women to discuss the realities of addiction and compare their different paths to sobriety.

Sober after years of alcoholism, I was about to drink again. Elton John saved me

My addiction had almost destroyed me – and now I was on the brink of a relapse. Then I remembered how the star had turned his own life around.

Sober tourism is a growing trend—here’s how it can transform your trip

Alcohol-free bars, no-booze cruises, and other tools can help you enjoy travel without the hangover.

The best $210 I ever spent: My sobriety

The glossy online program wasn’t perfect, but it was what I needed just then.

The Rise of ‘Sober But’, the Dry January Where You Still Do Drugs

One thing that is clear in all this though, is that more people are making commitments to abstain than ever. Dry January going mainstream is just one symptom of a broader social shift about sobriety. Casual sobriety is on the rise, and a significant number of young people are reportedly trying to cut back on drinking and drugs – January or not. Arguably, what’s at the root of this shift is a developing understanding of addiction and substance abuse. There’s more awareness around dependency than ever now, and many people are cutting back on substances to regain control and purpose, long before “hitting rock bottom”.

The rise of ‘sober curiosity:’ Why Gen Zers are reducing their alcohol consumption

Generation Z is leading a significant shift in drinking habits. In fact, compared to preceding generations, Generation Z may be the soberest generation yet. Members of Gen Z consume about one-third less beer and wine than previous generations. They are also shifting toward alcohol-free beverages at a significantly higher rate. This trend, first observed in North America in the early 2000s, has since become a global phenomenon. Recent Gallup data shows a 10 per cent decline in alcohol use among U.S. adults aged 18 to 34 in the last decade.

They Wanted to Get Sober. They Got a Nightmare Instead.

Arizona spent $1 billion on addiction treatment, much of it fraudulent, officials said. Scores of Native Americans who sought help are still struggling with untreated addiction — and some died in rehab.

Trudging Through Sobriety and Other Challenges, One Step at a Time

As Morgan Hartman and Phillip de Amezola supported each through personal health crises, their relationship and a “love plant” flourished.

What Does Being Sober Mean Today? For Many, Not Full Abstinence.

More younger Americans are shunning alcohol while embracing cannabis, ketamine and psychedelics, shaking up the field of addiction medicine.

When you go sober for even a month, your body will change. Here’s how

Dry January. Sober October. More and more people are attempting to curb their alcohol use—so we asked experts what benefits you can really expect to see.

Why Is Everyone ‘Sober-ish’ All of a Sudden?

More people are entering the holidays with a mindful relationship with alcohol. It turns out this isn’t a total drag.

‘Intermittent Sobriety’ Is Apparently a Thing Now

That’s the new buzz term tied to a growing sentiment around alcohol, particularly among Gen Z, according to CNN’s Sanjay Gupta. The idea behind intermittent sobriety is just treating drinking more like a once-in-a-while treat than a weekly—or, for some, daily—activity.

Resources

7 Things That Inevitably Happen to Your Personal Life When You Get Sober

This year, I celebrated five years sober. It’s been over six years since I first started seriously questioning my relationship with alcohol and considered a life without it. That’s six hard, beautiful, glorious years during which I not only stopped drinking, but also finally moved on from all recreational drugs as well as a history of bulimia.

Sober Nation

At Sober Nation, our mission is to raise awareness, combat the stigma of substance use disorder, and help individuals and their families find life-saving services throughout the country. Sober Nation is not a medical professional, but instead connects individuals to them. If you are suffering from a life-threatening emergency, please dial 911 immediately.

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