Is your drinking out of control? Are you looking to still go out and party without the side effects of drinking? The "sober curious" movement might be right for you.
The Doctors welcome addiction specialist Dr. Drew Pinsky, who explains this movement often applies to the "wine mom" culture, and individuals who drink and are questioning if they might have a problem and whether they should consider getting sober or professional help.
Watch: Meet a ‘Wine Mom’ Turned ‘Sober Curious’
Dr. Drew's approach to determining if you might have a problem with alcohol is to look at your family history. He says if you have a first-degree relative with a history of alcoholism, you should be careful as there is a 50 percent probability you may also have a problem. He also says if your drinking has consequences, with work, finances, your health or legal issues, there also could be an issue. And lastly, any degree of denial about a possible alcohol issue is an indicator of a possible issue.
But do people Dr. Drew described need to join a 12-step program or stop drinking altogether? He says it depends, noting some people can manage their substance use, but adds, "If you feel like you are losing control, you've got a problem."
Watch: Is ‘Wine Mom’ Culture Glamorous or Dangerous?
ER physician Dr. Travis Stork explains the "sober curious" movement might work best for someone who wants to try living without alcohol in their life but does not consider their drinking to be a big enough issue for a 12-step program or professional help.
Kaitlin, who joined the "sober curious" movement 8 months ago following a foot injury, joins the conversation. She says she didn't want to drink while on crutches due to safety concerns.
Watch: When Should You Be Worried About Your Drinking?
"It just wasn't fitting for me," she says of alcohol. "It was numbing me from all the moments... you're the only one that can question your drinking and how it's making you feel." She goes on to explain she began a support network through social media, where she opened up about her feelings and alcohol use. Over time, she grew a following and now has an active support system with other people who want to curtail or stop their drinking.
The Doctors are also joined by licensed marriage and family therapist Kati Morton, author of “Are You Okay?” who worries about how trendy and engrained the "wine mom" culture has become. "We've really glamorized drinking during the day, especially within the mom culture because being a mom is hard and there is this reward system we've put in place [that involves drinking]," she says, stressing she worries about parents drinking at their kid's activities like sports practice, and then possibly driving with their children.
Learn more about the signs of when you should be worried about your drinking from Dr. Drew and The Doctors in the video below. More resources on alcoholism can be found at Alcohol Addiction Center, Alcoholics Anonymous, and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
