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“As long as you can make it to work the next day”: normalized drinking and problem recognition among individuals in recovery from alcohol use disorder

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Introduction: Problematic alcohol use contributes substantially to morbidity, mortality, and social harm, yet may remain underrecognized by those experiencing it. Social and environmental contexts strongly influence alcohol use and drinking norms. However, less is known about how these contexts relate to recognizing one's own drinking as problematic. Therefore, this qualitative study explored how adults in recovery from alcohol use disorder (AUD) described socioenvironmental influences on the normalization, sustained use, and recognition of problematic alcohol use. Method: Fifteen adults in recovery from AUD were recruited through recovery networks, treatment settings, and community organizations. Participants completed demographic questionnaires and semi-structured qualitative interviews conducted in person or via videoconference. Data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke's reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Five interrelated themes and subthemes were identified: (1) Social normalization and sustained problematic alcohol use, (1a) early exposure to drinking norms, (1b) continued normalization of drinking in adult life; (2) social comparison and minimization of drinking behavior; (3) alcohol-related consequences in relationships and daily life; (4) recognizing problematic drinking amid recognizable consequences; and (5) reflections on reasons for drinking. Conclusion: Findings extend socioenvironmental perspectives on alcohol use by suggesting that social and environmental contexts may influence not only drinking practices and norms, but also how individuals understand and recognize their own alcohol use as problematic. Prevention and early intervention efforts may benefit from moving beyond crisis-driven models of care and promoting recognition of problematic alcohol use before severe consequences occur. Clinical assessment may support earlier recognition by exploring how individuals define problematic drinking and the social reference points they use to evaluate their own drinking.

Source: Frontiers in Psychiatry

DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1981903