Recognizing and understanding the concept of “Sober October” is the first step towards embracing this life-changing initiative.
Sober October is a month-long campaign where individuals commit to avoiding alcohol for the entire month of October. The concept originated in Australia as ‘Oc-Sober’ by Life Education, a health organization aimed at promoting a healthier lifestyle among young adults and teenagers and educating them about the risks of drugs and alcohol. The phrase “Sober October” was later coined by the UK-based cancer charity Macmillan Cancer Support.
According to Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and adjunct associate professor at George Washington University, and previously Baltimore’s health commissioner, there are three issues to consider when answering a question like, ‘How much alcohol is considered too much from a health perspective?’
The first is how much a person is drinking on a regular basis. Adults of legal drinking age should not drink more than one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men, according to the US Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
These findings are based on research showing that the risk of health problems increases after these amounts. Higher amounts of alcohol consumed on a regular basis are associated with higher risks of chronic illnesses such as heart disease, several types of cancer and early death.
In the United States, about 178,000 people die from alcohol-related diseases each year. Alcohol-associated liver disease is the leading cause of liver transplant.
The second issue is whether the person engages in binge drinking. This behavioral pattern is defined, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as four or more drinks on one occasion for women and five or more drinks on one occasion for men.
People who binge drink are at higher risk for injuries such as car accidents, falls and drownings. In addition, a large amount of alcohol consumed at once stresses (people’s) organs more than if the drinks are spaced out over time.
There is a third consideration, which is whether the individual has alcohol use disorder. This is the most common substance use disorder in the US, with nearly 29 million adult Americans meeting the criteria for diagnosis.
There are several keys to diagnosing this condition. One of them is loss of control — for instance, someone who cannot stop drinking once they start or otherwise cannot control how and when they drink.
Another is having difficulties fulfilling work, parenting and other important obligations. Individuals may also experience physical symptoms when they stop drinking, such as nausea, sweating and restlessness.
How can Sober October help people?
One way is by prompting people to assess how much alcohol they are really drinking. Some individuals may be surprised by how much they are drinking over the course of a week. Others may be prompted to assess their relationship with alcohol and what are the circumstances under which they drink, says Dr. Leana Wen.
Do they drink when they are depressed, anxious and lonely? Are they experiencing shame or loss of control over how much alcohol they consume? Is alcohol use accompanied by other drugs? These are warning signs, and people should seek further help from their primary care provider.
Who should try Sober October? And who shouldn’t?
According to Dr. Wen anyone who drinks alcohol can try Sober October. They may find that they have a healthy relationship with alcohol. They may find that there is an issue they weren’t aware of before. They may also discover that they don’t have a problem, but they feel better after drinking less and are happy with the money they are saving on alcohol.
People who experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop drinking should seek medical assistance to help them quit. For these individuals, suddenly stopping could be dangerous.
