“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
4 affiliations
- 1Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine
- 2Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale University School of Public Health
- 3New York University
- 4Yale University
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.
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BibTeX
@article{cano2026long,
title = {{“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}},
author = {Monique T. Cano and Oscar F. Rojas Perez and Li Yan McCurdy and Colleen Mistler and Jordan Paris and Alexis Ramirez-Hardy and Lisa M. Fucito},
journal = {Frontiers in Psychiatry},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1981903},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1981903/full},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - “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
AU - Monique T. Cano
AU - Oscar F. Rojas Perez
AU - Li Yan McCurdy
AU - Colleen Mistler
AU - Jordan Paris
AU - Alexis Ramirez-Hardy
AU - Lisa M. Fucito
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/19
JO - Frontiers in Psychiatry
DO - 10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1981903
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1981903/full
AB - 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.
SN - 1664-0640
ER -