How Social Media Influences Alcoholism

1. How Social Media Influences Alcoholism Is social media to be blamed for the increased number of patients at Luxury Rehab Centers Los Angeles? Nowadays everywhere you go, you can count on seeing someone glued to their phone – on the street, train or even a plane. We are living in what we like to call the digital age; meaning the internet, mobile devices and computers have become a major part of our lives. We’re constantly taking selfies, listening to music while Snapchatting, and uploading parts of our lives on social media and keeping track of others. It’s great to be able to connect with our favourite celebrities and people over the world, but it can also encourage bad habits such as alcoholism. The Influence of Social Media On Alcoholism Teens and young adults today love sharing the most exciting aspects of their lives on social media which majority of the times involves alcohol.Whether they’re re-enacting Beyoncé’s Cognac-soaked "Drunk in Love" music video or dancing to Brantley Gilbert

2. "Bottoms Up," many thrive off creating envy worthy lives through their social media account. Adding to this, Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat are already full of alcohol advertisements, typically showing young attractive people drinking and having a good time. Many big alcohol brands use social media as a medium to appeal to a younger audience, luring them to spend some of the best years of their lives in Luxury Rehab Centers Los Angeles. Party promoters use it to advertise upcoming events to their target audience and even restaurants use it to promote special drinks. It’s a convenient platform for people to find alcohol, drugs and the venues to enjoy them. Since many of us spend most of our days on social networks, whether at school or at work, it can have a great influence on our lifestyle. According to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, a study conducted by the CASAColumbia involving 12 to 17 year olds found that many kids today are exposed to drinking on social media. Half of the teens surveyed claimed to have seen images on Facebook, Myspace and other social network sites with “kids getting drunk, passed out, or using drugs.” The study found that teens who spend little to no time on social media are five times less likely to end up in a Luxury Rehab Centers Los Angeles. The shocking news is that half of these kids were exposed to pictures of people drinking and smoking on social media when they were only 13 years old or younger. Over 90 percent came across images of people who were intoxicated when they were just 15 years old or younger. Complicating things even more, those who are exposed to these images at a young age are more likely to upload risky images to their social media profiles depicting the same behaviour. Boundaries exist to prevent teenagers and young adults from being exposed to alcohol at traditional social venues, but on social networks it almost impossible to avoid ads from big alcohol brands. In addition to the fact that your friends may post pics showing off their weekend celebrations which may include tons of alcohol, many alcohol brands tend to target a younger audience on these social media platforms. It’s not unusual for you to be asked to like a photo advertising an alcoholic drink and it’s almost impossible for you to filter out these ads.

3. Simply put, social networks are the ideal place where alcoholic beverages are advertised, viewed and bought today. It’s Not All Bad There’s a positive side to everything and the same is true for social media networks. While it can be crowded with ads of alcoholic beverages and images of people intoxicated, it can also act as a hub for recovering addicts. According to The National Institute on Substance Abuse, “Social media has the potential to fill important gaps in our current understanding of tobacco, alcohol and drug use and to improve the efficacy of substance abuse interventions..” For instance, recovering addicts can access a plethora of information on these platforms about sobriety and staying sober. It can also help them to connect with inspirational people who are in a similar position. In fact, quite often there are free podcasts on Facebook as well as chat room meetings for people who want to connect with a group that can encourage them. If you’re a binge drinker or someone who has recently received treatment at a Luxury Rehab Centers Los Angeles, it’s not impossible for you to be sober online. You can

4. create a safe recovery space by befriending people who can help you along your journey to sobriety and help to promote prevention of alcoholism among young people. Share your story in a positive way and let’s start using our social networking powers for the greater good. Sources The National Institute on Substance Abuse: Using social media to better understand, prevent, and treat substance use The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse: 2011 National Teen Survey Finds: Teens Regularly Using Social Networking Sites Likelier To Smoke, Drink, Use Drugs Alcohol Research: Current Reviews: Influence of Social Media on Alcohol Use in Adolescents and Young Adults