Substance abuse studies have found that many people use alcohol to cope with the stress of modern life. The demands of work, family and finances can be unrelenting, especially for people who have little social support. Natural disasters and other tragic events in the news add another layer of stress. Using alcohol to relax and “get away from it all” can be safe in moderation, but attempting to deal with chronic untreated stress by drinking can lead to alcohol substance abuse problem will not eliminate problems related to stress and anxiety. Both problems should be treated at the same time in order to reduce the chances of alcohol abuse relapse.
