Does Using Drugs Or Alcohol Mean I Have A Problem?

I've been doing a lot of social media posts lately advocating for sobriety: 

"Sobriety is awesome."

"Sobriety is the greatest gift you can give yourself."

I even wrote an eBook called Sobriety Doesn't Have To Suck!

However, it occurred to me the other day that I might need to make a clarification with regard to all this sobriety glorification:

The implicit intention when advocating for sobriety is that this is for people whose substance use is a problem. 

The problem is there's a whole heck of a lot of confusion over what it means to have a problem. And that confusion can cause a lot trouble when it comes to addressing a substance use issue:

• Arguments and power struggles (between the substance user and those concerned about them)
• Barriers to treatment or recovery
• Continued impairment

So I decided to make a short video where I give some pretty straight talk about exactly what we're talking about when deciding if someone's substance use is a "problem" or not. 

WATCH NOW: Substance Use Disorder: What Does It Mean To Have A Problem?

In this video you'll learn:

• Many people use alcohol or other mood-altering substances and don't have a problem.
• Having a "problem" most likely means the substance user has a diagnosable medical condition called "Substance Use Disorder."
• Substance Use Disorder does not mean "addiction." 

WATCH NOW: Substance Use Disorder: What Does It Mean To Have A Problem?

I hope you find this helpful. And as always, don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions!