An Approach of Wellness and Prevention
We use prevention everywhere—except with alcohol, where we wait for crisis and call it a disease.
In most areas of health, prevention is the standard. We monitor for early signs of heart disease, screen for cancer, and intervene before mental health issues escalate. But with alcohol, we take the opposite approach: we wait. Part of the reason is cultural. For too long, we’ve framed alcohol use in binary terms—you’re either a “social drinker” or an “alcoholic.” This black-and-white thinking is harmful. It prevents us from viewing alcohol the way we do every other health issue—on a spectrum, with early warning signs and opportunities for prevention. Instead, we wait until someone hits “rock bottom” or checks the “alcoholic” box—then we act, often too late. We hide behind "moderate drinking" labels and false beliefs driven by outdated and harmful cultural and societal norms.
Alcohol use and abuse is not a binary. It occurs along a spectrum. And research points to upwards of 70% of adult drinkers who would register as mild or moderate on the Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) scale. Many people hover on that spectrum, living below their potential—navigating anxiety, fatigue, poor sleep, or low self-worth—without ever being offered support. Others may experience trauma or life changes that push them further toward the severe end. And yet, our systems and conversations rarely intervene until the damage is undeniable. Think about it: we don’t wait until someone has a heart attack to talk about lifestyle changes—we start the conversation when we see warning signs like weight gain or inactivity. Why should alcohol be any different?
Prevention means meeting people where they are—before the damage is done. Our approach focuses on education, self-awareness, and empowerment. We help people understand the full spectrum of alcohol’s impact and give them the tools to make informed, health-centered choices. This isn’t about judgment—it’s about creating a culture where we care enough to intervene early, where wellness comes first, and where people are supported in taking control of their own story.
