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The Relationship Between Millennials and Alcohol
Millennials, also known as Generation Y, are people who were born between 1981 to 1996. Other generations include the Silent Generation, anyone born up until 1945.
Baby Boomers were born between 1946 and 1964. Generation X follows the Baby Boomer generation, identifying those born between 1965 through the early 1980s.
After millennials (1981-1996) came Generation Z and anyone born from 1997 to about 2010. After Generation Z, you have generation Alpha which is from 2010 to the present.
While the millennial generation has undoubtedly faced struggles with alcoholism, are their life experiences any worse or better than other generations? Here are some factors to consider.
Lifestyles – Lifestyles are different today than they were in previous generations and certainly are and will be in the generations to follow. All of our generations experience lifestyle challenges. Things that are acceptable today were hidden secrets in previous generations.
As each generation comes and goes, things often improve as a result of accepting the lifestyle choices people make. If anything, millennials are most likely at a significant advantage over previous generations, and the pattern of increased advantage will most likely apply to generations that come after them.
Despite the challenges millennials face, there’s no indication that their struggles are of any greater degree than prior generations. Alcoholism does not choose its victims by global or national circumstances; therefore, there’s no reason to believe millennials are more susceptible than any other generation before or after them.
Income – Every generation has suffered its challenges. Millennials have certainly gone through financial hardships due to our nation’s economic and cultural ebb and flow. This also parallels the silent generation, for instance, who faced the great depression and World War II, and the baby boomers who went through the recession of the early ’80s when mortgage rates were at all-time highs.
Even generation X felt the pangs of the financial crisis of 2008. All generations have their fair share of struggles that have directly impacted income.
Nobody can say there aren’t struggles for millennials. It comes down to how you cope and work through the struggles. Effects on one’s income and financial situation can be difficult regardless of generation. Today, it can be said that millennials are better off by way of resources to handle and cope with their struggles than previous generations were.
Social pressures – This is where you could concede that millennials and generations after may have a unique element that didn’t exist in the same manner or degree as previous generations.
Millennials may face larger challenges due to the advent of social media platforms and the greater acceptance of alcohol use coupled with peer pressure through these mediums. This still doesn’t negate the fact that, despite their unique place and time with modern technology, there are yet more resources available for support than with any generation prior.
The challenges that come with social media will also continue and likely evolve for generations to come. That being said, it isn’t what is happening around a person that is the issue; it is how the person is coping with it, which is the bigger picture.
Millennials and Alcohol Consumption – Is There a Shift?
Are millennials more affected by alcohol consumption than previous generations? There are too many other variables and factors for any study, to be exact. Alcohol and drug addiction, and even recovery, were far less socially acceptable in previous generations. Millennials and future generations may not experience as much shame when coming forward with their struggles with alcohol.
As previously stated, things people did in prior generations were seen through a different lens than today. Every generation has its strengths and weaknesses; therefore, the focus should be less on how millennials might have it more difficult and more on how they can utilize the resources and platforms for addressing their alcoholism more easily.
Alcoholism isn’t generational. Alcoholism does not target a specific demographic or generation in and of itself. Different demographics appear more affected, and the reasons run far deeper than the demographic itself.
What we do know about alcoholism is that it’s a coping mechanism for experiences that occur along with behavior and perception. It is believed that some are genetically predisposed to alcoholism and drug addiction as it is passed on from generation to generation.
Regardless of the demographic or generation, it is important not to try and find a workaround for your loved one and view them as terminally unique or a victim because of their birth year.
Accountability and ownership as to what one did or did not do are important parts of correcting a problem. Taking the opposite position could lead to enabling and comforting the person with alcoholism, believing they are only a victim of circumstance. Even if they were, would this belief and approach solve their alcohol problem?
Regardless of when someone was born, many people have problems and experience difficult struggles. People who search for information on alcoholism and millennials could be looking for an excuse for their loved ones or themselves rather than a solution.
Whether your loved one is a Baby Boomer, a Gen X’er, or a Millennial, there are real, practical solutions to alcoholism. Even if every research study showed that a particular generation was more affected by alcoholism, would it somehow fix or change the problem, and would viewing them as a generational victim offer a solution? Identifying a specific population that is more at risk for alcoholism and drug addiction could change prevention strategies, and by the time that happens, we will be two generations ahead.
Your millennial is not terminally unique because of their birth year. They will be in treatment, counseling, therapy, or a 12-step group with someone from every generation. And every one of them will have similar stories of how things in their life have affected them and led them to alcohol. Everyone has problems, and you either remain a victim, or you do something about it.
Millennial Drinking Trends vs. Other Generations
The problem with studies and trends is that they don’t tell the whole story or address all the causes and conditions. It is believed that millennials aren’t doing as well financially as previous generations. Although this could be true, the question is why? Is it simply because they are millennials? The answer is likely no. For the first time in history, we are starting to see a trend of downward mobility. This means children are not doing better than their parents, they are doing worse.
So what did our parents have that today’s generations do not?
We don’t know if there is one specific thing that could contribute to a simple answer. What we do know is the only person that can make a difference is the person.
Struggles are real, and they have affected every demographic and generation. When it comes to using alcohol to cope with those struggles, addressing the problem as a victim of circumstance will often take away accountability and the opportunity for an effective solution.
When people have challenges, regardless of generational identity, there are many ways to address them. Alcohol can alter perception and cause problems to appear smaller or greater than they actually are.
The common reality is alcohol is often causing greater problems than one’s distorted perception may realize. Consuming alcohol because you have lost a job or have to move back in with your parents will not solve your problems. People with alcohol use problems often play the victim and blame everyone and everything else for their struggles.
Taking ownership of the person’s role in the process can help them see things from a different perspective. This often leads to perseverance and another way of moving forward to address life’s challenges.
The only control we have is the control we have over ourselves. When we consume alcohol excessively and view life through the lens of a victim, we lose that control.
Social Media
The millennial lifestyle is undoubtedly different from previous generations. It is not uncommon to be working from home and have social media accounts while being urged to share your personal life publically.
As we stated while addressing social pressures for millennials, life is different today with having your life on display for all to see.
FOMO, or the fear of missing out, is real too. Social media accounts are filled with people posting pictures of themselves with things they are doing and places they are going. Whether the story on one’s social media account is accurate or not, it shames many into believing that their life is unfulfilling.
Many of these photos on social media paint alcohol as a great social lubricator – as if all the great things happening should involve alcohol. The social pressures to make someone feel they are missing out on life while having you dreaming of others’ lives can affect one’s self-esteem.
Remote Work
Working from home or working remotely can cause isolation. People need human connection and interaction. Hiding behind a computer screen while not being visibly accountable to others can cause the mind to lead to unhealthy habits and behaviors. This is not exclusive to millennials, either. Many people could be susceptible to this if allowed to isolate themselves from society.
Dating
The pressures millennials, as well as other generations, face are the changing dynamics of dating. What used to be meeting your partner or significant other at an event or local venue has gone digital, especially given all the phone applications and dating platforms now available.
With the prevalence of both online dating and social media, there’s the impression that if you aren’t frequenting these applications with regular success, there’s something problematic with you or your life, even though that isn’t the case.
Regardless of the struggle, it goes back to one question: Do I accept this, or do I do something about it? All of these challenges are real, and nobody would dispute that. The bigger question is, do you solve the problem by looking at it as a hopeless situation that can’t possibly get better?
Whether people want to believe this or not, you have two choices. You can lie down and accept it and complain about it, or you can do something about it. The choice is always yours, and those are your choices.
What is the Effect of Marketing Alcohol to Millennials?
As previously stated, social media can have a significant impact on how alcohol is portrayed. Social media can also affect one’s psychological state, which could lead them to alcohol to cope.
It is important not to blame social media either.
We all have our opinions and stories about social media. What is on those platforms is information. The liability falls on the person reading it and what they do with that information. If watching others pass you by in life on social media is too much for you to handle, then take yourself off social media. It all goes back to asking yourself, what are you doing to yourself to worsen the situation?
We always have a role to play in everything that happens. If you have a fear of animals, then it may be wise to stay away from the zoo or the wilderness.
As we continue to state, we know these struggles are real. The point is you can’t control social media. You can, however, decide whether to allow social media to control you.
Marketing is real, powerful, and effective. Alcohol is painted in a beautiful bright light. Whether on social media, television, etc., marketing can subconsciously change people’s perceptions. It goes back to the fear of missing out on concepts.
Advertising doesn’t just sell you their product; they help you feel that you can’t live without it, and if you don’t have it, you are less than. Like social media, you can’t change that. What you can do is change yourself.
Many millennials and other generations who struggle with alcoholism do so because of the way they feel. Part of a recovery program for alcoholism addresses perception, behavior, and past uncomfortable experiences. The problems discussed here are not new. They are constant reminders of something going on inside the person long before they go on social media or turn on the television.
To summarize the concept: social media may considerably affect people with little to no coping skills and little self-awareness of their character defects and shortcomings. A person who has coping skills and is aware of their strengths and weaknesses may be less affected. The problem is not the thing; the problem is when we let the thing control us.
A perfect example would be when someone says they have road rage. That is a false statement. People do not have road rage; road rage has them. In other words, they are allowing themselves to let others on the road dictate their behavior and affect them. They could change this if they wanted to by addressing the underlying issues of their anger.
Other people on the road are not their problem; the one with road rage is. If you are driving and think everyone drives terribly, you may want to reflect on your own driving and behaviors.
Millennials: Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Alcohol use and alcohol use disorder affects people from all generations. It is not entirely clear if Millennials are more or less affected than generations before or after them.
One thing to note is, on average, Millennials check their smartphones many more times a day than in previous generations. They also rely much more heavily on their smartphones and use them for reasons that may be much different than previous generations.
Social pressures and dependency on electronic devices can certainly contribute to those at higher risk of alcohol use disorder. One could argue that other generations also use their smartphone devices very frequently.
The most significant difference between Millennials’ use of smartphones and other generations would be the age at which they were introduced to them. Millennials would have been much younger when smartphones and social media platforms became widely available. A person from a previous generation who has matured may not be as affected by the social pressures as someone younger and more easily influenced or affected.
One of the most significant factors we see that are precursors to addiction are behaviors and uncomfortable experiences at an early age. Anytime someone is exposed to negative experiences, social pressures, or hardships early on, it can adversely affect the person psychologically.
When you factor in Millennials having significantly more screen time and access to social media that started at an earlier age, it could allow for a higher risk of addiction and alcoholism to Millennials later in life.
Regardless of the reasons behind alcoholism, it goes back to the solution to alcoholism. The reasons why are reserved for drug and alcohol prevention experts to help reduce the rates of people starting. Once they have begun, the question shifts to what we do now.
For the families of Millennials suffering from alcohol abuse, the answer is to learn all you can and start your recovery. For the Millennial with alcoholism, the answer is to begin the road to recovery that involves addressing their behaviors, triggers, and experiences that causes it to continue.
Is Genetics a Factor?
Genetics has always been the mystery of addiction. Many experts swear by it while others try to debunk it.
To date, there is no scientific proof that alcoholism or drug addiction is hereditary or genetic. You could argue that it is externally genetic, meaning it isn’t the actual DNA from your family that causes it but rather the family of origin beliefs and experiences that continue it.
Growing up in dysfunctional households or households where alcoholism exists can significantly contribute to others taking note and following existing patterns. Then there are the family systems that arise in homes.
Whether there is alcoholism in the family history or not, jealousy sets in once another child is born. The parental unit’s perceived lack of attention to the other children can make others believe they are not loved. And for the only child, if not given all the attention, they may feel they are not loved or worthy. They may develop wondering why they have no other brothers and sisters like their friends.
Whether or not it’s true, the child’s feelings and beliefs develop in the brain early on. Low self-esteem and a lesser sense of familial connection may play a factor. One could argue this comes from internal genetic factors, but does it?
Other Considerations
One last consideration that comes to mind is bullying. Bullying has been around for a long time, and it is nothing new.
The biggest difference today for many Millennials is that bullying didn’t stop when school was over. It, unfortunately, continued on smartphones and social media. Generations before would have had a reprieve from pressures at school when they arrived home.
For Millennials, when they came home, the bullying followed them straight there. We believe generations after Millennials will experience the same thing with even more social media outlets and advances in technology with smartphones.
As we have stated earlier, social media and smartphones are not the problems. They, in and of themselves, are not capable of this. It takes the person to commit the act.
You can teach children at an early age the risks involved with smartphones and social media and how to use both responsibly. I know many reading this may think it isn’t that easy, and they would be correct. The point is we can only do so much to protect our children from things that may negatively affect them. If they turn to substances to cope with their struggles, the family is often the first line of defense to step in and intervene.
Most people with alcoholism do not stop without a reason to do so. A family stepping in can reduce the risks of continued problems brought on by excessive alcohol use.
Recovery from Alcoholism and Drug Addiction is Possible
To date, nobody has cured alcoholism or drug addiction. To date, nobody has found the gene or the definitive reason behind what started it. What we do know today is many of the reasons that it continues.
- The five biggest reasons are the following:
- Early negative experiences
- Perception
- Behaviors
- Maladaptive coping mechanisms
- Enabling and codependency by the family
When someone feels a certain way or has developed certain behaviors and beliefs, they can often turn to an external pleasure.
When a person is incapable of feeling the way they want to or need to internally, they may turn to drugs and alcohol for external relief and pleasure. When it becomes a problem, there are solutions.
One of the most effective ways to help someone enter a drug and alcohol treatment program is intervention.
Intervention either happens naturally through consequences resulting from drug or alcohol use or through their family stepping in before those consequences become worse. An intervention will always occur. In other words, something has to happen and will happen for the person to consider a new direction. Unfortunately, many try unhealthy new directions as they cannot understand what the most effective path should be.
Recovery is possible, and people can overcome drug addiction and alcoholism. Most can use all the help they can get.
When a family learns how to approach the situation, having been guided by a professional, they allow themselves and the substance user the most significant opportunity for a successful outcome. The last thing a family would want to do with their loved one from the Millennial generation is to believe it is just a phase that will pass. It doesn’t improve the situation either to think they have been dealt a bad hand because they are Millennials.
Although we have established that Millennials have their challenges, there are effective ways to address their alcoholism or drug addiction.
Please let us know how we can help. We look forward to hearing about your current situation and providing any answers or insight we can.
An intervention is not about how to control the substance user; it is about how to let go of believing you can.
“The most formidable challenge we professionals face is families not accepting our suggested solutions. Rather, they only hear us challenging theirs. Interventions are as much about families letting go of old ideas as they are about being open to new ones. Before a family can do something about the problem, they must stop allowing the problem to persist. These same thoughts and principles apply to your loved one in need of help.”
Mike Loverde, MHS, CIP