‘Some days I am a lunatic that thinks I can moderate’: Amalgamating recovery and neo-liberal discourses within accounts of non-drinking among women active in the ‘positive sobriety’ community on Instagram in the UK

Atkinson, AMa; Meadows, Beth; Nicholls, Eb; Sumnall, Harry

doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2022.103937

Cited by 5 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 34 publications

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“…This serves to reduce the likelihood of sensory triggers. Despite this, many women preferred to consume no-and low-alcohol drinks from glasses that are traditionally used for alcohol in order to simulate feelings of, and associations with, sophistication, maturity, glamour and femininity that are typically ascribed to women's drinking practices [32][33][34] and reinforced by cultural references (such as Sex and the City [35,36]).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘It's kind of like weaning. I had to wean myself off of wine’: Navigating no‐ and low‐alcohol drinks as potential harm reduction tools and relapse triggers by women in recovery in the UK

Davey

2023

Drug and Alcohol Review

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IntroductionConcerns have been raised that consumption of no‐ and low‐alcohol drinks by those who are in recovery could lead to a relapse to past drinking behaviours. However, little is known regarding how individuals use these products to substitute alcohol and support their sobriety.MethodsThis article draws on an ethnographic study of women's experiences of recovery within online sobriety communities in which semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 25 UK‐based women. The dataset was analysed and coded from a pragmatist feminist standpoint using a grounded theoretical approach to specifically address the research question: ‘How do women in recovery navigate the protective and risk factors associated with no‐ and low‐alcohol drinks through practices of consumption?’ResultsWomen in recovery navigate no‐ and low‐alcohol drinks as potential harm‐reduction tools and relapse triggers by engaging in nuanced practices of substitution. Contrasting examples include direct substitution and temporary avoidance in early recovery.Discussion and ConclusionsSubstitution practices are informed by the temporality of participants' recovery journeys, the social situation, and the products. Participants selectively replicate and resist their former drinking practices to balance their perceived harm‐reduction benefits and relapse triggers of no‐ and low‐alcohol drinks. Important considerations are raised for those in recovery who may want to use no‐ and low‐alcohol drinks as a harm reduction tool, and for recovery modalities that promote them. It concludes with calls for more clarity regarding the definition and labelling of no‐ and low‐alcohol drinks, and for a greater understanding of their use across different recovery cultures.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%