Last Updated on February 12, 2026
For too long, a pervasive misconception has shaped the alcohol treatment landscape: the idea that Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), or “alcoholism” as it’s still too commonly labeled, is a binary condition — you have it or you don’t.
For those who struggle with alcohol use, this misguided narrative goes, the only path forward is complete sobriety. For everyone else, drinking habits don’t need to be proactively managed because drinking “isn’t a problem.” The result of this widespread misunderstanding of AUD is a care model that’s entirely reactive. For the vast majority of cases, treatment is only initiated once problematic alcohol habits have become deeply ingrained. Once “you have it,” the condition is impossible to ignore.
Because we perceive AUD to be binary, we fail to detect risky behavior early, missing a huge opportunity to positively influence health outcomes for millions.
The idea that with Alcohol Use disorder, you either have it or you don’t has been socialized for decades, but it’s hazardously misleading. As with most areas of our health, the reality of AUD is much more nuanced.
The modern understanding of AUD classifies the condition on a spectrum, from mild to severe. It’s also clear AUD is a progressive diagnosis, meaning that dependence — and health and social consequences — tend to increase with prolonged alcohol overuse.
Practically speaking, that means that the longer we wait to initiate care, the more severe alcohol dependence becomes. And with increased severity, it becomes more and more difficult to break free from dependence.
Delaying or failing to initiate treatment until alcohol dependence becomes severe is simply bad medicine.
We see this frequently when it comes to accessibility of medication-assisted treatment for AUD, despite pharmacological options like naltrexone that are safe and effective for early intervention.
The evidence to this effect is clear. Of the 28M individuals with past-year alcohol use disorder, less than 3% were prescribed medication to address the biochemical side of their dependence.
The first line of defense when assessing alcohol use in the doctor’s office is too often to suggest AA or behavior change, with a focus on complete abstinence. Prescriptions are reserved for only severe cases. This is backwards.
Medication-assisted treatment plays a key role in this strategy. We built Sunnyside Med to increase access to medication, when clinically appropriate, paired with our proven behavior change program.
We prescribe medication as a first line of defense, because there’s no reason not to. We’ve seen firsthand that naltrexone can be a catalyst for long-term habit change. And the earlier we can help people get started on that path, the better outcomes we can achieve together.
Sunnyside uniquely addresses the early spectrum of need for AUD, filling a critical gap in the treatment landscape.
When we reject the false binary of AUD and embrace the need for support across the acuity spectrum, it changes the thinking on treatment. We move towards a prevention-first mindset. This is a shift in the AUD category that’s long overdue.
Get started on your mindful drinking journey with a 15-day free trial of Sunnyside.
What is Sunnyside?
Sunnyside is a mindful drinking and alcohol moderation app that can help change your habits around alcohol using a proven, science-backed method. Whether you want to become a more mindful drinker, drink less, or eventually quit drinking, Sunnyside can help you reach your goals. We take a positive, friendly approach to habit change, so you never feel judged or pressured to quit.
When you join Sunnyside, you’ll start by completing a 3-minute private assessment so we can learn a bit about you. Once that’s done, you’ll get a 15-day free trial to test out everything, including our daily habit change tools, tracking and analytics, community and coaching, and education and resources. It’s a full package designed specifically to adapt to your goals and help you reach them gradually, so you can make a huge impact on your health and well-being.
Sunnyside is a digital habit and behavior-change program that is incredibly effective on its own, but can also be the perfect complement to other work you’re doing to cut down on drinking, whether that includes talk therapy or medication such as Naltrexone.
Get your 15-day free trial of Sunnyside today, and start living your healthiest life.
