Last Updated on February 17, 2026
For too long, alcohol treatment has been stuck in a reactive, one-size-fits-all model that leaves too many without the help they need to avoid the negative consequences of long-term alcohol overuse.
The evidence is hard to ignore, with the NIH identifying a 10-year gap between the onset of alcohol dependence and accessing treatment. A “lost decade” of opportunity for preventive approaches.
With our recent launch of Sunnyside Med, pairing our proven behavior change program with medication for reducing alcohol cravings, we’re shifting the landscape towards a focus on early intervention and prevention.
Simply put, our goal is to close the 10-year treatment gap.
To do this requires a radical new approach that eliminates stigma and creates a welcoming, approachable front door for anyone who has the inkling they want to change their relationship with alcohol. An approach that meets individuals where they are, rather than assuming (or waiting for) rock bottom.
The language we use matters
As we usher in this new era of preventive alcohol health, the language we use matters. In our five years operating in this space, we’ve seen firsthand how alienating the vocabulary around treatment can be.
Labels like “alcoholic” and “addict” suggest an intensity that many in the early stages of alcohol dependence don’t resonate with. This makes it easy to overlook the early signs, or to put off seeking help. The result is that many wait until problematic drinking is “full blown” before they seek support, missing out on the opportunity to prevent the development of severe dependence.
At Sunnyside, we avoid labels entirely, instead acknowledging the signals that suggest a change would be beneficial for one’s quality of life. We help individuals identify when drinking is no longer serving them, regardless of the severity, and provide right-fit tools to help them make progress towards their goals. The language we use is optimistic, inclusive and inviting.
The issue with traditional “recovery” language
When alcohol dependence is categorized as a “disease that we’re powerless against”, the unintended consequence is that we remove individual agency from the equation. When sheer willpower and self-help programs are the primary tools available, it’s true that alcohol can be near impossible for some to control. But the landscape has shifted, and our vocabulary hasn’t kept up.
With modern tools like medication to quiet the voice of alcohol in our minds, we move towards empowerment when it comes to changing drinking habits. At Sunnyside, we address the biochemical and the behavioral factors that make alcohol cravings feel so dominant. We reject the notion of powerlessness and replace it with a path towards individual agency.
Even for those on the path to improvement are presumed to be broken, with words like “recovery” suggesting emergence from a broken state.
Towards a more inclusive lexicon
As we shift the landscape towards prevention, we open the door to celebrate wins on the healthier drinking journey in the same way we celebrate weight loss and fitness goals. We don’t need to assume someone has recovered from rock bottom, but instead that they are making strides to become the brightest versions of themselves, regardless of where their journey began.
Lastly, we come to the end state of the journey to a healthier relationship with alcohol. Even the word “sober” suggests solemnity. Defined as “to make or become more serious, sensible, and solemn.” It’s a one-size-fits-all end state that again suggests heaviness rather than levity and celebration.
At Sunnyside, we celebrate success even when it’s not so black and white. We recognize small steps along the way, and frame progress as the goal rather than perfection. For many, living an alcohol free lifestyle is the end goal, and we help them get there. For others, sustained moderation is realistic, and that’s just as much of a victory. What’s most important is that these accomplishments are viewed through a lens of what’s being gained, rather than what’s been removed.
Shifting towards prevention requires an inclusive vocabulary
When reflecting on the current vocabulary of alcohol treatment, it’s no wonder that those in the early stages of questioning their relationship with alcohol tend to go it alone. It’s not surprising that only 2.5% of the 28M with past year alcohol dependence in the US have access to proven medication for alcohol craving management.
The landscape is changing, and prevention will become the new norm. To accelerate progress in this positive direction, the language we use matters.
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.
