Dr. Gabriel Rubio - El Alcoholismo y la Prevención de Recaídas

Dr. Gabriel Rubio - El Alcoholismo y la Prevención de Recaídas

Curious about how others navigate their sobriety journey? This conversation between journalist Juan Ramón Lucas and psychiatrist Dr Gabriel Rubio offers a clear, down-to-earth look at alcohol, addiction and relapse prevention, aimed at anyone worried about their own drinking or that of someone close. Rubio, catedrático de Psiquiatría y jefe de servicio en el Hospital 12 de Octubre, desmonta muchas ideas cómodas sobre el alcohol.

He explains that alcohol is "una sustancia que a casi todos les permite ser por un momento el otro o la otra que quieren ser" – the shy become outgoing, the insecure feel strong – and that this is exactly what makes it so addictive. The chat keeps circling back to one key warning sign: the moment someone starts drinking "para aliviar los estados emocionales negativos" is where the road towards addiction can begin.

You’ll hear practical guidance for parents on how to spot risky patterns in teenagers, like drinking to disconnect or to calm down, and how weekend bingeing can quietly evolve into much bigger problems. Rubio also talks about social pressure, drinking culture, and the role of social media in fuelling loneliness and addictive behaviours.

For those already struggling, Rubio breaks recovery into three demanding but hopeful stages: changing day-to-day habits, learning to manage emotions without alcohol, and, finally, rebuilding life around personal values – what he calls their own "mástil" to resist the "cantos de sirena" of relapse. He stresses the danger of the "ilusión de control" and warns families to be cautious with so‑called miracle cures, recommending trusted medical services and serious mutual aid groups instead.

If alcohol has ever felt like the only way to relax, fit in or feel "like yourself", this honest, accessible conversation might be the nudge to ask what you really want your life to look like.