A Danish YouTuber says she was judged by peers for taking Antabus, exposing a stigma around alcohol dependence among younger adults even as TV 2 reports that around 27,000 people were in alcohol treatment in Denmark in 2023.
Sophia Emilie Brown posted about her alcohol problem on social media and faced a reaction she had not expected. Other young people told her she could just drink a single glass or simply avoid going out. The 27-year-old says those responses show that many people misunderstand what dependence actually means.
Brown says she has been taking Antabus for two months. The medication makes you physically ill if you drink alcohol, effectively removing the choice. She told TV 2 that it gives her control over something she otherwise cannot manage.
Antabus Is One of Several Alcohol Treatment Options
According to figures cited by TV 2, around 12,000 people in Denmark had a prescription for Antabus in 2023, while roughly 27,000 people were in alcohol treatment that same year. Antabus is one of several treatment options available, alongside counseling and other medical approaches, and not everyone receiving treatment is prescribed it.
Supply is also a documented challenge. The Danish Health Authority has warned of prolonged supply difficulties with Antabus, meaning the medication is not always straightforward to obtain. Against this backdrop, peer assumptions about who takes it may be poorly aligned with the practical realities of access and use.
Stereotypes About Who Develops Alcohol Problems
Brown says she does not match the image many people have of someone with alcohol dependence. She functions in daily life and maintains a public profile online. That discrepancy between perception and reality is precisely what delayed her own help-seeking.
She stayed sober for nine months before relapsing. Her parents found around 30 vodka and wine bottles in her apartment, along with accumulated food waste. Her mother then moved in for several weeks and helped get her into treatment.
Average Wait Before Seeking Help Is 11 Years
As reported by TV 2, the average person with alcohol dependence waits 11 years before asking for help. That figure reflects not just individual denial but also the social invisibility of the problem among people who do not fit the stereotype. TV 2 also reports that it can take five to ten years to develop dependence in the first place.
Bjarne Stenger Elholm leads Alkohollinjen, a free and anonymous counseling service for health issues related to alcohol. He told TV 2 that role models are important because many young people have heavy drinking habits but few under 25 have developed actual dependence. That makes younger cases harder to spot and easier to dismiss.
Social Drinking Norms Make the Line Harder to See
For internationals in Denmark, the story highlights a broader challenge. Social drinking is deeply embedded in Danish culture, from Friday bars to canal-side beers. That environment can make it difficult to judge when consumption has crossed into dependence.
The help route Brown describes is a Danish national service. Alkohollinjen is reachable at 80 200 500, but the article does not specify whether English-language support is available. Brown also worked with her own doctor, who prescribed Antabus after repeated setbacks.
Why Openness Matters
Brown says she went public because there is nothing shameful about having an addiction. She told TV 2 she wants to remove the stigma so others feel less alone. Elholm agrees that visibility from people who do not fit stereotypes can change how younger adults approach help-seeking.
The peer judgment Brown faced is not organized opposition. It reflects everyday skepticism rooted in outdated assumptions about what dependence looks like. Experts such as Elholm warn that such judgment can discourage others from seeking help until the problem becomes severe.
Treatment Does Not Require Looking Ill
The practical takeaway is that functioning in daily life does not rule out dependence. Brown’s account shows that family involvement can be decisive and that treatment pathways are accessible through standard healthcare channels. The services described, including Alkohollinjen and GP-based treatment, are national; internationals registered in the Danish healthcare system can generally access similar routes, though the article does not address eligibility in detail.
Denmark permits retail sale of most alcoholic drinks from age 16, and alcohol is woven into social life from an early age. That context may shape how peers respond when someone their age seeks formal treatment for dependence. Brown’s story suggests that disclosure itself carries a social risk, and that reducing stigma requires visible examples from people who challenge the stereotype.
