Years ago I went to the doctor because I was having constant panic attacks. The doctor told me that alcohol would make my panic attacks/anxiety worse not while I was drinking but the next day. I didn't drink daily at the time so I could see what this doctor said was absolutely true.

I'm not really sure why you and your son are seeing the same therapist. I understand there could be many reasons that this came about but it's really less than ideal in most cases.

It sounds like he's taking the generic version of buspar. I took that med and it increased my anxiety. Many antidepressants increase my anxiety, celexa (similar to lexapro) is one that does not. When I take antidepressants I become apathetic and am more likely to indulge in unhealthy things because I just don't care (it's a weird catch 22 where I feel less 'depressed' but unmotivated to do the best for myself).

I agree with others that the girlfriend buying him beer is messed up. If he's an alcoholic he may some nutritional deficiencies. An extra healthy diet may help just as much as an antidepressant. I recently read that yogurt helps with anxiety!!! The idea was that a lot of our neurotransmitters are made in our gut. I'm not saying meds are bad by any means or that buspar is making him drink again. I'm just noting that some of us, myself, have a hard time controlling anxiety with meds because many increase the anxiety at least in the beginning.