Moderation or abstinence can be a viable tool for adapting ones’ relationship with alcohol when safely achieved. However, for heavy drinkers and those with an addiction, reducing the number of drinks they consume without supervised help can lead to unintentional alcohol withdrawal. Many treatment facilities and support groups aim to help individuals achieve and maintain long-term sobriety through abstinence. Alcohol addiction treatment programs can guide individuals through a safe and effective medical detox, followed by counseling that targets the reasons behind addiction.
Many people think that abstinence is the only solution for problem drinking. Abstinence means giving up alcohol completely, and it’s the foundation of traditional treatment options like AA and most inpatient rehabs. But alcohol misuse is not a one-size-fits all problem, and neither is its solution.
Alcohol Moderation Treatment Works
Yet the research on alcohol suggests that moderation may work for people with less severe addiction problems. Choosing total abstinence means you’ll encounter many social situations in which you’ll need to turn down a drink. It’s paramount that you have a “saying no to drinks” script that’s quick, polite, and convincing.
For many, a moderation approach to drinking is more realistic because it shows people how to learn to drink in moderation. However, anyone recovering from an alcohol use disorder knows how challenging moderation can be. After all, most of their triggers revolve around alcohol consumption, and having the possibility of relapse is too much of a burden. I can’t even think of how many times I’ve heard the notion that complete, total, abstinence should be the only goal for all people who abuse drug or alcohol. This idea is so pervasive that most addiction treatment providers actually expel clients for relapsing, a notion that makes no sense to me especially if you believe in the idea that addiction is a chronic disease.
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Addiction and Ultra-High Net Worth Families: the Best Treatment for Alcohol Addiction
Health experts have historically recommended abstinence for people struggling with chronic alcohol problems. I have reviewed many other books to help you cut down on alcohol here if you are interested to see my favourite. It is clear from looking at the research that if you want to increase controlled drinking vs abstinence your odds of success, abstinence is the way to go. And while neither path is easy, the abstinence road seems to offer less resistance. A study conducted at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden found that the Reagans of the world are more successful in treatment than the Saras.
Such was its popularity that SMART Recovery grew from 42 group meetings at the beginning to more than 2000 in North America alone today and now proliferating worldwide in 23 countries and counting. Regardless of your path, working with a physician and therapist can provide answers, reassurance, and guidance throughout the process. You also don’t need to have a clear understanding of your goal to start making progress. Get the help you need from a therapist near you–a FREE service from Psychology Today.
Spend time self-reflecting
Dominique Simon-Levine helps her assess this moment of incarceration—which could bring hazards or opportunities—and shares experiences from her own family and the Allies in Recovery community. The strategy was for her to remain engaged and rewarding for as long as he didn’t go over the two drinks. She would then remove rewards, disengage and allow natural consequences if she saw or sensed that he had drank more than two drinks or was using stimulants. If you suspect your loved one needs to abstain rather than moderate, but they are only willing to try moderation, this can still be beneficial. For some people, certain hereditary, familial, environmental, and relationship factors prevent them from achieving health. At Silicon Beach Behavioral Health, our mission is to ensure that every person can reach his or her full potential.
However, if you find yourself struggling with regulating how much alcohol you drink in a day or week, an abstinence-based approach may be necessary for changing your drinking habits. The goal of many treatment centers and support organizations is to assist people in achieving and sustaining abstinence-based long-term sobriety. The treatments meant for alcohol reduction helps individuals detox their body effectively and safely. The majority of facilities, including inpatient rehab centers, adopt a zero-tolerance policy, which forbids the usage of any drugs or alcohol. Sadly, alcohol detox is rarely enough to help someone achieve a long-lasting recovery.
Does Alcohol Help Anxiety?
Keeping alcohol in your life in a healthy way can be really challenging, especially for people who have exhibited more severe drinking habits and patterns. While moderation may be more achievable for those with a mild or moderate diagnosis than those with severe alcohol use disorder, it’s also a great starting point for those exploring making a change. With the support of an expert Care Team, many people begin their journey by gradually reducing their weekly alcohol consumption. The idea of moderation and mindful drinking is also a great way for people who are asking themselves “should I stop drinking?
Fortunately for me, I set up Alternatives with an entire data collection operation that allows me to look at everything from health to depression, anxiety, emotional well-being, family and employment issues, and more. Her grown son has moved back home and is using cocaine, alcohol, and marijuana — and angrily denying it. Our Allies in Recovery member wants peace for her family and healing for her son. To call the situation in this home stressful is a huge understatement. We help her sort through the challenges of her situation and offer guidance with communication using the time-tested strategies outlined in the CRAFT approach. Eliza’s son has struggled with substance use for years, and recently experienced a dangerous overdose.
How to Get Help for Drug or Alcohol Misuse
We look at each program on a case-by-case basis to cater to your needs to get better and walk towards recovery. From detoxification programs to group meetings and more, everyone in our team is committed to helping you win the struggle with addiction. The alcoholic, on the other hand, will not be able to quit despite consequences successfully. They will not likely be able to put down the drink for an extended period without professional intervention. These individuals know alcohol affects their personal and professional lives directly, but they can’t stop drinking. This individual enjoys the effect produced by alcohol – just as the alcoholic does.
- These answers will vary from individual to individual, and your choice of moderation vs. abstinence is a personal one.
- Alcoholics who have a clinically demonstrated inability to control their drinking are rarely able to develop a manner of living in which they are able to control their drinking.
- With the support of an expert Care Team, many people begin their journey by gradually reducing their weekly alcohol consumption.
- It’s normal for people to resist the idea of stopping drinking completely when they begin to realize that jobs, health or relationships are jeopardized due to a drinking problem.
- Here are additional reflection questions from a therapist to help you understand your own relationship with alcohol, and if moderation meets your needs and preferences.
After all, how many people who are dependent on alcohol take advice from anyone to abstain? It’s common that alcoholics who eventually accept treatment, do so because of some type of serious consequence of their drinking. The loss may be of a marriage, a home, a job, relationships with children, prison, serious health problems or something else. No one can say what will convince a particular dependent person to quit drinking, but advice is rarely a motivation. Learning for oneself that just a drink or two per day isn’t possible may provide an individual with evidence that he or she needs treatment. “Moderation” is a term that is often used to suggest that a person with an alcohol or drug problem does not really have to give it up but can “control” it.
