Alcohol Moderation Treatment Works

04 Ott Alcohol Moderation Treatment Works

Learning to drink in moderation can be the goal, or it can be a way station on the way to abstinence. Once you are able to allow yourself some alcohol in controlled circumstances, you may ultimately choose to give up drinking entirely. This suggests that the field as a whole needs to get past this argument. The question should no longer be whether moderation treatment should be an option but rather what treatment offers the best outcomes for those seeking moderation. With the aid of medications like naltrexone and more, we can get substantial improvements in drinking behavior even if we don’t achieve abstinence. This suggests a lot of drinkers out there could possibly benefit from alcohol moderation, so long as they are able to control their drinking.

• In reality, moderation can be even harder than abstinence as it can take as much, or perhaps even more, willpower to stop once you’ve already started.
• This program is the predominant recovery method in treatment centres all around the world (interestingly around 90% of centres in the US).
• I think the findings are incredibly interesting and I hope you’ll think so too.
• You don’t have to attend AA meetings and introduce yourself as an alcoholic, and you don’t have to answer questions at parties or social gatherings when people notice you aren’t drinking.
• In team Thrivalist we, therefore, have one moderate-drinker and one non-drinker.

Another possible option is using medications such as naltrexone or disulfiram along with psychotherapy. You may be able to gradually decrease the amount you drink without needing to go for full abstinence from alcohol. Moderation can open a window for you to defuse the emotional challenges that create the craving for relief that alcohol provides. 12-step programs alone do not usually address the underlying need that’s been suppressed through alcohol.

Diet, Chronic Pain and Addiction

She liked to have a couple drinks with him on some evenings and felt he could manage it. The problem, she explained, was that every so often he drank more than two drinks and lost control over his alcohol intake. In those times, he would steal her son’s ritalin, a stimulant prescribed for Attention Deficit Disorder and for which her husband acknowledged having trouble. Join the best rehab center today, if you want to say ‘goodbye’ to drinking completely. While achieving moderation is possible, the reality is that most recovering alcoholics will choose the abstinence route. Staying away from alcohol entirely is one of the best ways to prevent a relapse.

• It is clear from looking at the research that if you want to increase your odds of success, abstinence is the way to go.
• However, it’s important to note that abstinence can also have negative consequences.

If this is how you feel, commit yourself to being open to new ideals and beliefs that may result in a healthier and more fulfilling lifestyle. Sara explained to her therapist that she didn’t think she could quit drinking altogether. When out for a nice dinner or attending a get-together, she still wanted the freedom of having a drink or two. Her counselor agreed that limiting her drinking could be a good solution and they set a goal for Sara to cut back her consumption to these special occasions only. A moderation approach may be recommended for those who prefer a gradual approach to progress.

Why likely over 50 Percent of World Economic Forum Attendees Struggle with an Addiction

It creates awareness around their using in general, and may well signal to them that their alcohol or drug use is playing a larger role in their lives than they would care to admit. And this awareness is generated without judgement from their entourage, but rather through self-observation. However, in the end, almost 30% of those who start a Moderation Management program move toward a complete abstinence program to manage their alcohol addiction. Our last few blogs have discussed my experience reintroducing alcohol and successfully moderating after an extended period of abstinence, and Lucy’s ongoing commitment to abstinence. In team Thrivalist we, therefore, have one moderate-drinker and one non-drinker. When you surround yourself with others who moderate their drinking, it’s much easier to moderate your own intake.

However, moderation could also be a way to wean yourself off a chemical or psychological dependence. The idea is that there will come a point where you’ll be able to retake control of your life. Even if you think you will only have a little bit of alcohol, the act of drinking can be a trigger for your mind, and you may end up drinking heavily without planning to. One of the best ways is to remember why you are making the commitment. The consequences of using should be remembered, not with a guilty conscience, but in a realistic portrayal of why you have chosen sobriety.

Are You Using Alcohol to Cope with Back-to-Normal Anxiety?

It’s critical to identify your situation and make a decision to stop drinking before determining whether to start a moderation-based or abstinence path. It’s crucial to keep in mind that all those who are considering these strategies need not necessarily suffer from alcohol use disorder. Such reductions are very often the goal of treatment and as such, show some possible promise for the treatment of individuals with alcohol abuse problems. In the end, the debate around moderate alcohol consumption vs abstinence is likely to continue. While there are benefits and risks to both approaches, it’s up to each individual to make the choice that’s best for their own health and well-being.

Treatment professionals can advise if supervised detox is required, and provide next steps tailored to your needs. The choice between harm reduction vs. abstinence is most often made by an individual after careful controlled drinking vs abstinence reflection and introspection. This can include thinking about your common patterns and learning styles. Are you someone who likes to ease into things, or do you prefer an all-or-nothing approach to change?

Maintaining abstinence and focusing on building relapse prevention skills are vital strategies to sustain long-term sobriety. However, it’s important to note that abstinence can also have negative consequences. For example, it can lead to social isolation and a lack of enjoyment in social situations where alcohol is present.

There is a feeling of freedom that results from this commitment where one does not feel hopeless or without choices. Combined with a consistent and aggressive disputing of urges to use, most find their messages to use either decrease to nothing or become infrequent and easily handled. It may not be easy to see now, but your life can be restored to where you are in control, your addiction and the urges will recede to an unpleasant memory.

Loneliness as a Trigger for Relapse after Drug and Alcohol Treatment or Rehab

Moderation Management is a well-known behavioural change program in the harm reduction field. It defines a moderate drinker as a person with the following characteristics. It’s also important to know that you can change certain circumstances, and therapy can aid in helping you set boundaries that empower your progress. While your relationship with alcohol is entirely personal, reflecting on outside influences can be helpful when considering the relative benefits of sobriety or moderation. These influences may include family dynamics, workplace culture, friendships, strained relationships, and lifestyle elements.

Chemically, their brains have become so altered that the very thought of alcohol triggers cravings beyond control. Though they can learn to live a clean and sober life by making different choices, many have found after relapse that the myth of having “just one” or being able to control their drinking is nothing more than a myth. The question of “Abstinence vs. Moderation” is one that some people contemplate daily, but that many others have never considered.