But if you look at their drinking careers at a macro level, there are two characteristics that every alcoholic has. The first is that when an alcoholic starts drinking, eventually he or she will do way more than they intended to do. The second is that once they do in fact stop, they will drink again. A normal drinker can stop drinking alcohol at any time.
They might not even drink an entire glass of champagne at dinner. Or they might have two or three drinks. But once they are finished drinking, they will not obsess over getting more like an alcoholic. The normal drinker might not drink again for a couple of days, a couple of weeks, or a couple of months. Have you ever been around an alcoholic who has tried to stop drinking without any help? When someone is drinking in moderation, they are not drinking excessively. Minus Related Pages.
Alcohol consumption is associated with a variety of short- and long-term health risks, including motor vehicle crashes, violence, sexual risk behaviors, high blood pressure, and various cancers e.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Alcohol Use and Your Health. Arch Intern Med ; 22 Rehm J, Shield K. Alcohol consumption. World Cancer Report external icon. Department of Agriculture and U. Department of Health and Human Services.
Alcohol control efforts in comprehensive cancer control plans and alcohol use among adults in the United States external icon. Alcohol Alcohol ;49 6 A healthy dose of skepticism: four good reasons to think again about protective effects of alcohol on coronary heart disease external icon. Drug Alcohol Rev ;—4. Yes, this is an established fact supported by decades of scientific research showing that with proper help, many people with less severe drinking problems are able to cut down on their alcohol consumption and keep it within safer limits.
From a harm reduction perspective a modern alternative to the traditional AA-based abstinence-only perspective any steps taken to reduce the risks and harms associated with alcohol and other substance use are steps taken in the right direction. As part of the evaluation process, we help clients understand where they are in terms of the nature and severity of their alcohol problem and their chances of succeeding at moderation.
We explain the benefits of not drinking at all and routinely encourage all new clients to start with a period of abstinence, even if their ultimate goal is moderation. When given a chance to try moderation with professional support and guidance, clients either learn how to drink moderately or they learn that moderation is not realistic for them and that it might be better to stop drinking entirely.
Clients who choose abstinence after being unable to moderate consistently are often more motivated and personally invested in making abstinence work for them. Researchers at universities and medical schools in the United States and elsewhere e. Results of these studies can be summarized as follows:. As compared to alcoholics, problem drinkers usually have shorter histories of alcohol-related problems, more social and economic stability, and less severe consequences associated with their drinking.
Most problem drinkers do not drink every day and have not experienced major losses or other severe consequences related to their drinking. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism NIAAA and other public health agencies, there are at least four times as many problem drinkers as alcoholics in this country.
However, most alcohol treatment programs are designed for people with the most severe drinking problems. Now we know, however, that anyone who consistently and repeatedly drinks above certain limits is at greater risk for developing alcohol-related problems. We also know that there is a broad spectrum of alcohol problems that can vary in severity along a continuum ranging from mild to moderate to severe.
In other words, not everyone with an alcohol problem is an alcoholic. According to recent studies, problem drinkers most likely to succeed at moderating their alcohol intake are those who:. Although moderation may be a good starting point for many drinkers, it is not the best approach for everyone with a drinking problem.
People with severe drinking problems generally find moderation difficult to maintain and often do better with abstinence. No one solution is best for all problem drinkers. There are many different pathways to success, and the key lies in finding which particular pathway works best for each person. It is also not intended for formerly dependent drinkers i. Moderate drinking guidelines generally exclude individuals who are strongly advised by public health officials to not drink alcoholic beverages at all.
These individuals include:. As stated above, abstinence is the safest course for anyone who has developed a serious problem with alcohol. Taking a break from drinking for a few weeks or longer is also the best way to get started with moderation. Here are some of the reasons why:. We offer two types of treatment options for people who want help for drinking problems.
One option is abstinence-based treatment for individuals who have decided to stop drinking completely and want to stay stopped over the long term. The other option is moderation-focused treatment.
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