Abstinence vs Moderation for Those Addicted to Drugs or Alcohol
Our program offers expert medical support, recovery coaching, and a variety of tools and resources—all deliver […]
Our program offers expert medical support, recovery coaching, and a variety of tools and resources—all delivered 100 percent virtually. Learn more about moderation with Ria Health, or find out how our program works. It involves the use of medications like naltrexone which help reduce alcohol cravings. They’re able to enjoy an occasional drink while still avoiding negative drinking behaviors and alcohol abstinence vs moderation consequences.
Abstinence-Based Treatment
Another potential disadvantage of alcohol abstinence is that some may find it too restrictive and unsustainable. When the root cause of our drinking isn’t addressed, avoiding alcohol can backfire into binge drinking. Should we cut it out entirely, or is there a way to drink in moderation without adverse effects?
Why Detox Isn’t Enough to Cure Addiction
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 https://ecosoberhouse.com/ 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. You don’t have to live in a constant battle with these painful, nagging urges.
- As you embark on your recovery journey, it’s essential to acknowledge your unique needs and circumstances, tailoring your approach to best support your progress.
- While sobriety can be achieved by anyone, it’s important to check in with your healthcare provider before making significant changes to your drinking patterns.
- During it, you will learn about your drinking patterns and develop strategies to manage your drinking.
- Your unique circumstances, needs, and preferences will play a significant role in determining which path is best suited for you.
- Some people aren’t ready to quit alcohol completely, and are more likely to succeed if they cut back instead.
Reset Your Mind: Benefits of Inpatient Mental Health Care
If moderation is to be attempted a professional triage process seems to be advisable to ensure the client fits the mould of ‘problem-drinker’ rather than ‘dependant’. It additionally seems counter-productive to write off moderation strategies from the offset, especially for those who have not hit the infamous ‘rock-bottom’ as detailed in AA literature. Prominent psychologist Dr Stanton Peele and author of influential books and articles on the subject of alcoholism goes as far as to say abstinence is not only unworkable but immoral.
Struggling with an addiction?
This theory supposes that the common alcoholic — something 17.7 million people were classified as in 20125 — can manage their addiction by limiting how much and how often they drink. They should record their priorities and assess when, where, why, and how much they drink. Responsible drinking in the form of ‘non-abstinence’ treatment models may well prevent this ‘rock-bottom’ scenario from developing, and provide a powerful weapon in your treatment arsenal.
It shouldn’t be a challenge to enjoy a few beers at a barbecue or wind-down cocktails with friends after work. Unfortunately, many factors contribute to alcohol addiction, so some people are simply healthier if they opt not to what is alcoholism drink. However, there are other reasons to choose not to consume alcohol, which often helps reduce the stigma of being the only person not partaking. Being surrounded by people who encourage drinking or environments that celebrate alcohol can make it challenging for individuals to stick to moderation goals. Onetwo-partstudyinvolving “heavy problem drinkers” found that SMART Recovery reduced their alcohol-related problems and number of drinks per day, and increased their percentage of abstinent days compared to those who used another online recovery program. Arecent studyof people with alcohol use disorder showed tentative support for alternative programs to AA, including SMART Recovery, concluding that these alternatives show promise.
Lastly, you can join moderated alcohol support groups to get encouragement and gain accountability in a non-judgmental and secure forum. More people than ever are recognizing the negative effects of drinking alcohol and re-evaluating how it shows up in their life. As a physician on the Monument platform, I speak with patients every day who are looking to change their drinking habits in order to improve their health and happiness. Once they’ve decided they want to make a change, a question many people find themselves asking is whether sobriety or moderation is a better option for them. These answers will vary from individual to individual, and your choice of moderation vs. abstinence is a personal one.