“Moderate consumption” is limited to one to two alcoholic drinks per day for healthy men and one alcoholic drink per day for healthy women. One drink is equivalent to 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits. Realize Recovery works with all clients regardless of which approach they prefer and can help you or your loved one sift through the pros and cons of each approach based on their unique experiences. There are interventions and methodologies that can be implemented to test and experiment with moderation if one so chooses to take that route. We are not here to tell anyone what to believe or how to live their life, rather we work within your values and help each individual to come to the best conclusions for themselves. According to the vast majority of addiction studies, of the various factors leading to substance abuse, stress and trauma are right up there. And just as we each had a different drug of choice, we each took a different path out.

The idea is to teach problem drinkers more responsible drinking habits so that they don’t devolve their habits into all-out alcoholism. In general, heavy drinkers who are physically addicted to alcohol and/or those who have suffered serious alcohol-related problems are better off not drinking at all, as moderation is less effective. It is also not intended for formerly dependent drinkers (i.e., alcoholics) Sober Home who have been abstaining. 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. There are many different pathways to success, and the key lies in finding which particular pathway works best for each person.

Connecting veterans with medication for opioid use disorder: Are we doing better or worse?

Of those who were engaged in non-problem drinking a year after the study began, only 48% reported non-problem drinking or abstinence at later follow-ups. At our Ohio residential treatment center, we understand that relapse is often a part of recovery and are here to help you wherever you may be in the recovery journey. Contact us today to learn more about us at Vertava Health Ohio and take a step toward life-long recovery. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism 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. 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.

A balance of both experiences has proven to be a powerful tool. Drinking goal selection in behavioral self-management treatment of chronic alcoholics. The person who drinks 3 to 4 drinks per night might commit to the principle of abstaining from alcohol during the week. Now, if he drinks three to four drinks on Friday and Saturday, he has decreased his alcohol use by 70% and is within the CDC’s recommended limits for men. The female who binges one night each week might commit to drinking no more than 3 drinks on any occasion. Now she has eliminated binge drinking and the acute and chronic effects that often accompany it. The founders of AA suggest that attempts at moderation provide the best litmus test for alcoholism. In their view, drinkers that are able to cut back without abstaining are not alcoholics because they haven’t become powerless over alcohol.

Why Can It Take People So Long To Realize Their Drinking Is Unhealthy?

Still, Kern says most of the drunk-driving schools in the state automatically send people to abstinence programs (typically Alcoholics Anonymous or the non-religious version, Smart). MM began to add more in-person meetings and last year, the organization launched a campaign around Dryuary, encouraging people to take the month of January off from drinking. Adi Jaffe, Ph.D., is a lecturer at UCLA and the CEO of IGNTD, an online company that produces podcasts and educational programs on mental health and addiction. In case you’ve never heard of Moderation Management , you should check out their website.

These programs are based on the belief that people can change their drinking behaviors. Moderation is an alternative that works better for some people. 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 consequences. Some are even able to relearn moderate drinking after abstinence. Following that logic, it makes a lot of sense to me to include the idea of moderation as another option in the addiction treatment arsenal.

Studies have shown that in some cultures there are a small percentage of people who can return to moderate drinking. Attempts at moderation may not be worth the effort or the risk when considering the consequences. If your own life has been a mess because of your addictive behavior, why chance it? While she attempted to achieve lasting sobriety in AA, she killed a man and his son in a drunk driving accident. She spent some time in prison and never fully recovered abstinence vs moderation from alcoholism. Treating alcoholism by stages might prevent many people from progressing to more severe and debilitating stages of the illness. Moderation management has been found most successful for those who have a problem with drinking but who do not meet the criteria and have not been diagnosed with moderate or severe alcohol use disorder. For years, the answer was assumed to be no, there is no room for “just one drink” for anyone with a drinking problem.

Join me today as I share my viewpoint on abstinence and moderation when it comes to changing the habit. Another woman nearly started to cry when talking about issues with her son, her marriage, and her stressful job. She said the only thing getting her through was the bottle of wine she drinks every night. She’d had a few occasions recently where she blacked out from drinking, then spent days in bed depressed. The group gave her ideas for ways she could take a few days away from all of it – the stress, the husband and the drinking – and suggested more therapy to deal with the psychological triggers of her drinking and depression. As such, I think these results are very encouraging in terms of offering another possible solution for individuals who are looking to reduce their alcohol consumption and the problems that keep creeping up along with it. Lastly, this being a study, it is very possible that participants were better motivated, more informed, and more likely to put in the effort required to use the moderatedrinking.org program. Future work would need to assess the effectiveness of this tool in the field without such interference. Research shows that moderate drinking can work for those who abuse alcohol. There is no guaranteed “safe” level of drinking that will cause no harm.

Set Attainable Goals

A heavy drinker who is moderating their drinking will typically feel like they are breaking a bad habit. If the attempt doesn’t feel like dieting or exercise, it’s probably not an honest attempt. However, once we adhere to a new behavioral principle for a significant period of time, we tend to re-habituate. The person who drank alcohol daily but now abstains during the week may eventually stop thinking about alcohol abstinence vs moderation during the week. The person who binged on the weekends but now drinks moderately may eventually get accustomed to that change and have a decreased urge to over-drink. MM asks participants to take a realistic look at their drinking patterns and reasons for drinking. Some treatment programs teach problem drinkers to reduce their drinking. This approach appeals to people who otherwise might not seek treatment.

It is a controversial method as opposed to traditional ones as effectiveness has not been established. It can work in open-minded persons, and curbs addiction through a focus on substance abuse patterns such as why and when a person indulges in these substances. Nevertheless, the moderation method has a high chance of substance abuse relapse. This is a confidential education program that helps people with mild to moderate alcohol problems reduce or stop drinking. It is not for those who have a severe alcohol addiction and need treatment approaches rather than educational ones.

Difference Between Abstinence and Moderation

You can receive 24/7 text support right away and at your convenience. There is no obligation to enter treatment and you can opt out at any time. Needs to review the security of your connection before proceeding. A score between 8 and 18 indicates you are drinking above relatively healthy levels. Drinking in moderation means you’ll likely need to turn down a drink now and again. Planning exactly how you’ll say no—in a quick, polite, and convincing way—can make it easier for you to stick with your convictions and avoid a spiral of uncomfortable excuses. Verywell Mind’s content is for informational and educational purposes only. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

It helps to reveal the nature and extent of your attachment to alcohol, including the degree to which you rely on chemically altering your mood to cope with stress and other negative emotions. Are not currently grappling with severe life problems such as divorce, job loss, bankruptcy, debilitating or life-threatening medical illness, death of a loved one, depression or other psychiatric illness, etc. Overall, approximately 25% of those who tried moderation with this program ultimately switched their goal to abstinence. Want to cut down on your drinking rather than give up drinking completely? Dr. Elizabeth Klenk graduated from the University of Toledo with a BA in Biology and from the University of Cincinnati with a Master of Science in Biological Sciences followed by her MD. She was a hockey player and played goalie for several high level mens’ teams. Dr. Klenk also reads avidly and enjoys spending time with her children, playing music, hiking, and participating in cattle herding competitions across the country with her Border Collies. She lives on a working cattle ranch in Ohio with her family and is an active part of the farm in her spare time.

The only treatments that work are the ones that our clients can truly embrace and put to good use with optimism about making positive changes. The choice between harm reduction vs. abstinence is most often made by an individual after careful 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?

• She’d had a few occasions recently where she blacked out from drinking, then spent days in bed depressed.
• Treating alcoholism by stages might prevent many people from progressing to more severe and debilitating stages of the illness.
• Even people who are really into it don’t go to meetings all the time.
• We encourage you to take the Alcohol Self-Assessment Tests on this website to start developing a better perspective on your drinking behavior and whether abstinence or moderation might be best for you.

With the Sinclair Method, Revia or Vivitrol must be taken one hour before drinking alcohol. Once you start drinking, you may not be able to predict or control how much alcohol you’ll end up consuming. You may quickly forget the downside of drinking, including the hangovers, blackouts, upset stomach, and remorse the day after. You may experience withdrawal symptoms when trying to reduce alcohol. Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Take our short alcohol quiz to learn where you fall on the drinking spectrum and if you might benefit from quitting or cutting back on alcohol.

You also don’t need to have a clear understanding of your goal to start making progress. A sober lifestyle is something to be proud of, and the team at Monument is here to provide answers and encouragement throughout your journey. First, let’s dive into the difference between abstinence and moderation. Any of these conditions suggests it would make sense to stop drinking. A. You are not taking a medication that is made dangerous or ineffective by Alcohol. Possibly, but one will benefit from being on guard for them, as they can reappear years later. Be ever vigilant, but ever hopeful and know that you can control your outcome; the choice is yours.