You don’t need to have a ‘rock bottom’ to seek treatment and community. Connecting with medical professionals and a peer support network can give you the tools to reach your goals, and set you up for long-term success. At the end of four to six months of treatment with the Sinclair Method, 80% of people who had been overusing alcohol were drinking moderately or abstaining entirely. It means you can enjoy an occasional drink while still reducing negative drinking behaviors, hangovers, and the risk of alcohol-related health issues. 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. Keep in mind, however, that no self-assessment test or quiz can substitute for a face-to-face clinical evaluation by a treatment professional.
Terms of Service apply.
Different people may be drawn to trying a moderation approach for a variety of reasons. For example, most college students don’t want to give up drinking altogether. But if they have a problem with alcohol, taking a harm reduction approach could be a constructive way to help them take a look at the negative consequences of their behavior and motivate them to make positive changes. Most people who seek out moderation management (MM) have already tried and been unsuccessful at stopping drinking or cutting down on their use.
Sign up to learn more
Many opt for water for their non-alc option (hydration boost!), but you can choose anything you’d like (bonus points for something without added sugar). It’s important to remember that alcohol addiction can have devastating impacts on the individual and their loved ones. People https://ecosoberhouse.com/ who battle addiction can hurt themselves, hurt others, damage their health, make irresponsible choices and even risk prison time or death. If you have a history of problems where alcohol is the root cause, it’s not the time to play around with new forms of treatment.
Risks of moderate alcohol use
People who choose not to drink make that choice for the same reasons. Knowing your personal risk based on your habits can help you make the best decision for you. “The fundamental issue is who is in the comparison group,” says psychiatrist Sarah Hartz of Washington University in St. Louis. In 2018, when Hartz and her colleagues compared thousands of moderate and very light drinkers (one or two drinks per week), the advantages of moderate consumption basically disappeared.
» Overall, approximately 25% of those who tried moderation with this program ultimately switched their goal to abstinence. Alcohol’s inflammatory effects are particularly pronounced in the gut, negatively impacting the intestinal lining and the balance of microorganisms making up the gut microbiome. The impacts of alcohol on gut health alone are significant because of its ripple effect—the microbiome is closely linked to brain health, immune health, gastrointestinal health, and much more. Unfortunately, the very program that Kishline created was one that worked for others but not for herself. She left the program when she realized that moderation was not something she could stick to. Kishline was an AA member for a while but sadly had a relapse and killed a father and daughter in a drunk driving accident in 2000.
By doing so, you may even identify triggers that cause you to drink—for example, certain social situations, stress from work, or even boredom. In the Sinclair method, the participant takes Revia or Vivitrol one hour before drinking. These medications minimize the endorphin release in the brain that usually accompanies drinking. Because this makes drinking less pleasurable, people are less likely to crave alcohol. Take some time to decide which days are OK to have a drink and which days are off-limits. Whether you carry a physical card in your wallet or use your smartphone, track your drinks to get a better handle on your consumption.
- Prof. Dr. Ulrich John and his team believe their research shows that the lower life expectancy for those who do not drink alcohol compared with those who do can be due to other high risk factors.
- You might think having a few drinks regularly is harmless, but even consuming alcohol in moderation carries some risks.
- However, when someone starts on a journey of sobriety, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are committing to a lifetime of abstinence.
- When it comes to your health, go with the method that has proven success.
- What’s less clear at this time, is whether it’s bad enough for everyone to avoid at all costs.
Our evaluation process will give you objective feedback about the nature and severity of your drinking problem and its impact on your life. And we will help you develop a more useful perspective on the problem. We will work collaboratively with you to formulate a treatment plan that is effective, feasible, and makes sense. We will discuss with you the pros and cons of abstinence and the pros and cons of moderation. And we will respectfully offer you our professional advice and recommendations.
An unique alternative to abstinence-only programs
In other situations, constant peer pressure to drink can be a cue to exit a situation early, and a sign that you should reevaluate who you’re hanging out with, or where you’re getting together. A “no” can also be communicated as an “instead of.” Instead of hanging out at a bar, why not take up another type of social activity? It allows you to define what you value from relationships with others, while you’re adjusting controlled drinking vs abstinence your relationship with alcohol. If a connection is what you’re after, choose an environment where your mood or personality isn’t altered by heavy drinking. It gives you a chance to embrace and show your true authentic self. » Follow-up studies as long as 8 years showed that the people who were most successful in maintaining moderate problem-free drinking were those with less severe alcohol problems at the start.
Alcohol use: Weighing risks and benefits
For a discreet, personalized treatment plan reach out to us by calling or by filling out the contact form and clicking send. The research team also observed a direct correlation between smoking tobacco and additional alcohol-related risk. The participants also ranked their overall health using categories ranging from poor to excellent.