Comments on: Alcohol Moderation or Abstinence?

By: Resn8r

Resn8r — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 22:47:40 +0000

Eh – it swings both ways. Some people can be alcoholics and learn to control their drinking to the occasional drink, some can’t. It’s not always all-or-nothing, but it may be the wisest choice for some people to avoid it completely. For every argument one way, there is at least some evidence the other way.

By: delta

delta — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 18:39:35 +0000

I think if you have or had a problem with alcohol, you should seek help and try to stay away from it.. as hard as it may seem.

By: Alysson

Alysson — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 22:17:24 +0000

Thats great thinking, Delayna, but unfortunately that doesn’t work for everyone. And besides, drinking can become a problem if you don’t stop and realize that you are drinking for that feeling.

By: Delayna

Delayna — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:11:57 +0000

I agree that a person dependent on alcohol, is not going to stop and just one or even two drinks.. I don’t have a problem with alcohol.. but I know if I have a drink, I am going to want another. I keep telling myself mentally that once I have my last drink, it will take about an hour to fully feel the affect of it and there is no sense in having another one.. This may not be true or affective for the alcoholic, but I feel if I mentally remind myself of the affects of it, I don’t have to have another…

By: Jeanette

Jeanette — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 12:40:40 +0000

As a therapist in an outpatient drug treatment facility I have seen it go both ways. There are some people who can still handle the occasional social drink while there are others for whom this would raise huge challenges. Personally I tend to err on the safe side and caution all of the patients there that perhaps there are other things they can do to unwind rather than through having a drink. You never what step may cause you to fall off the wagon for good so why even take that chance?

By: Rene

Rene — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 15:21:39 +0000

I agree with you Carson. Have a problem- no drink for you.

By: Carson

Carson — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 22:48:08 +0000

So what is the real definition of a problem drinker versus an alcoholic? To me it seems to be one and the same. I am of the opinion that if you have a rpblem with the stuff then you just don’t touch it at all and that would resolve a lot of your problems right there. End of that discussion. Why does there even need to be a question about it? It seems to me that there are more effective ways to deal with this issue than to just talk about drinking in moderation- you must don’t drink at all and find better ways to spend your time.

By: Jolyn

Jolyn — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 03:31:47 +0000

It seems there has been some misunderstanding of what the Harvard Newsletter suggests. As it says in the article above, “The authors explain that individuals who are alcohol dependent will probably not be able to control the drinking to that extent, and therefore, may realize their alcohol dependence and seek help.” They don’t say that people who have alcoholism will be able to control their drinking to one or two per day, but only that trying it and failing may convince some to seek treatment.

For people who are problem drinkers, but haven’t hit the point of alcoholism, limiting their drinking to one or two may be possible and help them avoid alcoholism.

I hope this is clearer.

By: Irena

Irena — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 17:59:42 +0000

As the wife of an alcoholic who has been through treatment and recovery more times than I care to admit, there is no way he can have just one or two drinks. This is simply not possible for him or for so many others who have an alcohol dependency. The only way he and others will ever be successful at curing their habits is complete abstinence. I am sorry if that offends some readers but having lived thru the nighmare of alcoholism I can honestly say that from my viewpoint this is absolutely true.

By: Kiera

Kiera — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 07:52:57 +0000

This is very encouraging as it becomes a huge headache around social events as it leaves a person in rehab with no choice but to avoid a social life. This is definitely a more acceptable and easier way of tackling the problem.

By: Jade

Jade — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 07:50:51 +0000

I do agree that this might prove more successful with getting rid of alcohol dependancy. However, the alcoholic must be able to accept the limit allowed like an adult. The most common problem with this is the 2 allowed drinks tend to become 3 and then by the end of the week it’s bottoms up!!! Violent behavior and erratic behavioral patterns need to be tackled simultaneously.

By: Margie

Margie — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 14:14:18 +0000

I can definitely see the logic in this research and the conclusions. Perhaps with those who are alcoholics it is like it is with many with food issues- tell them they cannot have something and they want it even more. But allow them to have what they want but in moderation and many find tremendous success in this. Of course it will not work for everyone but nothing ever does. But at least this may give some drinkers hope and not let them feel like such a failure in this one very controllable area of their lives.