If you have health problems related to alcohol, alcohol abstinence vs moderation it may be unsafe to drink at all, period. In this case, abstinence is the best way forward for your health and safety. By quitting drinking completely, your body can begin to repair the damage caused by alcohol.

Borderline Personality Disorder and Addiction

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? If you lean towards gradualism, moderation may be a more comfortable place to start.

Understanding How Chronic Pain Impacts Mental Health

After two or three drinks, problem drinkers may feel great, which encourages them to drink more. However, after four or five drinks, they become sad and depressed, which compels them to drink more. 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.

• The difference is you work through the stages on a one-to-one basis with a counsellor, rather than in a group.
• To evaluate this question, it’s important to recognize that alcohol use disorder (AUD) is diagnosed on a spectrum, and can be addressed in different ways depending on the individual.
• The therapy may be your preferred treatment option if you feel uneasy or unwilling to discuss your problems in a group setting.
• Rehab facilities achieve this through random urine drug screens, group treatment programs, and care coordination.
• 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.
• 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 easily handled.

How Do you Handle Relapse after Moderation Management?

Even in these instances commitment to moderation is an important factor for success. She admitted she was dependent alcoholism symptoms on alcohol and started seeing a counselor. Still Behavioral Health Group is available 24/7 to discuss your treatment options.

The Pandemic-Push: Why are so Many People Suddenly Buying Pr…

Learn more about moderation with Ria Health, or find out how our program works. Sometimes, people https://ecosoberhouse.com/ without related drug addictions might inquire about naltrexone, a drug that can help block the pleasurable effects of alcohol and help reduce alcohol cravings. These types of medication-assisted treatments can help people achieve abstinence and eventually maintain their sobriety.

Most people need to seek help from treatment facilities to find the right treatment. Treating alcohol withdrawal and abuse problems will depend on the severity of their addiction. A specialist might recommend either an inpatient or outpatient setting. Other modalities will include individual counseling and support groups to encourage recovery. They drink too much but lose control of themselves after just one drink.