Moderation Management is a well-known behavioural change program in the harm reduction field. It defines a moderate drinker as a https://ecosoberhouse.com/ person with the following characteristics. However, in the end, almost 30% of those who start a Moderation Management program move toward a complete abstinence program to manage their alcohol addiction.

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The severity of your addiction is a critical factor in determining whether abstinence or moderation is the most appropriate approach for you. If your addiction is severe or life-threatening, complete abstinence may be necessary to protect your health and well-being. On the other hand, if your addiction is less severe or at an earlier stage, moderation may be a more feasible option. Consulting with a professional addiction specialist can help you evaluate the severity of your addiction and guide you in choosing the most suitable path to recovery.

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Moderation, in the context of addiction recovery, is an approach where you aim to establish a healthier relationship with the addictive substance or behavior, rather than eliminating it entirely. This method acknowledges that for some individuals, complete abstinence may not be a realistic or necessary solution. By practicing moderation, you strive to set boundaries and develop self-control, allowing yourself to indulge in the addictive behavior within predetermined limits. You have experienced enough consequences in your day-to-day life that nobody needs to tell you that they are tired of your addictive behavior.

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• The Bluffs is a private alcohol, substance abuse and mental health treatment facility located in central Ohio.
• This individual enjoys the effect produced by alcohol – just as the alcoholic does.
• It also helps to establish whether Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is present and within that, the severity of the condition (mild, moderate or severe) through an analysis of symptoms over a 12-month period.
• From a health perspective, complete abstinence is recommended for certain populations.
• For individuals with severe alcohol use disorder and possible physical alcohol dependence, quitting cold turkey can cause withdrawal symptoms that may be dangerous or even life-threatening.

Alcohol moderation also sometimes thought of as controlled drinking involves careful monitoring of alcohol consumption to try to avoid problematic drinking. The idea behind drinking in moderation versus abstinence is that some people may not want complete abstinence from alcohol. While not as popular traditionally for treatment, the alcohol moderation movement has grown recently, and moderation management programs are on the rise. This model can be a type of harm reduction strategy for someone who is unwilling to give up alcohol completely but trying to decrease the amount and frequency of their intake. This may also be the approach for heavy drinkers looking to cut back, Sobriety but there are some concerns with this approach to alcohol recovery for those with alcohol use disorders.

• Empowering patients to set goals that resonate with their needs and that they feel are right for themselves, naturally increases their motivation to work towards those goals.
• To begin with, we know that the best way to break a severe addiction is moderation management from using substances because this will be the most comfortable, most effective, and safe way to do so.
• Ideally the client will develop a toolkit of strategies to facilitate the behaviour changes.
• Many people think that abstinence is the only solution for problem drinking.
• The choice between harm reduction vs. abstinence is most often made by an individual after careful reflection and introspection.
• Additionally, moderation can be a slippery slope for some alcohol drinkers.

They looked at demographics—who attends AA versus who attends MM—as well as the relative severity of the drinking problems in the two groups. NIAAA explains in great detail how alcohol affects your brain and the stages of the addiction cycle. For people choosing recovery, alcohol abstinence is preferred to not only help the brain and body break chemical dependency but also to encourage a shift in behavior and emotional regulation. Even small amounts of alcohol can act as a trigger, making moderation an unrealistic or unsafe goal. Abstinence helps maintain stability and reduces the risk of relapse.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) undertook research in 1996 with 1,490 heavy but non-dependent drinkers at ten differing locations across the world who had each received a short intervention relating to alcohol. The group was monitored nine months after receiving the support and information and it was discovered that the group had managed to curtail their consumption by one third. I have reviewed many other books to help you cut down on alcohol here if you are interested to see my favourite. The Reframe app equips you with the knowledge and skills you need to not only survive drinking less, but to thrive while you navigate moderation vs abstinence the journey. Our daily research-backed readings teach you the neuroscience of alcohol, and our in-app Toolkit provides the resources and activities you need to navigate each challenge.