It may not be easy to see now, but your life can be restored to where you are in control, your addiction and the urges will recede to an unpleasant memory. You don’t have to live in a constant battle with these painful, nagging urges. First of all, as mentioned earlier, don’t make a commitment until you are firm in your path to sobriety. Second, realize a commitment to sobriety is not a commitment to be forever perfect. Before you consider that to be a SMART Recovery® license to relapse, it is not. The reality for alcohol addictions, for example, is that people have an average of two and a half relapses in their ultimate turn to permanent sobriety.

Why Abstinence Is Preferred in Addiction Treatment

Moderate drinking can be a form of mindful drinking, as we’re setting limits on how much we’re choosing to drink. There’s an episode in the TV series Friends where Chandler tries to quit smoking. His friends rally around him, offering alternatives and moral support to help him kick the habit for good. Yet in the background, Joey continues to puff away, confident in his ability to moderate.

Drinking in Moderation vs. Abstinence

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism explains in great detail how alcohol affects your brain and the stages of the addiction cycle. For people choosing recovery, 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. Abstinence helps maintain stability and reduces the risk of relapse, and is also advised when someone has SUD, as there’s a tendency to simply substitute one chemical for another. 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?

Treatment and mutual-help measures

It’s a healthy step in a positive direction, and is often achievable with medication. 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. Your personal beliefs and values play a significant role in shaping your approach to addiction recovery. For some, abstinence aligns with their moral or spiritual values, making it a more appealing choice. Others may view moderation as a more balanced and pragmatic solution, better suited to their personal beliefs.

However, by exploring these two methods and their definitions, it’s easier to work with your healthcare providers on your recovery solutions. 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. If you are just starting your moderation management program, you might need to invest some time trying to come up with a decision on a commitment to abstain from substance abuse before it becoming solid in your heart.

One Glass a Day? The Impact of Low Volume Drinking on Mortality Risk

This concept, also sometimes referred to as limited or controlled use, focuses on an objective to reduce consumption to levels deemed safe or non-harmful, allowing individuals to partake without experiencing negative consequences. Moderation may be suitable for people with mild SUD or AUD or as part of a medication-assisted treatment protocol. These guidelines aim to offer a general standard for what’s considered low-risk alcohol consumption. However, the effects vary based on factors such as age, weight, sex, health conditions, and tolerance. Moderation for one person is often quite different for another, depending on these variables. Treatment providers are available 24/7 to answer your questions about rehab, whether it’s for you or a loved one.

• Also to be remembered are the experiences and feelings that come from abstinence.
• Our board-certified therapists, addiction counselors, and medical practitioners provide personalized recommendations based on an individual’s history, health status, and recovery goals.
• However, Fair Oaks Recovery Center and other addiction treatment centers advocate for an abstinence approach to reduce the chances of relapse.
• About half of Americans who self-identify as having resolved an AOD problem continue to use AOD in some form.
• These answers will vary from individual to individual, and your choice of moderation vs. abstinence is a personal one.
• Mindfulness techniques, such as mindfulness meditation, walking meditation, STOP practice, body scans, and breathing exercises like five-finger breathing can help individuals stay mindful and focused during their recovery journey.

Choosing total abstinence means you’ll encounter many social situations in which you’ll need to turn down a drink. It’s paramount that you have a “saying no to drinks” script that’s quick, polite, and convincing. Don’t be afraid of proudly reminding those around you that you’re a recovering alcoholic and you won’t be drinking. The Bluffs is a private alcohol, substance abuse and mental health treatment facility located in central Ohio. We encourage our members to be aware when drinking, using drugs or feeling upset with themselves. Knowing what happened can prove helpful later in the moderation management program.

Benefits of Abstinence in Recovery

If your addiction is severe or life-threatening, complete abstinence may be necessary to protect Sobriety 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.

It is simpler to just give up the substance entirely than to try to manage or regulate it. There is no matter what type of substance abuse treatment or method is used to achieve sobriety. One of the most important factors is doing the right thing; committing to moderation management. A treatment strategy that involves avoiding all substances is the most common moderation management strategy, which leads to a reduction in substance abuse.

The alcoholic, on the other hand, will not be able to quit despite consequences successfully. They will not likely be able to put down the drink for an extended period without professional intervention. These individuals know alcohol affects their personal and professional lives directly, but they can’t stop drinking.