Posted on 11/16/2009 2:58:21 AM PST by SonOfDarkSkies
Research has shown that there are different degrees of drinking disorders, and many people can change habits on their own.
Seventy years ago, Bill Wilson -- the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous -- declared his powerlessness over alcohol in a book by the same name. The failed businessman contended that, as an alcoholic, he had to "hit bottom" before changing his life and that sobriety could only be achieved through complete abstention.
For generations, Americans took these tenets to be true for everyone. Top addiction experts are no longer sure.
They now say that many drinkers can evaluate their habits and -- using new knowledge about genetic and behavioral risks of addiction -- change those habits if necessary. Even some people who have what are now termed alcohol-use disorders, they add, can cut back on consumption before it disrupts education, ruins careers and damages health.
In short, say some of the nation's leading scientists studying substance abuse, humans travel a long road before they become powerless over alcohol -- and most never reach that point.
...
Many of these people need not give up alcohol altogether. The concept of so-called controlled drinking -- that people with alcohol-use disorders could simply curb, or control, their drinking -- has existed for many years. Evidence now exists that such an approach is possible for some people, although abstinence is still considered necessary for those with the most severe disease.
The overall reassessment has been fueled by the groundbreaking National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions, the largest and most comprehensive look at alcohol use in America. The project surveyed 43,000 people 18 and older in 2001 and 2002, and again in 2004 and 2005, with the results released in increments beginning in 2006.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Nothing new under the sun—There’s this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moderation_Management
The founder was a woman who had a drinking problem but thought AA was too strict, and there had to be a way of moderation. She, as the Wikipedia article states, decided later to abstain totally, but relapsed, drove drunk and killed two people in a head-on crash.
I think they are still in existence as a group.
Seasoned (citizen) .....salty???? or peppery?
Bookmark ping
These articles come out every year or so.
My ex would do this periodically. “oh I don’t think I’m an alcoholic” I’d say Try it again Buster and we’ll see who’s a used-to-be and he eventually did and we were finished. 23 years. sheesh.
That said, it may be the answer for people who simply drink too much.
To some it’s a six-pack, to me it’s a Support Group. Salvation in a can!
I know that from my own experience, abstinence has been the only solution. The "nature vs. nurture" debate over alcoholism will, I suspect, continue indefinately, but for those like me, relief will be found only when it is viewed as a spiritual matter.
For all I know, there may be those who can learn moderation...Godspeed to them. I know that would never work for me.
AA saved my life 30 years ago. It is not so important that I live , but I have had a super great 30 years.
You don't wake up an alcoholic one morning. There is a progression, in loose terms, from a drinking habit to a drinking problem to alcoholism. If you're drinking to feel good, well, that's what it's there for. If you're drinking to feel numb, you're self-medicating for something, and that's a problem. If you're drinking to feel normal, you're an alcoholic.
The first time you experience the DTs, it's past time to quit. You've used up all your drink tickets.
I'm inclined to believe that a moderation approach like the one mentioned here could help habitual or even problem drinkers before it blossoms into alcoholism -- I think, though this could be denial talking, that it could have helped me about ten years ago. What happened instead is that I ended up in the hospital with liver failure last year. Thank God, my liver function is back to normal now. I haven't touched the stuff in 20 months. Whether moderation might have worked for me at some point in the past is an academic "what if" -- I crossed that Rubicon a ways back.
Saved my bother's life. He is great today, but back in the day he almost killed himself(accidentally)a couple times. Never hurt anyone else physically but did cause much emotional pain to his wife. He has been clean now for many, many years and I am sure he will stay that way, thanks to AA.
The body is a wonderful machine. Some just don't listen when the body says, "No!".
It has certainly saved mine.
Isn’t the generic usually cheaper?
Yeah it is —Home made (:-)
"I will never understand how they have inner strength to let a half glass bottle of wine scotch sit on the damn table..."
;-)
AA saved my life too. I had to lose everything before I realized my life was unmanageable. I can never have a drink again. One sip and the phenomena of craving returns and I can’t stop. I’m content today. God Bless.
Wouldn’t it depend on the Scotch in the bottle? ... JApanese Scotch isn’t worth a second sip, whereas a tumbler of a real Scotish single malt, well ...
...AA members will tell you that for an alcoholic, booze is, "cunning, baffling and powerful," and alcoholic will allow it to slowly insinuate itself into the center of one's life to the point that it squeezes out any room for God.
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