” While it is likely that many of those who did not respond to this question did so because they did not have a substance they felt was primary, it is also possible that some simply missed this question or skipped it because they did not want to answer it. Of the full sample of 2,002 participants, 219 did not respond to the question, “You said the following substances were a problem for you. Quality of life and daily functioning was assessed using the EUROHIS-QOL (Schmidt et al., 2005), an eight-item measure adapted from the World Health Organization Quality of Life – Brief Version. A measure of number of psychiatric diagnoses, including alcohol use other substance use disorders, was calculated by summing the total number of affirmative responses. Participants were asked, “Which of the following substance use and/or mental health conditions have you ever been diagnosed with? Subsequently, to determine participants’ primary substance, they were also asked the Alcohol and Brain Overview following question, “You said the following substances were a problem for you.
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Participants were asked can you smoke shrooms read this before you do about their substance use history; specifically, which drugs they used ten times or more times in their lifetime. ’ study sought to characterize individuals that self-identify as being ‘in recovery’ (Subbaraman and Witbrodt, 2014). Subsequently, the authors found that abstinence in this sample at three years did not predict better psychological functioning at ten years (Witkiewitz et al., 2020).
Cohen’s d statistics were also calculated comparing abstainers to non-abstainers. We also examined whether there were differences in latent profiles at the 3-year assessment and completion of the 10-year follow-up assessment. Cohen’s d statistic, which reflects standardized mean differences in outcomes (i.e., differences between groups in standard deviation units), was also calculated. Model fit was examined using the Lo Mendell Rubin Likelihood Ratio test (LRT), Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC), and sample-size–adjusted BIC (aBIC).
Distal Outcomes at the 10-Year Follow-Up
We defined age of initiation of regular substance use as the age at which participants started regularly using any substance. Substances included, ‘alcohol’, ‘marijuana’, ‘cocaine’, ‘heroin’, ‘narcotics other than heroin’, ‘methadone’, ‘buprenorphine’, ‘amphetamines’, ‘methamphetamine’, ‘benzodiazepines’, ‘barbiturates’, ‘hallucinogens’, ‘synthetic marijuana/synthetic drugs’, ‘inhalants’, ‘steroids’, or ‘other’. A total of 2,002 individuals who had resolved an AOD problem were included in the final analyses. A representative subset of 39,809 individuals from the GfK KnowledgePanel were sent the screening question via email, to which 25,229 responded (63.4%). Reframe supports you in reducing alcohol consumption and enhancing your well-being. 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.
1 What Is Recovery? study
In this study, Charlet and colleagues conducted a large review of 59 studies that addressed these important issues, providing key information on whether and to what extent changing drinking is beneficial. Much can be learned from research that investigates how reducing or quitting alcohol provides benefits in terms of individuals’ day-to-day lives. Furthermore, qualityof life appeared significantly better among abstainers than non-abstainers.
Moderate drinking (also known as “controlled drinking”) consists of limiting our alcohol intake, thereby limiting alcohol’s negative effects on our health and well-being. Let’s take a deeper dive into the pros and cons of drinking in moderation versus abstinence to see how they stack up against each other. Future research that expands the scope of outcome indicators to include measures of biopsychosocial functioning and AUD diagnostic criteria50 is important for advancing understanding of the multiple pathways to recovery from AUD. For instance, rates of abstinence at year 10 for profiles 1, 2, 3, and 4 were 62.5%, 39.1%, 19.0%, and 50.0%, respectively. Abstinence three years following treatment did not predict better functioning ten years following treatment. Supplementary Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the differences in mean outcomes (with standard errors indicated by error bars) and Cohen’s d standardized mean differences between abstainers and drinkers.
Financial Impacts of Choosing Between Moderation vs Abstinence
It’s not an easy road to lasting recovery, but with the right support and resources, it can definitely be a journey worth taking. Remember that every person’s journey is unique; there are no one-size-fits-all solutions for managing alcohol intake. Several factors influence this decision, including societal perception, cultural factors, psychological impact, and health implications. When it comes to choosing between total abstinence or limiting your intake, the answer isn’t black and white. Imagine the satisfaction of knowing that your commitment to sobriety has led to stronger connections with loved ones while also improving many facets of your life holistically – now isn’t that worth raising a glass (of water) to? Think about all the money spent on drinks over time – that could turn into savings or investments for future goals instead.
Additionally, moderation can be a slippery slope for some alcohol drinkers. Alcohol is toxic to our body, and major health authorities such as the World Health Organizations (WHO) hold that no amount of alcohol is safe. The main argument against moderate drinking is that any amount of alcohol can be harmful. For some of us, moderate drinking might be more sustainable and lower our risk of excessive or binge drinking. If we’re transitioning from excessive drinking, moderate drinking can help our body get used to less alcohol in our system, decreasing the severity of alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
In the same 16-year follow-up, for those abstinent in the year before the follow-up assessment, only 18% were hospitalized compared with 43% who were non-abstinent. Studies generally show that reducing drinking is related to reductions in injuries and likelihood of death over the long-term, but not over the short-term (e.g., less than 1 year). What happens to people’s lives when they reduce drinking and does it have as great an impact as if they quit entirely?
Relatedly, the psychometric properties of the National Recovery Study screening question have not been examined, including validity (e.g., convergence with similar constructs such as remission from DSM-5 substance use disorder) and reliability (e.g., do individuals respond consistently to this screening item). 2) By design, this nationally representative study surveyed individuals self-identifying as having resolved an AOD problem regardless of formal SUD diagnosis. At the same time, the present cyclobenzaprine mixed with alcohol findings generate some potential avenues for future longitudinal research that could examine moderators and mediators of the relationship between substance use and psychosocial well-being over time. Similar correlations have also been observed for recovery capital (Laudet and White, 2008, Sinclair et al., 2021), quality of life (Brezing et al., 2018), and psychological distress (Erga et al., 2021). With regards to our measure of number of lifetime psychiatric diagnoses, which we used as a proxy of clinical severity, it should be noted that not all psychiatric conditions are equal in their typical severity (e.g., schizophrenia vs. generalized anxiety disorder), and within disorders there can be a great deal of variance in the number of symptoms endorsed and the severity of impairment they cause.
This multifaceted approach helps you develop coping mechanisms while fostering healthier habits that can sustain long-term recovery. That’s why our approach involves taking time to know you better, identify your triggers, and help chart a path forward that aligns with your life goals. But with patience, persistence and these strategies at hand – you’re better equipped than ever before on this journey towards healthier living minus harmful drinking habits. The role of nutrition should also not be overlooked as maintaining a balanced diet can help restore physical health damaged by excessive alcohol consumption. A holistic treatment approach is another crucial aspect of quitting alcohol effectively.
- Research can inform the content of public health messaging and clinical guidelines that balance the benefit of engaging as much of the SUD population in care as possible, while encouraging substance use goals likely to maximize well-being and reduce risk.
- Our study replicates and extends these findings to the broader population of individuals who have resolved an AOD problem, regardless of treatment seeking status, primary substance used, and recovery duration/identity.
- How the risks of drinking balance out this potential benefit, if it is found to be causal, for those with Type II diabetes is not yet clear.
- “Harm reduction” strategies, on theother hand, set more flexible goals in line with patient motivation; these differ greatlyfrom person to person, and range from total abstinence to reduced consumption and reducedalcohol-related problems without changes in actual use (e.g., no longer driving drunkafter having received a DUI).
- This study sought to extend this previous research using a nationally representative sample capturing the continuum of substance use statuses, incorporating all substances used (i.e., alcohol and/or other drugs), with consideration given to the AOD that individuals indicated as their primary substance.
- Rather, there appear to be multiple paths to recovery that can include moderate or heavy alcohol consumption post-treatment for some individuals16,23,25,48.
- Table 1 displays results from Chi-squaretests comparing demographics, help-seeking, and severity between abstainers andnon-abstainers.
We’ll delve into both models – abstinence versus moderate drinking – so you can make an informed decision about what feels right for you. It would be helpful in future research to parse out the benefits and drawbacks of each potential pathway to drinking problem resolution and which individuals may be most likely to benefit the most from any given pathway. Also, for people in remission from severe alcohol use disorder, meaning they no longer have symptoms of the disorder, 65% are still drinking but not at problematic levels.
- A priori power analyses, using a Monte Carlo simulation, indicated power to detect distal outcome effects (i.e., mean differences in 10-year outcomes) by profile membership at 10 years was greater than 0.63 to detect medium effect sizes and we had power greater than 0.97 to detect large effect sizes.
- The current aims are to identify correlates ofnon-abstinent recovery and examine differences in QOL between abstainers andnon-abstainers accounting for length of time in recovery.
- Moderate drinking is a harm-reduction strategy – it allows you to enjoy alcohol in social settings while also minimizing the negative effects that come with heavy drinking.
- Though others have shown that QOLchanges for the better during dependence remission (Dawsonet al. 2009), we know of no other study that has directly compared QOL ofabstainers to non-abstainers.
- Multivariable stepwise regressions estimating the probability of non-abstinentrecovery and average quality of life.
Participants were asked to indicate whether they had ever received outpatient or inpatient AOD treatment in their lifetime. To differentiate between total abstinence since problem resolution (coded 0) and current abstinence but with some use since problem resolution (coded 1), we compared age of problem resolution and age of last use for all substances participants reported having used. For each substance with lifetime use, participants indicated the age at which they first used the substance, age at which they initiated regular use (i.e.., weekly) if applicable, and age of last use for substances they no longer used at the time of survey completion.
Four decades ago the “controlled drinking” controversy roiled the alcohol field. The study followed up 201 adult patients 2.5 years after treatment onset. Attempting controlled drinking as a full-blown alcoholic can be extraordinarily damaging.
The 10-item social behavior subscale from the PFI included items assessing the prevalence of problem social interactions and behaviors in the past 30 days (e.g., “Demanded others do things your way”); higher scores indicated better psychosocial functioning. The Psychosocial Functioning Inventory (PFI)33 was used to evaluate social functioning. The Drinker Inventory of Consequences (DrInC)32 was utilized to assess negative alcohol-related consequences. Alcohol and drug use were assessed with the Form-9031, a calendar-based tool determining alcohol and drug use in the previous 90 days. Of this subset, 149 provided data at the 10-year follow-up (66.4%) and 146 (64.6%) completed both the 3- and 10-year follow-up and were included in the present study.
For people suffering from alcohol use disorders, trying to moderate drinking isn’t advised and total abstinence is always recommended. Some strategies and guidelines to consider if you’re aiming to practice controlled drinking include setting limits, eating before drinking, choosing drinks with lower alcohol content, alternatives with non-alcoholic beverages and having abstinent days. Regular physical activity can act as a healthy coping mechanism when dealing with cravings or anxiety related to your efforts towards alcohol moderation management. Controlled drinking, often advocated as a moderation approach for people with alcohol use disorders, can be highly problematic and unsuitable for those who truly suffer from alcohol addiction. Even moderate drinking can lead to long-term health problems such as liver disease, heart disease, and increased risk of certain cancers. It’s important to acknowledge any emotional ties you might have to alcohol as these could make both moderation and complete abstinence more challenging.
We do not know whether the WIR sample represents the population of individualsin recovery. However, these studies usedcontinued dependence or heavy drinking as reference groups and did not directly compareabstinent to non-abstinent recovery as we did here. Furthermore, the oddsof abstinent recovery increased linearly relative to time in recovery. Sample, the strongest factors related to non-abstinent recovery were fewer DSM alcoholdependence symptoms and younger age. Among individuals in recovery from alcohol problems in the What Is Recovery?
In addition, no priorstudy has examined whether quality of life differs among those in abstinent vs.non-abstinent recovery in a sample that includes individuals who have attained longperiods of recovery. Given the cross-sectional nature of the current study, future prospective studies should examine moderators and mediators of the relationship between substance use and psychosocial well-being over time in order to better understand who is able to successfully sustain these different substance use statuses and the mechanisms through which they may do so. It is not readily determined from these data why treatment and mutual-help history were unrelated to substance use status in the current study.
However, the NESARC QOL analyses examined transitions across AUD statusesover a three-year period, and thus inherently excluded individuals with more than threeyears of recovery. Donovan and colleagues(2005) reviewed 36 studies involving various aspects of QOL in relation to AUDand concluded that heavy episodic drinkers had worse QOL than other drinkers, that reduceddrinking was related to improved QOL among harmful drinkers, and that abstainers hadimproved QOL in treated samples (Donovan et al.2005). Traditional alcohol use disorder (AUD) treatment programs most often prescribeabstinence as clients’ ultimate goal. Non-abstainers are younger with less time in recovery and less problem severitybut worse QOL than abstainers.