Can alcoholism be treated without insisting on abstinence?

To the first question, yes, but only under the right circumstances. Alcoholism in most classical alcoholics is a re-wiring of the brain's pleasure seeking circuits to indicate that alcohol is something that will make you happy. read more

If alcoholism and addiction are found to be the result of adaptive changes that can be reversed with time and treatment then the stigma against a non-abstinence based modality of treatment will diminish. read more

The article's headline suggested to me that people who had lost control of their drinking need not consider abstinence as a treatment goal. But as you point out, the study is not talking about alcoholics or people in treatment necessarily. read more

If you do, don’t think you’ve failed. It’s often a stage in the process, and recovery gets easier. After 5 years, only 1 out of 7 people have issues with drinking. Treatment can work -- just give yourself time. read more

Here, we look at the issue of abstinence. Alcoholism is an addiction to alcohol, which is characterized by compulsive alcohol use despite the negative consequences the drinking causes. read more