Alcohol Management

Treatment for alcohol use disorders can help you to drink moderately or to abstain completely, with treatment tailored to your particular goals.

Treatment to Stop Drinking or to Reduce Alcohol Use

There are many effective options for treating alcohol problems in Cambridge and the Boston area. Some are based on traditional abstinence-oriented approaches that help you stop drinking completely. Others are based on harm reduction approaches that help with cutting back or drinking in moderation. Which one is right for you will depend on the severity of the drinking problem, external pressures (i.e., health concerns, pressure from a partner, employer, or court), and what you have already tried.

Along with the focus on drinking, alcohol treatment attends to family and work stress, self-esteem and loneliness—all of which may contribute to problems with alcohol. And, at times, particularly when feeling isolated, guilty, depressed, or anxious, it can be helpful to know that someone understands the complicated feelings that can come up about alcohol use and can help you address these feelings constructively.

A good choice for a therapist is one who has specialized training in alcohol use disorders, with expertise indicated by books about alcohol treatment, as well as articles describing treatment of alcohol abuse.

Help for Quitting Alcohol Completely

Abstinence-based treatments continue to be extremely effective for many people. Treatment options include one-on-one counseling, therapy groups that support recovery, self-help programs such as AA and Smart Recovery, and medication to help with anxiety and depression. In addition, medications such as naltrexone and Antabuse can be helpful for managing drinking urges. Usually a combination of these options is most useful. Collateral treatment, in which your spouse or partner attends some sessions with you, may further support your recovery.

Sometimes these ongoing forms of support and therapy are effective only after detox or an extended stay for two weeks or more in an alcohol rehabilitation program.

Help for Cutting Back on Alcohol

Other individuals who are concerned about their drinking may feel that traditional alcohol treatment approaches do not fit their pattern of drinking or their own personal goals. If you are one of these people, you may have been reluctant to seek help, fearing that you would be pigeon-holed into a treatment that does not match your view of what is needed. For you, Moderation Training may be useful—a non-traditional, research-based alternative, based on a harm reduction model.

Moderation Training is a systematic, intensive training with specifically targeted goals, ongoing guidance until one’s drinking goals are reached, and training to support maintenance of the goals after treatment is terminated.

Common Questions About Alcohol Treatment

How long does it take to successfully change a harmful drinking habit?

This varies greatly depending on the severity of the drinking problem and the amount of support you engage. Generally, it will take at least a year to feel sturdy in either abstinence or moderation, and ongoing support will be important to maintain the gains you have made.

What is the benefit of going to a detox?

At times, getting on a solid footing requires medically assisted time out from drinking, in a safe alcohol-free environment, free of the stresses of everyday life. For some individuals, following up after detox with individual therapy and support groups may be enough to break the cycle. For others, detox may be the first step of a longer two to four-week stay in either a partial hospital day program or an alcohol rehab.

Can drinking in moderation be as effective as abstinence?

For many individuals, reducing alcohol consumption in a systemic way is sufficient to gain control of their drinking. For these individuals, moderation is a realistic goal. For others, nothing short of stopping completely will produce reliable control. Sometimes a trial of moderation is helpful, with the understanding that if adequate control is not attained, abstinence is the appropriate goal.

How do partners and loved ones view abstinence as opposed to moderate drinking?

Often family members are unfamiliar with harm reduction approaches that support moderation and have concerns about the effectiveness of anything short of abstinence. Since it is important to have the support of loved ones, collateral family sessions may also be useful to learn more about treatment options and how to effectively support a loved one who is dealing with an alcohol problem.

When to Seek Professional Alcohol Counseling

If you have tried to reduce or quit drinking on your own without success, or if alcohol is affecting your health, work, or relationships, it may be time to seek professional help. A trained therapist can help you clarify your goals, choose the most effective treatment path, and develop ongoing strategies for maintaining positive results.

Are you interested in alcohol counseling in Cambridge or the Boston area?

Alcohol Assessment Questionnaires

If you are are meeting with me about a potential problem with alcohol, please print out the following questionnaires, but wait to fill them out until we talk further about their purpose and how they may be helpful in your treatment.

Alcohol Use Questionnaire
Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test
 

Links to Relevant Resources

Assessing a Drinking Problem
Moderation Training for Problem Drinkers
Therapist Guide to Alcohol Moderation
How Naltrexone Helps Curb Urges to Drink

Residential Treatment

Day and Evening Programs

Outpatient Treatment Centers

Residential Extended Care

Self Help Programs