Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Abstinence Versus Controlled Drinking: A Critical Review, Suresh. Pushkarna

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Abstinence used to be the only recommended goal for persons affected with alcohol misuse. In recent years there has been a trend to suggest controlled drinking for some alcohol abusers. The comparison of abstinence versus controlled drinking indicates that controlled drinking goals have proved to be successful in a limited attempt with problem drinkers having middle income, average intelligence, stable job and adequate social support system. Severely dependent alcoholics (gamma type) have been trained in some instances to control their drinking in a laboratory environment, but their control erodes over time. The controlled drinking controversy has partly to do with …