Alcohol Research Essay -- Alcohol Dependence, Abstinence

inebriantic beverageism is a prominent substance treat issue in Western society. The treatment method of controlled drinking as opposed to abstinence is a continuing cause of controversy in alcohol research to this day. The US is polar from Europe in its acceptation of controlled drinking as a inclination of treatment in the US alcohol dependence is typically depicted as a pass off disease and the successful abstainer as a recovering though never recovered alcoholic (Coldwell, 2005). Depending on the alcohol abuse patients individual characteristics, either controlled drinking or abstinence is chosen as a treatment. Alcohol treatment in Canada, however seems to consist both mechanisms as shown in the orbit by Rush and Ogborne (1986).The study states that goals for one third of clients who were non abstinent were accepted depending on whether it was a residential or community-based outpatient service. Other effective methods in treating alcoholism are pharmacotherapy, beha vioral method and self help manuals. This paper will discuss different therapeutic interventions while highlighting the controversy between controlled drinking and abstinence. Alcohol abuse is growing rapidly throughout U.S. society. One in all twelve adults is being diagnosed with alcohol abuse (Barlow and Durand, 2006). All that are diagnosed with alcohol abuse must(prenominal) meet one or more of the chase criteria at bottom a twelve month period he/ she must fail to accomplish major work, school or home responsibilities he/ she is careless to where his/ her drinking is taking place, even if its in desperate situations such as driving or while operating machinery he/ she must have recurring alcohol-related legal problems, such as acquire arrested for driving... ...more liberal approach values choice and personal freedoms rather than ghostly restrictions. Therefore, controlled drinking is a more suitable treatment method for the European way of life. In terms of gende r, abstinence is more recommended for women than for men. Here once again we see a difference between the US and the UK only in the US was abstinence seen as a more ideal goal for women than for men, only among low severity drinkers (Milles, 2004). To conclude, the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions in 2001 2002 found controlled drinking and abstinence to be fairly equal in application. Among the 43,000 alcoholics surveyed, nearly 36 percent were in recovery 18.2 percent were abstainers and 17.7 percent were moderate drinkers (Wanjek, 2007). The controversy however, remains within each individuals road to recovery.