Characteristics and prognoses of alcoholics who become moderate drinkers and abstainers after treatment.

Recovery from cannabis use disorders: Abstinence versus moderation and treatment-assisted recovery versus natural recovery.

“…This finding is consistent with previous research demonstrating that controlled drinking goals and outcomes are associated with limited exposure to treatment services (Booth et al, 1984;Elal-Lawrence et al, 1986, 1987Finney & Moos, 1981;Hodgins et al, 1997;Ojehagen & Berglund, 1989), which in turn, is consistent with research demonstrating associations between lower problem severity and controlled drinking (Rosenberg, 1993; in conjunction with research demonstrating associations between lower problem severity and natural recovery (Bischof et al, 2012). However, as noted in Sobell and Sobell (2011), it remains unclear as to how many people might seek treatment if moderation-focused treatments and harm reduction were promoted in treatment and supported in the community.…”

“…As noted in Lozano et al (2006), another factor that has been consistently associated with controlled drinking goals and outcomes is limited exposure to treatment services (Booth et al, 1984;Elal-Lawrence, Slade, & Dewey, 1986, 1987Finney & Moos, 1981;Hodgins et al, 1997;Ojehagen & Berglund, 1989), which seems to make sense in light of the Sobell (1995, 2011) and Rosenberg (1993) reviews demonstrating associations between lower problem severity and controlled drinking, in conjunction with research demonstrating associations between lower problem severity and natural recovery (Bischof et al, 2012). Additionally, as noted in Lozano et al…”

“…It was suggested that those who experienced more problem severity might be more motivated to strive for abstinence in order to ameliorate those problems. Third, inconsistent with the alcohol literature (Booth et al, 1984;Elal-Lawrence et al, 1986, 1987Finney & Moos, 1981;Hodgins et al, 1997;Ojehagen & Berglund, 1989), it was reported that cannabis treatment seeking was unrelated to goal choice (abstinence versus moderation). However, the authors note that this null finding might be accounted for by the fact that participants were screened for alcohol and drug abuse prior to treatment entry and were therefore unlikely to have attended substantial treatment for other substances where the importance of abstinence may have been emphasized; moreover, it is noted that there are fewer 12-step based programs for cannabis use disorders, and hence, less dogma with respect to the importance of abstinence.…”

Following Problem Drinkers Over Eleven Years: Understanding Changes in Alcohol Consumption

“…ing over time has come from studies of the most severe drinkers, those who are recruited in treatment programs and followed over time (Finney and Moos, 1981;Kaskutas et al, 2005;Polich et al, 1981;Project MATCH Research Group, 1998). Findings in the literature suggest that although treatment is effective and many recover (some without treatment; Dawson et al, 2005), a return to heavy drinking is the more likely outcome.…”

Addiction recovery: Its definition and conceptual boundaries

“…The problem is that such a definition flies in the face of a growing body of evidence that such moderated outcomes are possible for many people with mild-to-moderate substance-related problems as well as for a much smaller percentage of people with substance dependence (Dawson, 1996;Finney & Moos, 1981;Larimer & Kilmer, 2000;Miller, 1983;Miller & Muñoz, 2005;Rosenberg, 1993). The moderated resolution of AOD problems seems to be most common among persons with less personal vulnerability (e.g., no family history of AOD problems, later developmental onset of AOD use), lower problem severity, lower rates of co-occurring psychiatric illness, and greater personal and family resources (Dawson, 1996;Cunningham, Lin, Ross, & Walsh, 2000;Granfield & Cloud, 1999).…”