Abstinence vs Sobriety Red Rock Drug Rehab Addiction Treatment

In the results, we mention that there were a few IPs that were younger, with a background of diffuse and complex problems characterized by a multi-problem situation. Thus, this is interesting to analyse further although the younger IPs in this article, with experience of 12-step treatment, are too few to allow for a separate analysis. However, they will be included in a further analysis on young adults based on the same premises as in present article but with experience from other treatments than the 12-step treatment.

• Read more to clarify the differences between the two terms to help you make the right decision.
• That is to say, the majority didn’t even abstain from their “drug of choice” (alcohol).
• If you believe that harm reduction therapy may help, you may be interested in our alcohol addiction program.

Although AA is well-known and used by millions around the world, mental health professionals are sometimes skeptical of its effectiveness, Humphreys said. There are a number of critiques for both the abstinence and harm reduction approach. It’s important to keep in mind that there is no set-in-stone right way to get treatment.

The Abstinent Version of Being Sober

With the advent of the internet, we stand at a new frontier of almost infinitely available substances. Avoid labeling substance use pejoratively as sober house addictive, bad, or equally as harmful in all forms or methods of use. The review was published March 11 in Cochrane Database of Systematic Review.

Without substances to find comfort in, a person may resort to dishonesty, verbal abuse, anger, over-eating, compulsive shopping, co-dependency, etc. to find relief from the realities of life. Abstinence is not enough because it does not replace drugs and alcohol with a solution to face and handle life in a healthy way. On the other hand, sobriety is about finding a new way of living to replace our old life in addiction. While moderation may be more achievable for those with a mild or moderate diagnosis than those with severe alcohol use disorder, it’s also a great starting point for those exploring making a change.

Criticism of Abstinence-Based Treatment

The 12-step approach is widely adopted by alcohol treatment facilities (Galanter, 2016) endorsing total abstinence as the treatment goal. A high level of attendance participation at AA meetings is encouraged in the approach. In the present article, clients treated in 12-step programmes were reinterviewed five years after treatment. All the interviewed clients reported a successful treatment outcome, i.e. total abstinence six months after treatment. The aim is to investigate how these clients view abstinence and the role of AA[1] in their recovery process during the past five years. There are heterogeneous views on the possibilities of CD after recovery from substance use disorder both in research and in treatment systems.

The harm reduction approach is criticized for enabling this behavior. Another area of criticism is the lack of problem drinkers that are helped. Abstinence-based treatment supposedly only focuses on those who have become dependent on alcohol. Problem drinking is different from full dependency on alcohol (which is what it eventually becomes). Once again, it should be reiterated that certain treatment approaches may work better than others for you or a loved one.