Abstinence and controlled drinking in the treatment of problem drinkers.

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Abstract
Some alcoholics were able to sustain moderate drinking patterns following treatment. Various explanations of this phenomenon were proposed: that the control was only temporary and relapse was inevitable, that those who succeeded at moderation were not true alcoholics and that alcoholism was an invalid construct. All 3 explanations were inadequate, and only served to create unnecessary polarization. Therapies oriented to controlled drinking and abstinence were needed. Present diagnostic procedures failed to discriminate persons for whom moderation or abstinence is appropriate. Tentative guidelines were proposed for differential assignment to treatment goals.

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