December 5, 2007
Controlled drinking may seem like an oxymoron not to mention a highly theoretical construct to us Shark Guys, however it’s beginning to hold more sway with folks who didn’t use Psych 101 as a place to sleep off that Sunday hangover. The concept of controlled drinking, or what we sometimes engage in at lunch, has apparently emerged as a welcome and acceptable treatment alternative to the buzz kill offered by the folks at Alcoholics Anonymous—total abstinence.
Not abstaining at all, a concept we’ve kept an adamantine grasp on like that frayed rope your sadistic gym teacher had you climb in elementary school, might just be the best method of success. And this isn’t us flapping our parched lips, but that’s according to Dr. Michael Levy, author of “Take Control of Your Drinking…And You May Not Need to Quit“, a tome that will be a welcome gift to sling under the tree of a loved one, while chapters are read aloud with a belt of eggnog.
While the more attainable objective of being able to continue to drink once you’ve been dubbed a “problem drinker” may seem well within a pint’s reach of the average tippler (and just the occasion to uncork that bubbly you’ve been saving for that time you tell your boss into which orifice you’ll be sticking your penny loafer), don’t march gallantly into that nearest liquor store just yet. While you might be confident they won’t break your fall from that flying leap off the wagon, drinking in moderation goes against AA’s core belief that alcoholics are in denial about being in control of their drinking.
Lest your instinct is to believe this is pure preachy hogwash (which is exactly how we reacted to it), there is some evidence to suggest heavy imbibers have actually damaged the part of the brain that can help control a drinking habit, which puts the pursuit of moderation beyond the realm of mere will. Unrelated research that we’ve conducted on our own also suggests that heavy and continued drinking can also result in inappropriate uses of the French language in parentheses (pourquoi?).
Now, Alcoholics Anonymous is often cited as having terrific success rates, far superior to say, a nicotine patch for smoking (a method of quitting that is hampered by having to try to find a piece of surface area to slap one on yourself as if you were the side of a FedEx package). However, with various sources pegging AA’s success rate at only between 20 and 40% depending on who you ask, and whether they themselves have been drinking, it’s no wonder a large portion of the population are willing to dance with the devil and steer clear of the God two-step cited in six of the twelve famous steps and toast this wonderful Dr Levy instead. Indeed, with a success rate like AA’s — which is similar to that of the worst performing team in any given sport in any given year, only worse — it’s no wonder that the organization has come under fire and demands have been made for its federal funding to be pulled out from under it quicker than a closing-time bartender can put up the closed sign and pour out the remainder of your drink.
Those responding to advocates of abstinence claim that abstinence and moderation are equally effective, citing a 2001-2002 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. What remains controversial are the definitions of alcohol dependency (alcoholism) and abuse. AA covers their arses by stating that anyone who can recover by drinking moderately was never an alcoholic in the first place. Well if that isn’t an invitation to bring a case of PBR to the next meeting we hear about and test the mettle of the participants, we just don’t know what is.
December 18th, 2008 at 2:56 am
If you beleive surveys of practicing alcoholics and wanna be non alcoholics your nutty than this article. If your a drunk you drink, if your not you can contol it with a strong structure of support. AA works for two of my brothers; without I am sure they wouold be dead. theory and philosophy are interesting but don’t confuse it with real life. If your a drunk go to AA or suffer the consequences. All this other crap is BS.