“My husband says that he’s heard that instead of abstaining completely, it’s possible for an alcoholic to return to controlled drinking after a while.” File this one under “Impossible Dreams.” Unfortunately for those alcoholics who are fatally attracted to the idea of “controlled drinking,” there isn’t much evidence to support it. Long term studies don’t hold out much hope. The original research that claimed it was possible for alcoholics to return to controlled drinking was less than reliable. In fact, it was tainted by charges of fraud, with most of the purportedly successful study subjects later hospitalized, in prison, or dead. These unfortunates were encouraged to return to social drinking using a “tried and tested” program!  What may have been only a matter of flawed technique for the researchers may well have been, in its imprudent encouragement of controlled drinking, a matter of life and death for some unlucky alcoholics. There were hundreds of law suits following this revelation. The fact is, it is extremely rare for a person with a long-term problem to be able to switch permanently to controlled drinking. The first drink tends to be like the first salted peanut. Some drinkers are able to control their consumption for a while. The fact that they are trying to control their drinking is a sure sign that they have the disease of alcoholism.  Social drinkers don’t try to control their drinking. Social drinkers don’t hide their bottles. Social drinkers do not count the hours until they can have their first drink. The controlled drinker (with a problem) takes one drink for a day then a few more drinks the next day while still trying to persuade themselves and everyone around them, that they don’t have a drinking problem. Before they know it, they are back on the booze. My patients ask me if they can try controlled drinking!  That makes about as much sense as someone allergic to penicillin demanding to be put on a regimen of “controlled” penicillin.  Besides, if someone can’t guarantee their behavior after a drinking session, why would they insist on keeping it a part of their life, unless they felt they could not live without it?  If that’s not out-of-control addiction, what is? Ever tried to control diarrhea? Some patients tell me they might be “a little bit alcoholic!”  My response: “being a little bit alcoholic is like being a little bit pregnant!” Then there are alcohol dependent people who are still in denial and will do anything to be able to control their drinking. If you're not sure if you're addicted to alcohol, try the following test. Keep an honest journal of how much you drink every day for 6 months, and see if you can stick to moderate drinking. It's important that you do this for at least 6 months, because it's easy to moderate your drinking for a short time. If there are days when you drink more than a moderate amount, make note of the circumstances and identify your triggers. Review your journal regularly. If you're happy with your use, great, but if you're not happy, or if you can't stick to moderate drinking, then that should tell you something. Ultimately alcoholics decide to quit drinking, because they realise it's easier to not drink, than it is to control their drinking.  The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. Here are some tips to help you when you decide to give up controlled drinking.
  • Remove all alcohol from the home.
  • Use Tyrosine Mood Food to help your Dopamine Neurotransmitter regain that sense of satisfaction.
  • Use L-Glutamine to reduce cravings and heal the gut.
  • Totally avoid all drinking buddies.
  • Don’t switch to addictions like coffee, sugar, dope, shopping.
  • Maintain a healthy diet and include relevant and helpful supplements like LivaTone Plus which will help detox your liver from toxic alcohol poisons.
  • Magnesium Ultra Potent is a natural relaxant to help maintain healthy blood pressure and assists in the reduction of stress, nervous tension, anxiety and sleeplessness.
  • Read my books, Help for Depression and Anxiety and Tired of Not Sleeping.
  The above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.