More and more addiction counselors are agreeing that it is acceptable for their substance abuse patients to have an occasional drink, as an “intermediate goal” or “final treatment goal”, according to a recent trial published by the American Psychological Association in the journal Psychology of Addictive Behaviors.

For their study, the experts questioned 913 individuals from the National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Counselors from all around the U.S. Half of the participants believed that is reasonable for some of their alcohol abuse patients to not completely stop drinking, but limit it instead.

A previous survey was given out in 1994, which determined that around 25% of the respondents believed it was okay for some clients to engage in moderate drinking.

Similar to a study from 10 years ago, they were asked if moderate drug use was acceptable for drug abuse clients. Around 50% said it was okay for an intermediate goal, and one third believed it was okay for a final treatment goal.

Alan K. David, MA, and Harold Rosenberg, PhD, from the Department of Psychology at Bowling Green State University, co-authors of the study, said:

“Individuals with alcohol and drug problems who avoid treatment because they are ambivalent about abstinence should know that – depending on the severity of their condition, the finality of their outcome goal, and their drug of choice – their interest in moderating their consumption will be acceptable to many addiction professionals working in outpatient and independent practice settings.”

On the other hand, drug-dependent clients, a more serious condition, were not believed by the experts to benefit from moderate drinking or drug use and most believed they should stop using all together. Three-quarters of the participants said they would never allow their patients limited or moderate drug or alcohol use, whether as an intermediate or final goal.

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, alcohol and drug abuse can cause problems at home, in relationships, at work and for a person’s health. If a person is substance dependent they also have these problems, however, they have a much higher tolerance for their drug of choice, as well as more severe withdrawal symptoms, a large sense of obligation to use, and loss of control over their addiction.

When U.S. counselors were questioned about why they did not approve of any consumption at all, most said it would not be an effective treatment method, because it would send the wrong message to their clients and treatment would not be constant.

The experts said that it is also important to consider their clients’ age, emotional well-being, drug of choice, and health to determine the best treatment plan.

The findings of the study also revealed that the concept of limited or moderate alcohol or drug use is less accepted by counselors in the U.S. than in other countries around the world. A survey of British drug agencies found that 86% thought that drug use as an intermediate goal is acceptable, and 81% believed it was okay as a final goal for clients with histories of alcohol abuse. The same survey discovered that 68% of those questioned approved continued use of drugs or alcohol as an intermediate goal and 50% as a final goal for clients with alcohol dependence.

A Swiss survey taken by counselors also discovered that participants survey responses found limited alcohol and drug use more allowable than addiction counselors in the U.S.

Rosenberg concluded:

“Our study did not examine whether those who want to moderate their drinking or drug use had better or worse outcomes than those who attempt to abstain immediately and completely, and research has found that episodes of lapse and relapse are common among clients no matter what outcome goal they pursue. In light of this study, we suggest that clients ask about their counselor’s openness to limited or moderate consumption as an outcome goal, and that agencies acknowledge their policy regarding negotiation of outcome goals as part of informed consent.”

Written by Christine Kearney