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In Case You Haven't Heard…
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
alcoholism and drug abuse weekly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1556-7591
pISSN - 1042-1394
DOI - 10.1002/adaw.33185
Subject(s) - abstinence , alcohol use disorder , psychiatry , psychosocial , addiction , alcohol abuse , psychology , conversation , substance abuse , depression (economics) , anger , medicine , alcohol , biochemistry , chemistry , communication , economics , macroeconomics
As Katie Witkiewitz, Ph.D., has been telling people for years, people with alcohol use disorder (AUD) can be in recovery even if they still drink. In some cases, they are drinking a lot, but not as much as they used to. In “Can Individuals With Alcohol Use Disorder Sustain Non‐abstinent Recovery? Non‐abstinent Outcomes 10 Years After Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment,” Witkiewitz and colleagues answer the question with a resounding yes. “Controlled drinking” has been controversial for the 40 years since it was first promoted. Using a 10‐year follow‐up of Project MATCH (the New Mexico site only), the researchers defined recovery based on psychosocial functioning and alcohol consumption three years after treatment. Ten years after treatment, drinking practices and consequences, depression, purpose in life and anger were assessed. High‐functioning profiles at three years had the highest level of psychological functioning at 10 years, regardless of alcohol consumption level. Significantly, abstinence at three years did not predict better psychological functioning at 10 years. The study was published in the July‐August issue of the Journal of Addiction Medicine . Note: George Koob, Ph.D., director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, told us again this week that he “detests” the term “high‐functioning alcoholic.” So the entire issue is still controversial. But it's essential for the conversation to continue (see story, p. 1).