Controlled Drinking: Some Current Theoretical Issues

Abstract

Abstract: The advent of controlled drinking as an option for problem drinkers has resulted in intense debate, as it reflects a major paradigm shift from a disease concept of ‘alcoholism’ to an understanding of problem drinking as a learned pattern of behaviour that is open to modification. The social learning paradigm can be applied across the field of addictions, drug and non‐drug related, to yield an understanding of dependence that is incompatible with pharmacologically dominated models of dependency. Important issues raised by controlled drinking include the blurring of the traditional boundaries of education and treatment with the introduction of minimal interventions, and the questioning of what constitutes spontaneous remission and relapse. The introduction of controlled drinking has resulted in greater self‐determination for clients, a broadened clinical response, and an extension of the client group.