Life Stories of Moderation Management Mutual Help Group Members

Abstract

This study analyzed life story themes of 30 Moderation Management (MM) members. MM is the only mutual-help organization in the U.S. that supports problem drinkers who wish to moderate their alcohol consumption. Qualitative interview data indicated that MM involvement was often precipitated by a conscious rejection of the 12-step philosophy espoused in Alcoholics Anonymous and in many professional treatment programs. In particular, MM members did not believe that their problem drinking was a disease manageable only through abstinence or that they needed to surrender control to a spiritual “higher power” for recovery. In contrast, the MM world view, which emphasizes self-control and choice, seemed to better match the experience, values and preferred self-narratives of this high-functioning sample of white, middle-class, well-educated Americans.