Normal Drinking by Persons Reporting Previous Problem Drinking

Abstract

Twelve men and women, identified as probable alcoholics in two earlier community studies and describing reduced and currently moderate drinking, were reinterviewed 1 year later, together with their spouses. Detailed drinking histories were taken in order to document the presumed alcoholism and the current normal drinking, to inquire into life circumstances associated with the changes in drinking, and to ascertain the attitudes of the spouses. One respondent had decided he could no longer control his drinking and was abstaining. Two appeared to have had only acute stiuational drinking problems, and three were classified on the basis of the additional evidence as heavy drinkers, rather than alcoholics, since they had not lost control. The remaining 6 cases (7% of the original community sample of 91 cases acknowledging alcohol problems) appeared to be alcoholics who had developed the ability to drink moderately. All had previously lost control of their drinking, experienced some of the common alcoholism symptoms, and damaged their interpersonal relationships, their careers or their health. The spouses agreed that all had been drinking within moderate limits for a minimum of 2 1/2 years. Changes in life circumstances, such as new marriages and moves to less vulnerable jobs, were examined, and it was noted that 2 of the cases had had serious medical complications of alcoholism, and 2 were aging men in relatively poor health who seemed to exhibit a tapering-off process. The repeated discovery in a number of follow-up studies of a minority of alcoholics able to resume normal drinking does not warrant abandonment of the therapeutic goal of abstinence, but is a strong indication of the need for further research.