title: Treating problem drinking.
abstract: Recent data suggest that most people experiencing alcohol problems have problems of mild to moderate severity. Relative to alcoholics, these drinkers have a shorter problem-drinking history, greater social and economic stability, and greater personal resources. This article describes a cognitive-behavioral treatment approach designed specifically for problem drinkers with low levels of physical dependence on alcohol who choose to reduce their drinking. After describing various drinking-reduction techniques, the article reviews empirical evidence for drinking-reduction training. The increasing availability of drinking-reduction interventions holds considerable promise for reducing alcohol-related dysfunction among problem drinkers.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute on Addictions, Buffalo, New York, USA.
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Walitzer
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Connors
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009042:Motivation