New research proves that abstinence from alcohol is the best choice for alcoholics.
The researchers interviewed 1,700 alcohol abusers after 3 years of initial contact and found that;
- 51% of heavy drinkers who were experiencing alcohol related problems continued to have problems after the 3 years
- 27% of those who had moderated their drinking habits still had problems, and
- 7.3% of those who were abstaining from alcohol at their first
interview had developed problems caused by drinking alcohol after 3
years.
They reported that the risk of developing alcohol related problems when compared to abstainers were;
- 14.6 times for alcohol abusers, and
- 6.0 times for low volume drinkers
The proportion of these 1,700 people who developed alcohol dependence / alcoholism was;
- 10.2%, for heavy drinkers
- 4.0%, for low-risk drinkers and
- 2.9%, for abstainers
The researchers conclusions:
>> Abstinence represents the most stable form of resolution for most recovering alcoholics.