Talking about abstinence….
Alcoholics Anonymous
This phenomenon [of craving], as we have suggested,
may be the manifestation of an allergy which differentiates
these people, and sets them apart as a distinct entity. It has
never been, by any treatment with which we are familiar,
permanently eradicated. The only relief we have to suggest
is entire abstinence. [The Big Book, page xxviii]
http://www.nokama.com/bigbook/index....ing=abstinence
Relapse means returning to a drug of abuse after a period of abstinence. According to the disease model, resuming any addictive drug, not just the original drug of choice, constitutes a relapse.
http://silkworth.net/information/abstinence.html
With true alcoholics, it is never a question of control or moderation. Their only out is absolute abstinence.
Alcoholics Anonymous might well make the last two words of the preceding paragraph the second meaning of "A.A."
http://silkworth.net/aahistory/houston_press1940b.html
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SMART Recovery
Why abstinence? What we know is that after one has developed a severe
addiction, the simplest, easiest, safest and surest way to keep from repeating
past behaviors is total abstinence. This is not to say one may not go thorough a period of "day at a time," or "week at a time," or even try a "harm reduction" approach.
Still, if you want the easiest way to minimize the problems in your life, go for abstinence eventually. It actually is much easier to just give it up entirely
than punish yourself trying to moderate or control your addictive behavior.
Studies have shown that regardless of the method employed to become sober, the number one factor for sobriety success is a permanent commitment to discontinue use permanently; a commitment to abstinence.
http://www.smartrecovery.org/articles.htm
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LifeRing
"Sobriety" can mean different things in dictionaries, but in LifeRing it always means abstinence. The basic membership requirement is a sincere desire to remain abstinent from alcohol and "drugs."
LifeRing welcomes alcoholics and addicts without distinction, as well as people involved in relationships with them. Please look elsewhere for support if your intention is to keep drinking or using, but not so much, or to stop drinking but continue using, or stop using but continue drinking.
The successful LifeRing participant practices the Sobriety Priority, meaning that nothing is allowed to interfere with staying abstinent from alcohol and "drugs." The motto is "we do not drink or use, no matter what."
http://www.unhooked.com/lsr/three_s_philosophy.htm
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Secular Organization for Sobriety (SOS)
Sobriety is the number one priority in an alcoholic's or addict's life. As such, he or she must abstain from all drugs or alcohol. … To break the cycle of denial and achieve sobriety, we first acknowledge that we are alcoholics or addicts.
We reaffirm this truth daily and accept without reservation the fact that, as clean and sober individuals, we can not and do not drink or use, no matter what. Since drinking or using is not an option for us, we take whatever steps are necessary to continue our Sobriety Priority lifelong.
http://www.secularhumanism.org/sos/
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Moderation Management
Problem drinkers can make informed choices about moderation or abstinence goals based upon educational information and the experiences shared at self-help groups.
* Harm reduction is a worthwhile goal, especially when the total elimination of harm or risk is not a realistic option.
* People should not be forced to change in ways they do not choose willingly.
* Moderation is a natural part of the process from harmful drinking, whether moderation or abstinence becomes the final goal. Most individuals who are able to maintain total abstinence first attempted to reduce their drinking, unsuccessfully. Moderation programs shorten the process of "discovering" if moderation is a workable solution by providing concrete guidelines about the limits of moderate alcohol consumption.
http://www.moderation.org/assumptions.shtml
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Rational Recovery
"Sober" means, "Just for now."
"Abstinent" means, "For good."
Rational Recovery does not actively support moderate drinking or "controlled" drinking or efforts to reduce the harm from using drugs. We deny any difference between a problem drinker and a real alcoholic.
….. Even small amounts of alcohol or drugs impair the judgment necessary to stick with earlier decisions to drink moderately….
….If you have an established pattern of harm to yourself or others or have failed in any of your roles and responsibilities resulting from the use of alcohol, the continued use of any amount of alcohol places you at extreme high risk of new and greater problems.
We recommend lifetime abstinence from alcohol and other drugs for anyone experiencing problems related to drinking or using. Planned abstinence is quick, easy, cost-free, and risk-free, and it feels good immediately and in the long run.
….Once you have repeatedly crossed the threshold of deep pleasure into drunkenness, there is a strong liklihood that you will re-addict yourself with amazing efficiency.
http://rationalrecovery.org/faq.html
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Stanton Peele
[referring to Harm Reduction principles:]
1. While absolute abstinence may be preferable for many or most substance abusers, very few will achieve it, and even that small group will take time to do so and may relapse periodically…..
Learning to take care of oneself is a skill, a value, and an attitude. To say one accepts that human beings are imperfect does not mean that you endorse their imperfection. You want to encourage those you are helping to greater heights and larger successes. But it is the recognition and encouragement of smaller successes that lead to such progress. In particular, helping people to think about how to take care of themselves, even if they continue to drink and take drugs, may be an entirely new attitude for some people. When they first start getting medical care for health problems, or eating well or avoiding infection, or staying out of legal trouble, or getting a place to live, or accumulating money, etc., this new attitude can grow so that it crowds out all problem drug use or drinking.
http://www.peele.net/lib/smart.html