A recent study on the harm reduction drug Nalmafene, that researchers claim allows alcoholics to reduce their drinking by as much as a third, has me thinking about the relative merits of harm reduction versus abstinence as theories of recovery. This new drug has showed an ability to reduce quantities consumed, but alcoholics using the drug still drank to excess once in every three days. Is harm reduction as a treatment framework acceptable, and should we be satisfied with any treatment philosophy that does not solve the destruction caused by drug or alcohol addiction, and only reduces it?

People who wonder if they may have a problem with alcohol often seek reassurance from consumption guidelines, but as with everything related to use and dependency, nothing is concrete, and what may be safe for one, harmful to another. The best way to know whether your drinking has become problematic is simply to try taking a good long break from alcohol.

Can problem drinkers be taught to drink responsibly? Do alcoholics really have to quit for life?

Dr. Levy of Harvard University thinks they can, some of them anyway, and he has developed a system to help them drink, in controlled moderation.