Reduced-risk drinking as a treatment goal: what clinicians need to know

Reduced-risk drinking as a treatment goal for clients with alcohol problems has received limited acceptance in the United States. The majority of literature addressing reduced-risk drinking has focused on debates between proponents of traditional abstinence treatment and those supporting nonabstinence treatment. Proportionately little attention has been given to objective consideration of the potential advantages of integrating both abstinence and nonabstinence goals as part of a comprehensive continuum of treatment for clients with alcohol problems. Further, there is a lack of guidelines available to assist clinicians in treating and supporting clients with nonabstinence goals. The purpose of this article is to review the potential advantages of reduced-risk drinking for clients with alcohol problems and to forward strategies designed to assist clinicians in safely treating clients who wish to reduce rather than abstain from drinking alcohol. Current gaps in the literature and implications for future research are identified.