Cited by 139Substance Abuse Treatment and OutcomesAlcohol Consumption and Health EffectsOpioid Use Disorder Treatment

Reduction in heavy drinking as a treatment outcome in alcohol dependence

Gastfriend, David R., Garbutt, James C., Pettinati, Helen M., Forman, Robert F.·2007·Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment

Abstract

In the field of clinical alcohol disorders treatment in North America, abstinence continues to be largely viewed as the optimal treatment goal; however, there is a growing awareness of limitations when abstinence is considered the only successful outcome. Although this issue has been discussed in research settings, new studies on the public health significance of heavy drinking (defined as five or more standard drinks per drinking day in men, and four or more standard drinks per drinking day in women) in the past 10 years suggest that clinical providers should consider the value of alternative outcomes besides abstinence. A focus on abstinence as the primary outcome fails to capture the impact of treatment on reduction in the pattern and in the frequency of alcohol consumption. In addition, evaluating reduction in drinking as "positive" has value for patients as an indicator of clinical progress. Measurement of continuous variables, such as the quantity and the frequency of alcohol consumption, has provided a clearer understanding of the scope of alcohol-related morbidity and mortality at the societal level, and of the relationship between individual patient characteristics and the naturalistic course of alcohol use, abuse, and dependence. A review of these characteristics suggests that there are clinical benefits associated with reducing heavy drinking in alcohol-dependent patients. Given the significant public health consequences associated with heavy drinking and the benefits associated with its reduction, it is proposed that researchers, public health professionals, and clinicians consider using reduction in heavy drinking as a meaningful clinical indicator of treatment response, and that outcomes be individualized to patients' goals and readiness to change.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.jsat.2006.09.008

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Authors
Gastfriend, D. R., Garbutt, J. C., Pettinati, H. M., & Forman, R. F.
Affiliations
  • Alkermes (United States) (US)
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
  • University of Pennsylvania (US)
Corresponding author
Gastfriend, David R.
Venue
Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2007-07
Volume
33
Issue
1
Pages
71-80
ISSN
0740-5472 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2048583110
Cited by
139
References
75
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 6
FWCI
0.54
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Alcohol Consumption and Health Effects
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
Keywords
heavy drinking, alcoholism, abstinence, treatment outcomes, drinking frequency, individualized treatment goals
MeSH terms
Alcohol Drinking, Alcoholism, Goals, Humans, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care, Temperance, United States

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