"Some people with alcohol problems can learn to moderate their drinking, while others cannot drink at all without serious consequences. For people in the first category, this book provides a uniquely practical way of addressing their drinking problems. It is written with clarity and with illuminating clinical examples that will be valuable to both drinkers and their families."--Marc Galanter, MD, Division of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, NYU School of Medicine

"If you want to build a healthier relationship with alcohol, this highly readable book is a gold mine of practical information based on the latest scientific studies. Filled with wonderfully detailed examples, tips, and tools, this is destined to become the guide for people seeking to make the best personal decisions about the role of alcohol in their lives. The discussions of overdrinking, "dumb drinking," harmful drinking, and dependent drinking are by themselves worth the price of the book. Finally, a book that eschews labels and just provides commonsense advice on how to drink smarter and how to figure out if you shouldnt be drinking at all. The authors are to be commended for injecting a breath of reason into a long, acrimonious debate that has generated more heat than light."--William L. White, author of Slaying the Dragon

"This book is a gem for drinkers who want to cut down. Drs. Miller and Muñoz have taken a complex topic and distilled it to its essence. Unlike many self-help books that tout how easy it is to change your behavior, Controlling Your Drinking takes an honest, balanced approach. While not everyone who overdrinks can learn how to moderate their drinking, this guide tells you what you need to know and do if you are to be successful. I wholeheartedly recommend this book."--Reid K. Hester, PhD, Behavior Therapy Associates, Albuquerque, New Mexico

"Controlling Your Drinking provides something few of us are ever given: practical, nonjudgmental guidance on how to drink responsibly. The book respectfully empowers the reader with skills to take charge of problem drinking. The renowned authors offer straightforward, research-based strategies for knowing if and when controlled drinking might work, how to go about it, and what to do if the approach is not for you. This book offers a potpourri of tactics not only for managing your drinking, but also for managing your life."--Anne M. Fletcher, MS, RD, author of Sober for Good

"Clear, concise, non-judgmental and practical, it lays out the facts that are often obscured in the heated debate over alcohol treatments....The new book offers tools for successful moderation...as well as tactics for dealing with common challenges."--Publishers Weekly

“...the authors provide excellent advice and suggestions to follow when drinking, alternatives to consider before drinking, and ideas for replacing alcohol with other healthful activities. Throughout are numerous practical tools and techniques that anyone can grasp. Eschewing the traditional, faith-based 12-step approach to total abstinence-which many people find intimidating-the authors have written a standout title in the growing field of alcoholism treatment. Highly recommended for all public libraries and university libraries supporting the helping professions.”--Library Journal

This is a book for anyone who's worried about needing a third glass of wine to fall asleep; anyone who loves TGIF celebrations but hates missing his or her child's Saturday-morning ball game; and anyone who knowshe or she won't lose weight unless martinis are given up along with the fettuccine Alfredo. Studies indicate that 10% of Americans--nearly 30 million of us--drink more than we should. Based on 30 years of research, William Miller and Ricardo Muñoz argue that for many people abstinence isn't the only healthy alternative. Controlling Your Drinking shows readers how to become moderate drinkers by making small changes in everyday behavior. After reviewing the research supporting their treatment approach, Miller and Muñoz outline a simple, pragmatic, and adaptable plan for achieving the results you want. Balancing a compassionate, hopeful tone with dry wit, Controlling Your Drinking is an easy-to-follow, science-based approach to moderation that avoids labels and moralizing.

William R. Miller, PhD, is Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of New Mexico. He is the author of numerous books, including <i>Motivational Interviewing</i>, a modern classic in the field of addiction treatment. Dr. Millers research, which focuses on providing a broader and more effective range of treatment approaches for people with alcohol and drug problems, has been supported by a 15-year Research Scientist Award from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. He is a recipient of the international Jellinek Memorial Award for excellence in alcoholism research.

Ricardo F. Muñoz, PhD, is Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, and Chief Psychologist at San Francisco General Hospital. His major areas of expertise include addictive behavior, the prevention and treatment of depression, and how depression affects substance use. He has coauthored several books, including <i>Control Your Depression</i> and <i>The Prevention of Depression</i>.

Contents

I. Introduction

1. Thinking about Drinking

2. Why Change?

3. Is Moderation for You?

II. When You Drink

4. Getting Started

5. Keeping Track

6. Taking Charge

7. Slowing Down

8. Refusing Drinks

9. Affirming Your Progress

10. Moving Along

III. Before You Drink

11. Discovering Your Triggers

12. Places

13. People

14. Days and Times

15. Feelings

16. Other Triggers

17. Summary: Before You Drink

IV. Instead of Drinking

18. Changing Yourself by Living "As If"

19. Maintaining Your Minimum Daily Requirement of Pleasant Activities

20. Talking Caringly and Wisely to Yourself

21. Sleeping Well

22. Relaxing

23. Managing Anxiety and Fear

24. Coping with Negative Moods and Depression

25. Maintaining a Positive Self-Concept

26. Being Assertive

27. Relating to Others

V. How Are You Doing?

28. When Abstinence Seems Like the Best Choice for You

29. Sources of Help

Appendix A. The Wrath of Grapes: Reasons for Concern ? Appendix B. An Inventory of Alcohol-Related Problems ? Appendix C. Tables for Estimating Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)