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| Can an alcoholic have an occasional drink? | Can an alcoholic have an occasional drink? |
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| WHO, WHAT, WHY? The Magazine answers... Kerry Katona: Is it all or nothing for an alcoholic?Kerry Katona says she is an alcoholic, but can control her addiction enough that she can drink. How does this square with the abstinence mantra of many recovery programmes? | WHO, WHAT, WHY? The Magazine answers... Kerry Katona: Is it all or nothing for an alcoholic?Kerry Katona says she is an alcoholic, but can control her addiction enough that she can drink. How does this square with the abstinence mantra of many recovery programmes? |
| When pop singer turned reality TV stalwart Kerry Katona went public with her alcoholism at the weekend, she made a rather surprising admission. "Yes, I still have a drink when I want to, like any other 28-year-old woman." | When pop singer turned reality TV stalwart Kerry Katona went public with her alcoholism at the weekend, she made a rather surprising admission. "Yes, I still have a drink when I want to, like any other 28-year-old woman." |
| Yet the popular image of someone who says "I am an alcoholic" is that they will also have sworn off booze. Those at Alcoholics Anonymous aim for abstinence one day at a time. | Yet the popular image of someone who says "I am an alcoholic" is that they will also have sworn off booze. Those at Alcoholics Anonymous aim for abstinence one day at a time. |
| "The basic adage is that the first drink causes the problem," says AA spokesman Michael, whose own road to recovery started 10 years ago. "It's the first drink that opens the field for a second drink and then a third." THE ANSWER For those with severe dependence, abstinence is only optionOthers can change their drinking habits - but this isn't easy, and they may prefer abstinence Kerry Katona reveals drink battle | |
| But there are treatment programs, including on the NHS, where abstinence is not the only goal. "To say if you are alcoholic you must never drink again is over-simplified - alcohol dependence is on a continuum," says Nick Heather, emeritus professor of alcohol at Northumbria University. | But there are treatment programs, including on the NHS, where abstinence is not the only goal. "To say if you are alcoholic you must never drink again is over-simplified - alcohol dependence is on a continuum," says Nick Heather, emeritus professor of alcohol at Northumbria University. |
| But this does not mean those heavily dependent on alcohol - who suffer severe withdrawal symptoms such as the DTs, and drink to ward off these effects - can aim to be moderate drinkers in the future.Will one lead to another and another? | But this does not mean those heavily dependent on alcohol - who suffer severe withdrawal symptoms such as the DTs, and drink to ward off these effects - can aim to be moderate drinkers in the future.Will one lead to another and another? |
| "The evidence clearly shows that those with severe alcohol dependency are far more likely to achieve recovery with abstinence," warns Professor Heather, a clinical psychologist. | "The evidence clearly shows that those with severe alcohol dependency are far more likely to achieve recovery with abstinence," warns Professor Heather, a clinical psychologist. |
| There's no concrete definition of what an alcoholic is, rather experts talk of a sliding scale of alcohol dependency. | There's no concrete definition of what an alcoholic is, rather experts talk of a sliding scale of alcohol dependency. |
| But for those at the lower end of the scale - an estimated eight million in England alone - it's possible to return to drinking in a responsible manner. | But for those at the lower end of the scale - an estimated eight million in England alone - it's possible to return to drinking in a responsible manner. |
| "But it's not easy. It means giving up hard-drinking friends, giving up going to the pub, taking up hobbies they might have put aside long ago." | "But it's not easy. It means giving up hard-drinking friends, giving up going to the pub, taking up hobbies they might have put aside long ago." |
| A major study by the US's National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism in 2002 found that of the adults surveyed with alcohol dependency, 35.9% were fully recovered - with roughly equal proportions of abstainers (18.2%) and those who drank moderately (17.7%). WHO, WHAT, WHY? A regular feature in the BBC News Magazine - aiming to answer some of the questions behind the headlines | A major study by the US's National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism in 2002 found that of the adults surveyed with alcohol dependency, 35.9% were fully recovered - with roughly equal proportions of abstainers (18.2%) and those who drank moderately (17.7%). WHO, WHAT, WHY? A regular feature in the BBC News Magazine - aiming to answer some of the questions behind the headlines |
| For Michael, a mental obsession with alcohol is part of his condition. "Just one drink sets off the compulsion. If I had a drink, I'd want the next one. I was always one for sessions, I could never see the point of stopping at just one or two." | For Michael, a mental obsession with alcohol is part of his condition. "Just one drink sets off the compulsion. If I had a drink, I'd want the next one. I was always one for sessions, I could never see the point of stopping at just one or two." |
| Even when he began to attend AA meetings, having lost his family, his job and his home, it took a long time to accept that "just one" would do no harm. | Even when he began to attend AA meetings, having lost his family, his job and his home, it took a long time to accept that "just one" would do no harm. |
| "Every addict likes to think they're special - 'I'm slightly different and I'll be OK'. Even with the wreckage around me, I thought that." | "Every addict likes to think they're special - 'I'm slightly different and I'll be OK'. Even with the wreckage around me, I thought that." |
| For Michael, abstinence has turned out to be the answer. But the perception that this is the only cure deters many from seeking help, says Professor Heather. | For Michael, abstinence has turned out to be the answer. But the perception that this is the only cure deters many from seeking help, says Professor Heather. |
| Add your comments on this story, using the form below. | Add your comments on this story, using the form below. |