Most drug users with long-term use, show hesitancy in entering into rehabilitation. They think that they would have to withdraw fully during their stay. Even persons who are keen on losing their habits find it difficult to adjust to the “no substance misuse policy” from day one. Complete moderation implies avoiding not only those substances but also places and people that remind the users of past times.

Shift towards moderation

In recent times, moderation is the new way to deal with the opioid crisis. In a fundamental policy shift, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been boosting the use of substitute drugs, such as buprenorphine and methadone, against the common certainty of complete self-denial. In fact, in Massachusetts, about a 50 percent decrease was observed in the risk of death from overdose among drug users treated with buprenorphine or methadone after a nonfatal overdose.

Not only opioids but also other means of substance use disorder such as alcoholism show better results when moderation is accomplished rather than total self-restraint. A 2012 paper on problematic drinkers preferred moderation management in “cognitive rearranging and behavior self-control development.”

Advantages of Moderation

Here are some of the specific advantages of the moderation policy:

Gets more people to the door

The policy inspires more people to attend rehabilitation programs. Many users believe that the aim of treatment should be to cure problematic behaviors rather than drive abstinence.

Helps distinguish between chronic and experimental use

Most students experiment with alcohol and drugs due to different reasons. It is a risky experiment and many among them become addicted gradually, not all teens who experiment with a cocktail or a drug develop a substance use disorder. Warning a teen about the following self-denial arouses further interest and in all probability, he or she will take more of those substances.

Fence-sitters more likely to seek help

People with a neutral faith about whether to go for treatment are more likely to pursue help if moderation is recommended. However, with time, they may understand the benefits of staying sober and keenly choose sobriety in their life instead of being forced to implement one.

Use of less potent drugs for comfort

Buprenorphine and methadone are used to treat some opioid addictions. They decrease the withdrawal symptoms and lessen cravings by working on the reward centers in the brain that is being affected by other opioids. Whether the drug users are aware of it or not, they may be reassured to know that their drug use is not fully curtailed.

Increased probability to continue with the treatment

People having the option of moderation are more likely to complete the treatment rather than the ones without.

Road to recovery

Detoxification is the first step in the way of addiction recovery. It is essential in helping addicts respond positively to therapies and medication by cleansing toxins from his/her body. Detox can be effective only when it is accomplished under the supervision of a mental health specialist. Self-detox can be unsafe, or even fatal.