It seems as if society puts two labels on alcohol users. You are either an alcoholic or you are a social drinker. But what if you fall somewhere in between? According to the CDC, moderate drinking is defined as one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men. So many patients can get confused about whether or not their alcohol intake in healthy. What if you have three drinks every night but you function well at work and in your personal life? Are you then a heavy drinker? These lines get a bit blurry.
A recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed —and reported by NPR–that the majority of those who drink more than 2 drinks a day are not, in fact, alcoholics and show no signs of alcohol dependence. However, even if you are not an alcoholic, heavy alcohol intake can lead to health problems such as weight gain and high blood pressure.
People who are worried about drinking sometimes think a group like AA is too extreme, especially if they do not consider themselves “alcoholics”. There is a new movement called “Moderation Management” for those who want to simply cut back and have a healthier relationship with alcohol. Moderation Management helps you to understand your reasons for drinking and provides you with tools to help cut back. You should visit Moderation Management’s website to learn more about this movement.