Moderation is Key to Treating Substance Use Disorder

Even as millions of Americans struggle with abuse of one substance or the other every year,
very few of them seek treatment for their problem, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration (SAMHSA) has found out. As per SAMHSAs 2016 National Survey on
Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), although 21 million people aged 12 or older needed treatment
in the past year, only about 3.8 million sought it. In the age group of 12-17, 1.1 million needed
treatments for substance abuse but only 0.7 percent of them got it.
Most long-time drug users show reluctance in entering into rehabilitation. They fear that they
would have to abstain completely during their stay. Even those who are keen on forfeiting
their habits find it hard to adjust to the no substance abuse policy from day one. Complete
abstinence implies avoiding not only drugs, but also people and places that remind the users
of former times.
Shift towards moderation
In recent times, the
new way of dealing
with the opioid crisis is
moderation. In a
radical policy shift, the
U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA)
has been encouraging
the use of alternative
drugs, such as
methadone and
buprenorphine,
against the common
belief of complete
abstinence. FDA
Commissioner Scott
Gottlieb recently mooted a proposal that would facilitate treatment with an opioid substitute
for life, if necessary, for all those who suffer a nonfatal overdose. In fact, in Massachusetts,
more than 50 percent decrease was witnessed in the risk of death from overdose among
patients treated with methadone or buprenorphine after a nonfatal overdose. Gottlieb cited
the data to substantiate his point.
Not just opioids, but also other means of substance abuse such as alcohol show better results
when moderation is practiced rather than total abstinence. A 2012 paper on problem drinkers

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favored moderation management in cognitive restructuring and behavioral self-control
enhancement.
Some of the advantages of following a moderation policy are as follows:
Gets more people to the door: The policy encourages more people to attend a rehab
program. Many patients believe that the purpose of a treatment should be to rectify
problematic behaviors rather than forcing abstinence.
Helps distinguish between chronic and experimental use: Most college students experiment
with drugs and alcohol due to different reasons. Though it is a risky practice and involves risk
of getting addicted gradually, not every adolescent who experiments with a drug or a cocktail
develops a substance use disorder. Warning a teen about following abstinence arouses
further curiosity and in all probability, he or she will indulge more.
Fence-sitters more likely to seek help: Those with a neutral opinion about whether to opt for
treatment are more likely to seek help if moderation is advised. However, with time, they may
realize the advantages of staying sober and willingly choose a life of sobriety instead of being
forced to adopt one.
Being allowed to use a less potent drug provides comfort: Methadone and buprenorphine
are used to treat opioid addiction in some cases. They suppress the withdrawal symptoms
and reduce cravings by working on the same reward centers in the brain affected by other
drugs. Whether the drug seekers are aware of this or not, they may be relieved to know that
their drug habit is not fully curtailed.
Increased probability of a person continuing with the treatment: A person who is given the
option of moderation is more likely to continue with the treatment than the one without.
Road to recovery
Addiction to any addictive substance like prescription drugs, illicit drugs or alcohol can be
treated and detoxification is the first step. It is important in helping a patient respond
positively to medication and therapies by cleansing his or her body of the toxins. Detox can
be successful only when it is practiced under the supervision of a mental health expert. Self-
detox can be dangerous, or even fatal.
The Colorado Detox Helpline is a trusted resource that provides credible information about
various detox centers in Colorado offering specialized recovery programs. Call our 24/7
helpline 866-730-5807 for further information.

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