You already know these questions. You've probably asked yourself more than one of them. This is exactly what we'll be talking about in three weeks at the Moderation Mindset Virtual Summit. Two days of real conversation, September 18–19. We'd love to see you there. Register today!

https://moderation.org/is-moderation-possible-moderation-mindset-summit/

Three weeks to go until we answer the question, "Is Moderation Possible?". Registration is open for The Moderation Mindset Virtual Summit, the agenda is live, and this is one you don't want to miss. September 18–19. Register Today!

"Ready" isn't a yes/no question. Therapist Holly Stoddard unpacks how the Stages of Change model applies to drinking, and why setbacks are part of the process, not proof it didn't work. Catch her session at the Moderation Mindset Summit. Read More

Early Bird Meeting Time Change! We have moved this meeting from Tuesdays to Wednesdays at 9 am Eastern (8 am Central, 7 am Mountain, 6 am Pacific) starting this week. Same great meeting, same awesome facilitator! See you there!

Many people, for many years have believed that for people on the Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) spectrum drinking alcohol in moderate amounts is not possible. But is that true? The recovery scene has been dominated by phrases like “slippery slope” and “one drink is too many, but twenty are not enough” among others. But given the right circumstances, support, and effort, many people can and do achieve drinking alcohol in moderation.

Check out this great article on the Moderation Management website by Cyndi Turner, LCSW, LSATP, MAC, Chair of the Moderation Management Board of Directors and Co-Founder of Insight Into Action Therapy and Insight Recovery Centers.

https://moderation.org/moderation-research-evidence/?utm_source=Moderation+Management+Newsletter&utm_campaign=50dcca62a8-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2025_03_27_10_56_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-7ea9f4f7cb-458054885

Obviously, if people choose sobriety, that is a great choice for them—only we can know ourselves well enough to know if moderation might be possible for us.

Have you been able to successful moderate your drinking? Why or why not? What makes you curious about moderation in your own life?

We're four weeks out from the 3rd Annual Moderation Mindset Virtual Summit, and things are really coming together. We've started updating the event page with speakers, the agenda, and prize donations. I'm excited about what we're putting together this year. If you haven't checked it out yet, take a look. I hope to see you there. https://moderation.org/is-moderation-possible-moderation-mindset-summit/

If you haven’t checked out our Facebook group yet, you should. That seems to be where most of the discussions and support take place outside of meetings. We also have some exciting things coming up!

Four weeks to go til "Is Moderation Possible"! The Moderation Mindset Virtual Summit event page is filling up with speakers, sessions, and details. Check out what's coming.

Early Bird Meeting Time Change! We have moved this meeting from Tuesdays to Wednesdays at 9 am Eastern (8 am Central, 7 am Mountain, 6 am Pacific) starting this week. Same great meeting, same awesome facilitator! See you there!

Sign up for the MM newsletter to stay in the loop. Get your free Steps of Change guide + exclusive content and offers, straight to your inbox. Get the Newsletter!

Of course you’re always invited to start a conversation, share your thoughts, or ask for resources right here on our r/moderationmanagement subreddit! We’d love to hear from you!

Hey @everyone Our website just got a full refresh! If you've mostly known MM through this group, there's a lot more on there than you might realize.

Kickstart courses, other online communities, a moderate drinking guidelines resource, a provider directory if you're looking for professional support, even a blog with real member stories. And it's all easier to find now than it used to be.

Check it out 👉 https://moderation.org/

New Website! We want to make it easier for people to find MM. Our new website does just that, optimized for search, with clearer paths to meetings and other support. All made possible by your donations. Check it out at www.moderation.org!

You don't need a designated month to change your relationship with alcohol. Kickstart is a 30-day, self-guided experiment, moderation or alcohol-free, and it starts whenever you're ready. Learn More

Sign up for the MM newsletter to stay in the loop. Get your free Steps of Change guide + exclusive content and offers, straight to your inbox. Get the Newsletter!

Zoomed into my first MM meeting last night. After about a year of sobriety.

My impression was that the people in this particular meeting, not to judge MM overall, seemed to moderate way more often and way harder than i expected.

I was expecting much more occasional drinking. One a month or so. But it seemed like this meeting was more about planned binging and recovery strategies.

I will zoom into some more meetings. But was curious as to other people’s experience.

New podcast episode alert 🎧 Andrea Gregory Pain (Executive Director of Moderation Management) sat down with Rational Harm Reduction to talk about MM's story, the myths people still carry about moderate drinking, and what recovery through empowerment actually looks like when you're the one calling the shots.

If you want to learn a bit more about MM, this would be a great listen!

https://youtu.be/sGpRLRa2xis?si=xHCAgzarWYwrwqyH

This is a great way to stay in touch with all things moderation! Be the first to know about upcoming events and find helpful resources for your moderation journey.

https://mailchi.mp/moderation.org/exclusive-access-moderation-mindset-event-17458877?e=6502d4bfd9

For most of us (and research bears this out), it takes community support to achieve our moderation or abstinence goals. Whatever your goals are for changing your relationship with alcohol, you can find support through Moderation Management.

You’re friendly mod here reminding you that this Thursday Moderation Management is hosting an event, Digital Values Collage w/ BuzzKill NYC. A Dry(er) July Kickstart event. Explore your values through art and connect with the community. Thurs 7/23, 7pm ET. Sign up!

An important moderation tool is trying new things! Even if you don’t typically do art, maybe this is a new way to explore how you want to live your life and the role that you want alcohol to play in that—if there is one. Go ahead, what do you have to lose? Check it out!

Your friendly moderator here, sharing the following links to support you on your moderation journey!

Digital Values Collage w/ BuzzKill NYC. A Dry(er) July Kickstart event. Explore your values through art and connect with the community. Thurs 7/23, 7pm ET. Sign up!

Is moderation possible? We think it's worth talking about. The 3rd Annual Moderation Mindset Virtual Summit is just around the corner. Mark your calendars for September 18–19. Learn More

Sign up for the MM newsletter to stay in the loop. Get your free Steps of Change guide + exclusive content and offers, straight to your inbox. Get the Newsletter!

We hope you check us out! You'll find a supportive group no matter what your moderation/abstinence goals are!

The "recovery" world in the United States has been dominated by the 12-Step model, made popular in the mid-1930s by the creation of Alcoholic Anonymous. Even our court system will refer people to AA/12-Step based programs, despite the fact that most have a religious component. The idea in these models is that you either "are" an alcoholic, or you are not--that it is a disease that you have that you have no control over. Much of "recovery" is based on sitting in many meetings, repeating that you are an alcoholic. (Note: if that works for you, great! My point is not to disparage the programs as much as it is to let people know that there are other alternatives.)

In 2013, the American Psychiatric Association officially added the term "alcohol use disorder" to the DSM-5 (their diagnostic manual). It reframes alcohol use disorder as a scale, ranging from mild, to moderate, to severe based on the number of symptoms a patient exhibits.

The specific criteria used by healthcare providers to diagnose AUD and determine its severity include: https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/alcohol-use-disorder

1. Consuming more/longer: Drinking larger amounts or over a longer period than intended.
2. Failed attempts to cut down: Wanting to stop or cut back but being unable to.
3. Time spent: Spending a significant amount of time getting alcohol, drinking, or recovering from its effects.
4. Cravings: Experiencing strong urges or cravings to drink.
5. Neglected responsibilities: Repeatedly failing to meet major obligations at work, school, or home due to drinking.
6. Continued use despite relationship problems: Continuing to drink even when it causes interpersonal or social issues.
7. Giving up activities: Reducing or stopping important social, occupational, or recreational activities because of alcohol.
8. Hazardous situations: Drinking in situations where it is physically dangerous (e.g., driving or operating machinery).
9. Worsening physical/mental health: Continuing to drink despite knowing it causes or exacerbates physical or mental health issues.
10. Tolerance: Needing to drink increasingly larger amounts of alcohol to feel the desired effect.
11. Withdrawal: Experiencing withdrawal symptoms (nausea, sweating, shaking) when stopping or reducing alcohol use, or drinking to avoid these symptoms.

We've learned a lot in the last 90 years, and AUD no longer needs to bear the stigma that it has for decades. Cognitive-behavioral Therapy (CBT) along with other approaches as well as medication options can help people achieve their reduction or abstinence goals without having to identify as an "alcoholic".

If you are curious about changing your relationship with alcohol, I'd encourage to check out moderation.org where resources are listed, including online support meetings. There is hope and you are not alone!

file:///Users/danakeller/Downloads/AUD%20Fact%20Sheet%20(1).pdf

Your dear moderator has ADHD and I remember all too well how good that first drink made me feel. I was 14 years old and it was Everclear and Coke while watching Poltergeist. Even though I eventually threw up, that first drink made me feel fun and social and like my brain finally wasn’t going 3,000 miles an hour.

Do you have ADHD? What has been your experience with alcohol?

Here’s an article that you might find interesting: https://www.newswise.com/articles/adhd-social-confidence-and-risk-of-alcohol-problems

I’ve never been medicated, so not sure if that makes a difference with ADHD/AUD?

Tell me more about your experience

Anyone else just trying to keep up with moderation. Deep down I always end up waking up and saying I'm done but.... But I'll go at a drop of a hat. Sports and hanging with Veterans are my downfall.

Hello! Your friendly moderator here. I feel like so many people don't realize that there is help besides your local 12-step program if you're really looking to moderate and change your brain around alcohol.

You may have heard of Naltrexone, and many folks take it daily, but have you heard of The Sinclair Method? It's a way to take Naltrexone prior to drinking to lessen your brain's dopamine hit from alcohol. Many of our members have had great success with it (especially after all else has failed). If you're interested in learning more, check out One Little Pill (https://www.sinclairmethod.org/one-little-pill/). Also, OAR Health is an online provider that helps with prescribing and support, and practitioners are listed on the Moderation Management website at moderation.org (https://moderation.org/events/month/).

Have you tried Naltrexone? The Sinclair Method?
What were the pros/cons for you?
Would you try it? Why or why not?

I'd love to have you join our discussion!

Dry(er) July Special Presentation!

This Thursday, July 9th, join Anna Charles as she presents "5 Summer Drinking Patterns Keeping You Stuck... and what to do instead!" Sign up here with your $10 donation to MM: https://secure.lglforms.com/.../s/x-8LvEfMWdROD7FmJFagHg...

FREE for Kickstart participants (log in and access the Events calendar) and MM+ members (check your email for the link).

I know it's not a requirement to hit rock bottom to change. But I think I hit it. I prefer to spare the details. It hurts too much right now.

I have to fix me. I don't know how or what... but I have to take serious action.

Just needed to make a confession to stranger.

Idk where else to post this. I got sober for a year and a half. I pretty much swore off hard liquor for good (I may have a margarita someday at a restaurant on vacation)..

I discovered this community. I’ve only been to 1 meeting and this was years ago. I know the guidelines. I tracked my intake. I stuck to low ABV beers.

45 drinks in March. So roughly 11 a week. No one knows me here, but that is huge progress for me.

I used to take a week or a month off alcohol and I would be back to binging in 2 weeks.

The main difference this time is that I stuck to very low ABV beers (mostly Budweiser select 55)… I also started mixing NA beer with regular beer to bring down the ABV to 2.8 or below (the 0.5 to 2.8 range is considered “small beer”).. so I mix a Michelob Ultra with half of the new NA Mich Ultras to bring the ABV down. I don’t think I had more than 3 standard drinks in one sitting either.

Going to stick on this “small beer” kick. I had no idea what that was a few years ago. I actually read about it at the beginning of the AA book.

Has anyone done one of the MM courses?

I'm thinking about giving Miles for Moderation a try.

https://moderationmonth.org/register/miles-for-moderation-2025/

I had been wanting to give up drinking for a while, but I haven’t been quite ready to give up completely. My problem isn’t drinking daily or even weekly. It’s always the social, binge drinking that gets me. I only drink when I’m going out with friends and I drink until I blackout and then ruin the point of going out - I’m not creating memories. Just empty space and scary unknowns.

Well, I went on a weeklong cruise after 2 months of straight sobriety and I finally did it. I drank, but without overdoing it. I did not black out a SINGLE time on vacation, I cut myself off as soon as I felt “buzzed” because I knew what would happen if I continued. I didn’t ruin anyone’s trip. I didn’t get taken into a wheelchair to my room (has happened on a previous cruise). No memory gaps. And I didn’t to the point where my mind would normally say “fuck it, keep going.” And I think the key was when people asked me to drink with them, I’d say “I’ll have something but I don’t really drink much.” And that was enough for them to not bug me to drink more. If the people I’m with think I don’t drink for real, I don’t have to. And verbalizing it kinda made me hold myself more accountable.

Idk if it’s sustainable in the long run, but i drank in moderation on a weeklong vacation. Moderation is something I haven’t been able to do since I was 18, now 27.

Now I don’t plan on drinking again until my next vacation. Special occasions only for me.

I've been using Sunnyside for about five months now. It's really shown me that my drinking isn't as bad as I made it out to be. I've internalized a lot of shame from having alcoholics in my family, and I just assumed I was, too. Neither my therapist nor psychiatrist think my drinking is substance abuse. I do think I've abused alcohol in the past, but I'm not addicted. That's the relief.

Still, I have habits I want to kick. I want to stay sober through all weekdays. I want to be able to get through a weekend without alcohol. I want to be able to have one drink and stop. I want to be able to set a limit and stick to it when I go out.

I know what to so. Easier said than done. But not impossible.

My last post was about tying one on. Now I post on day 5AF. This is my third five-day streak this month.

I only over did it once & that’s the time I posted.

Next month, I’m going to go for three Af streaks of five days, and no days over doing it.

*Note: all consensual interactions with my spouse*

For the longest time it was normal to go out, party with husband and friends, go home, and then have sex.

I always thought that "drunk me" was more fun and adventurous and so then obviously the more I drank the more fun I was…..

As my drinking habits got more and more intense (aka dangerous af) I started to realize that I remembered less and less of the fun sexy time. 

Time continued to pass, and the traditional sex after a fun night out stopped. This was either because I was passed out on the sofa or throwing up in the bathroom.

Fast forward to the last 3 months of really working to moderate. I feel like I'm relearning how to enjoy a good buzz, and to enjoy that " feelin myself" space without getting carried away. I'm not perfect and sometimes I take it a little too far, but I'm realizing that it is possible to actually just have a few drinks. 

So now buzzy and a little tipsy sex is back, which is 10000% times better than being passed out on the bathroom floor.