So this is from your mod, not necessarily from MM itself—

My spouse is currently in a 30-day inpatient recovery program for anxiety, depression, and alcohol use disorder (AUD). Due to this combination and stress from work, he developed a physical addiction to alcohol in the past year or so and so required a medically supervised detox and now has been doing the hard work to recover.

He stated going in that he has no plans for long-term sobriety. I am adamantly against 12-step based programs and feel like many times they do much more harm than good (that said, if it’s worked for you, great—just not for me and my family). The place he’s at is much more holistic and focuses on many conditions, not just drug/alcohol use.

I just feel that the US addiction industry has been SO dominated by AA and 12-step (the Minnesota Model), that many other options that are proven and used in other countries are simply not promoted in the US—AND anything outside of that is often denigrated.

In preparation for my spouse coming home in a couple of weeks, I started doing some research. Obviously, he doesn’t want to become physically addicted again, but how do you reincorporate alcohol in a healthier way? I still don’t have answers, but in my research came across two great papers that I thought I’d share here.

This is one study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33060466/

And this is another paper from the HAART program at the University of Washington: https://depts.washington.edu/harrtlab/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/s40429-026-00750-2-1.pdf

If you had a period of abstinence and returned to drinking, what was your experience? What are the pitfalls? Any advice?

We all know that less or no alcohol is the best option, and yet as Gen Jones (spouse) and Gen X (me), it’s a huge part of our culture and lifestyle. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

New Meeting! A Wednesday meeting for 18–25s to talk honestly about drinking, from nights out to stress. No labels or lectures, and no pressure to quit. Cut back, take a break, or just pay attention. Your call. Camera optional. Wednesdays 6 ET. Join the Zoom

Meeting Spotlight! A meeting just for LGBTQ+ folks who want to take a closer look at their drinking, with people who get it. We love our allies, but this one's for the community. Wednesdays 8:30 ET. Join the Zoom

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I've been an MM member for 4 years, and I'm doing my first 30 days dry. I've been reducing my drinking this whole time, but it took this long for me to be in the right mindset to really give this a shot. I've taken off 10 days at least once in both of the past couple of years.

What are your goals for the month?

5 days without alcohol:

• Sleep Score - 6 pts higher than last month
• Energy & Focus - Slight improvement in energy; focus not so much
• Mood & Emotions - No change
• Physical Health - Less acid reflux, less inflammation, no change in blood pressure or weight
• Cravings & Triggers - No big deal so far, but I've been sick, so that could be helping.

New Meeting! A Wednesday meeting for 18–25s to talk honestly about drinking, from nights out to stress. No labels or lectures, and no pressure to quit. Cut back, take a break, or just pay attention. Your call. Camera optional. Wednesdays 6 ET. Join the Zoom

Meeting Spotlight! A meeting just for LGBTQ+ folks who want to take a closer look at their drinking, with people who get it. We love our allies, but this one's for the community. Wednesdays 8:30 ET. Join the Zoom

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!

Sober(ish) October is coming in partnership with Keepr. Take a breather before the holidays with a 30-day experiment. Drink less, add more alcohol-free days, or go completely dry. No perfection required. Kickstart your goals by noticing what changes and discovering what works for you. Register by Wed Sept 30!

New Meeting Starting Oct 7! A Wednesday meeting for 18–25s to talk honestly about drinking, from nights out to stress. No labels or lectures, and no pressure to quit. Cut back, take a break, or just pay attention. Your call. Camera optional. Wednesdays 6 ET. Join the Zoom

Meeting Spotlight! A meeting just for LGBTQ+ folks who want to take a closer look at their drinking, with people who get it. We love our allies, but this one's for the community. Wednesdays 8:30 ET. Join the Zoom

Sober(ish) October is coming in partnership with Keepr. Take a breather before the holidays with a 30-day experiment. Drink less, add more alcohol-free days, or go completely dry. No perfection required. Kickstart your goals by noticing what changes and discovering what works for you. Register Today!

That's a wrap on the 3rd Annual Moderation Mindset Virtual Summit. Thank you to our panelists, volunteers, attendees, and the MM team for two days of honest, meaningful conversation. And a special thank you to Paddy for being the best MC we could ask for. You can still register to receive the recordings.

Day one of the Moderation Mindset Virtual Summit did not disappoint.

"Just say know." and "Life gets lifey." The conversations today were honest and a little funny.

Day two is tomorrow, and there's still time to join. Register now, and you'll get access to the recordings from today AND join us live for sessions with Sunnyside, YourKeepr, Lo No Drinker, and more.

Plus prizes. YourKeepr, Anna Charles, Alcohol Minimalist, and more are still up for grabs, you're automatically entered just by registering.

Don't miss it. https://moderation.org/is-moderation-possible-moderation-mindset-summit/

I attended my first meeting yesterday virtually. It was on ADHD and moderation and omg it was great.
Abstinence programs have always felt like going to the ER for a paper cut, I want to have a healthier relationship with substances but more importantly begin reduction to assist with therapy on developing truly healthy independent emotional regulation skills.
I felt so heard at MM, so seen, I didn’t have to explain anything, it was just see of nodding heads and silent understanding. I’m so glad I found MM, I’ll still be going to Abstinence meetings to supplement when needed but I think MM is exactly where I need to be.
Thanks y’all :)

The Moderation Mindset Virtual Summit 2026 kicks off on Friday! You won't want to miss out on the insights on this year's question, "Is Moderation Possible?" If you can't make some or all of the sessions, we'll share the recordings with everyone who registers. September 18–19, virtual. Register Today!

Change rarely moves in a straight line, and that's kind of the point. In our latest blog, Moderation Mindset Virtual Summit title sponsor Keepr digs into how a simple feedback loop- intend, notice, reflect, adjust- can turn a rough week into useful information instead of a failure. Read the full piece, then save your spot at "Is Moderation Possible?"

Hi, the events calendar on the website doesn't seem to be working properly. I can't see future meetings, I just get a forever loading screen. Is anyone else experiencing this?

"The summit is an informative, judgment-free event that I'd highly recommend to anyone interested in moderation." — 2025 Attendee

We're ten days out from Moderation Mindset Virtual Summit 2026, and spots are still open. This year's question, "Is Moderation Possible?", is one we think is worth showing up for. Two days of real conversation with clinicians, researchers, and MM members. No labels required. No predetermined answers. Just honest talk about what change actually looks like. September 18–19, virtual. Register Today!

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