An Alcohol Harm Reduction Self-Help Manual

HHarm

reduction

Copyright © 2010The HAMS Harm Reduction Network

Aalcohol

Abstinence

MModerate drinking

SSupport group

from

How to Change Your Drinking: a Harm Reduction Guide to Alcohol

• Author: Kenneth Anderson

• Preface: Alan Marlatt PhD

• Introduction: Patt Denning PhD

• Edition: 2nd

• List Price: $17.00

• ISBN: 145383060X

• Page Count: 290

• Binding Type: US Trade Paper

• Trim Size: 8" x 10"

• Publication Date: Oct 05 2010

• Language: English

• Color: Black and White

Why Do We Need Harm Reduction

for Alcohol?

• Contrasting the different types of programs

• Moderate drinking programs• Abstinence-only programs• The alcohol harm reduction approach

Moderate drinking programs

• Moderate drinking programs are aimed at people with mild to moderate drinking problems

• Moderate drinking programs have strict drinking limits (e.g. the NIAAA recommends a limit of 14 beers per week for men and 7 for women) – they do not allow for alcohol intoxication

• Moderate drinking programs recommend that more severe problem drinkers or people who cannot maintain moderate limits seek an abstinence-only approach

Outcomes

• Moderate drinking programs tend to have a good success rate with mild to moderate problem drinkers

• Abstinence-only programs are a good fit for the people who choose them

• However, the NIAAA tells us that only 7% of people with an alcohol problem will seek treatment, and studies show that 2/3s of people drop out of 12 step treatment

• WHAT ABOUT EVERYBODY ELSE?• DO WE SAY “ABSTAIN OR DIE”?

• The most appropriate approach for people who are failed by abstinence-only approaches or moderate drinking programs is a harm reduction approach

• The more alcohol-related problems a person has, the greater the need for harm reduction – just as the more needles a person uses, the more the person needs clean needles

• The same type of compassionate and pragmatic strategies used in harm reduction programs for drugs can be used for harm reduction for alcohol

Harm Reduction and Intoxication

• A harm reduction approach to alcohol does not condemn recreational intoxication as a moral failing nor does it view recreational intoxication as a “disease”

• A harm reduction approach to alcohol recognizes that some people choose to get intoxicated because they receive certain benefits from doing so

• A harm reduction approach to alcohol seeks to minimize risks associated with alcohol use and alcohol intoxication

The HAMS Program

• The HAMS program supports goals of safer drinking, reduced drinking, or quitting alcohol altogether

• HAMS encourages individuals to pick goals which they feel are right for them and doable

• HAMS encourages individuals to prioritize goals and eliminate the riskiest behaviors first

• HAMS offers 17 optional elements which can be done in any order and a harm reduction toolbox to help people build their own individualized harm reduction programs

The 17 Elements of HAMS

• 1. Do a Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) of your drinking • 2. Choose a drinking goal--safer drinking, reduced drinking,

or quitting • 3. Learn about risk ranking and rank your risks • 4. Learn about the HAMS tools and strategies for changing

your drinking • 5. Make a plan to achieve your drinking goal • 6. Use alcohol-free time to reset your drinking habits • 7. Learn to cope without booze • 8. Address outside issues that affect drinking

• 9. Learn to have fun without booze • 10. Learn to believe in yourself • 11. Use a chart to plan and track your drinks and drinking

behaviors day by day • 12. Evaluate your progress - honestly report struggles -

revise plans or goals as needed • 13. Practice damage control as needed • 14. Get back on the horse • 15. Graduating from HAMS, sticking around, or coming back • 16. Praise yourself for every success!! • 17. Move at your own pace--you don't have to do it all at

once

My Drinking Goal Worksheet

Sample Drinking Goal Worksheet

The Harm Reduction Pyramid

Risk Ranking Worksheets

Drinking Plan Worksheets

Blank Drinking Chart

Sample Drinking Chart

Sample Tools from the Toolbox

• Cognitive Behavioral tools for abstinence or harm reduction• What causes blackouts and how to avoid them• What causes alcohol withdrawal and how to avoid it• Safe tapering information• Cannabis substitution for alcohol dependence• Dealing with a spouse’s drinking from a harm reduction

perspective • Limiting cash to reduce drinking• Drinking at home to avoid alcohol related problems

ThankYou!