Chapter One: Are You Physically Addicted to Alcohol?

Now, there is a medically safe alternative to detox, which would prevent all these problems and risks. That alternative is - to cut your drinking down slowly but surely over a period of several weeks. The problem is that you are highly unlikely to manage to do this, if you've already become physically addicted to alcohol. That's the Catch 22. It is in the very nature of addiction, that you will be probably not be able to cease drinking in this manner, if you have already become physically addicted to alcohol.

In my NHS practice, I do not advise people who are physically addicted to alcohol to try this (slow but sure cut down of drinking over several weeks) unless they are very determined that they wish to give it a go. And simply because I know that we'll all be back to square one in several weeks time; I routinely include a medicated detoxification as part of the plan, as long as the patient is prepared to go along with this (most are).

Having said that, as a doctor, I do not advise you against trying this (slow but sure cut down over a period of at least several weeks) - it IS a medically safe alternative to a detoxification - if you want to, then give it a go - a few of you will succeed, but the large majority will not. If you choose this route to dry out, and you succeed, then I congratulate you. If you find after several weeks that you have made no progress, then please start reading this book again at that point.

But please remember this - do NOT attempt to stop drinking suddenly without a medicated detoxification - to do so will almost definitely fail (you will start drinking again), and may cause you irreversible damage in the meantime.

Next page .. Chapter One - How do i know if i'm physically addicted to alcohol?

How To Enjoy Life Without Alcohol index

The above information is copyright of Dr Bruce Trathen MBBS MRCPsych (2006). ISBN 0-9545164-0-0. The author grants permission for these guidelines to be downloaded, copied and distributed freely, but does not grant permission for their sale.