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Alcohol - problem drinking - Management
What drinking targets should I advise in people who are drinking hazardous or harmful levels of alcohol?
- Aim for:
- Moderation in people who are drinking hazardous amounts of alcohol and who do not have overt signs of physical or psychological harm (set goals with daily and weekly limits of alcohol consumption).
- Abstinence only if there is alcohol-related organ damage or significant psychiatric illness. Consider abstinence if there is epilepsy, there are alcohol-related social problems, or other relevant comorbidities.
- If moderation is aimed for but not achieved, abstinence should be considered. Conversely, if abstinence is not possible, reduced drinking is preferable to no change.
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