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Why Moderation After Addiction Usually Fails #addictionrecovery #sobrietyjourney #sobercurious

5 Jan 2026 · 1 min

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1:09

In this segment, Amber Hollingsworth addresses the common question of whether someone who has completed addiction treatment, resolved underlying triggers, and maintained a substantial period of sobriety can safely return to occasional moderate drinking, such as having a couple of drinks at a social event. She acknowledges the natural desire for occasional alcohol consumption—enjoying the taste and the social aspect—but ultimately argues that, for most individuals, moderation after a history of addiction is unlikely to succeed and is generally not advisable.

Chapters

Is it possible for someone to be able to drink in moderation after they've had addiction treatment and after they've addressed the underlying causes of the addiction, maybe the things that were triggering the addiction in the first place, and they've had a significant period of sobriety? Can that person go back to drinking in moderation? And I'm talking about Occasionally having a couple of drinks at a social event. It's so normal to want to know this question because when you think about recovery or you think about abstinence, it's an immediate thought for anybody to have is like, I don't want to give it up totally. I enjoy having a drink with dinner every now and then. Like socially, I enjoy doing this or that, and why can't I do it in a very small amount occasionally? And I can definitely see why people want to do that, especially if it comes to drinking. After a while, you get to the point where you like the taste. The answer is probably not, and I would say most probably not.