stability, and greater personal resources.
They typically have not experienced
major losses because of their drinking
and have not exhibited severe withdrawal
symptoms, such as seizure or
delirium tremens, upon cessation of
past drinking. This article uses the
term “problem drinking” to describe
people who drink heavily or experience
occasional problems from drinking but
who do not have a history of severe
physical dependence on alcohol.2
Many problem drinkers choose to
reduce their drinking rather than pursue
abstinence as a solution to their
concerns about drinking. In response,
drinking-reduction approaches have
been developed to help problem drinkers
reduce alcohol consumption and minimize
risks associated with their drinking
(Rosenberg 1993). Abstinencebased
treatment strategies that have
been empirically evaluated with alcoholic
populations are easily and minimally
adapted to meet the needs of problem
drinkers who choose to pursue a goal
of abstinence. Because those abstinencebased
treatment strategies are described
elsewhere in this issue, this article focuses
on treatment approaches designed specifically
for problem drinkers with low
levels of physical dependence on alcohol
who choose to reduce their drinking.
After describing various drinkingreduction
techniques, the article also
reviews empirical evidence for drinkingreduction
training.