Evidence for Controlled Drinking in Diagnosed Alcoholics: A Critical Analysis of the Goodwin Et Al. Adoption Study

Abstract

The most controversial issue in the treatment of alcoholism surrounds the debate over the possibility of controlled social drinking for recovered alcoholics. Behavioral psychologists contend that alcoholism is learned behavior and that alcoholics can be trained to regain control over their drinking. On the other hand, proponents of the disease conception of alcoholism contend that it is impossible for alcholics to drink normally because they may have inherited a susceptibility to alcoholism. The recent adoption study by Goodwin et al. provides evidence for a hereditary basis for alcoholism and is used to support the disease conception. The present analysis shows that the Goodwin et al. study provides evidence supporting both the disease conception and the controlled drinking thesis. Implications for the treatment of alcoholism stemming from this analysis are discussed.