The program is for heavy drinkers who are not alcoholic and do not have symptoms of severe physical dependence on alcohol. It is designed to assist people who feel they are drinking too much or who are beginning to experience problems with drinking. Participants in DRP receive a self-help guide to sensible drinking that describes strategies to reduce alcohol use and break the habit of heavy drinking. The manual is specifically designed for home use and is accompanied by a 12-week schedule that outlines how to work through each chapter. After the 12 weeks, participants will be contacted for brief telephone interviews to monitor their progress and evaluate the program.
Participants receive payment for each follow-up interview they complete.
There are a total of five interviews. DRP is one of only a few treatment programs that offers a goal of reduced drinking. It was developed by Gerard Connors, Ph.D. , a psychologist and senior scientist who has been directing alcohol treatment studies at the RIA for 11 years. However, he cautions that drinking reduction is not appropriate for everyone, especially for those drinkers who are physically dependent on alcohol. If physical dependence problems are experienced, the drinker should consider quitting drinking and may benefit from seeking help from abstinence treatment programs.