How to Change Your Drinking: a Harm Reduction Guide to Alcohol

by Kenneth Anderson, Patt Denning (Introduction), G. Alan Marlatt (Preface)

Harm reduction is the single most effective approach to drug and alcohol problems because harm reduction uses pragmatic, evidence-based strategies that work. This book is the first comprehensive compilation of harm reduction strategies aimed specifically at people who drink alcohol. Whether your goal is safer drinking, reduced drinking, or quitting alcohol altogether, this is the book for you. It contains a large and detailed selection of harm reduction tools and strategies which you can choose from to build your own individualized alcohol harm reduction program. There are many practical exercises to help people change their behaviors, including risk-ranking worksheets, drinking charts, goal choice worksheets, and many more. There are also innumerable practical tips from folks who "have been there" and have turned their drinking habits around for the better. This book exemplifies the harm reduction principles of "meeting people where they are at" and encouraging people to change in ways which they choose for themselves. This book can either be used as a self-help manual for people working on their own or by people who are participating in a harm reduction support group. BETTER IS BETTER!!

Genres: Psychology

286 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 15, 2010

About the author

Kenneth Anderson, MA is the author of the book How to Change Your Drinking: a Harm Reduction Guide to Alcohol--your one stop guide to safer drinking, reduced drinking, or quitting alcohol altogether. Mr. Anderson is also the founder and CEO of The HAMS Harm Reduction Network. HAMS is the first world-wide, lay-led, free-of-charge support group for people who drink alcohol which is based on the principles of harm reduction. He has worked in the field of harm reduction since 2002--his experience ranges from work in needle exchange to work in moderate drinking programs and everything in-between. He presented "Harm Reduction Strategies for Heavy Drinkers" at the 7th National Harm Reduction conference in 2008 and will present "An Alcohol Harm Reduction Self-Help Manual" at the 2010 conference. He has been a regular guest speaker at the Harlem Hospital Harm Reduction Program, The Lower East Side Harm Reduction Center, and many other venues.

Reviews

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good overview of harm reduction for alcohol use. I think people who use alcohol as well as those in the helping professions can benefit from the information in this book. But I can’t give a 5 to a book that has too many grammatical errors. :(

[David Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent harm reduction guide

comprehensive, well researched and well written guide with practical exercises and worksheets to put the principles discussed to practical use.

[Eve · Rating 5 out of 5]

good book with lot's of practical advice on how to get rid of the evil curse

[Kimberly Winters · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is written from the harm reduction perspective on substance use which is not for everyone! The author had a bad experience with Alcoholics Anonymous and felt there were not enough helpful resources that did not also require a 12 step philosophy. He wrote and published this himself and runs a network and podcast that I have found very helpful and informative in terms of getting a wide and varied perspective on the various approaches to recovery. (Called HAMS Network). Helpful network and book for people who struggle with substance use but are not yet convinced that abstinence is for them.

[Pranger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Might work for some people....take care y'all....