Gamble Aware(formally the responsible gambling trust) 5 year strategy

I don't necessarily disagree with the cynicism around funding, but I still come back to my original question...

"isn't there a place for control/harm reduction strategies for those people who without it would just carry on as before. Some people just can't/won't stop. So what do we do for those people if abstinence and therapy is the only alternative? if it has to be total abstanace what happens to the people who cannot or will not follow that path"

Hi LB

Exactly, there is far too much focus on what makes for right or wrong recovery. My example of heroin and harm minimilisation was not to start a debate about heroin recovery. I merely wanted to highlight that we may have own beliefs about recovery from addiction however, if a person is unable to abstain and only reduce initially perhaps with support and encouragement they could reach total abstinence. This may or may not be the best statistical manor of recovery, however it is an attempt.

Your relative who has reduced alcohol intake may have a way to go but at least she is having a go . Sometimes the flaw in abstenance recovery is that when a person gives in they feel like a failure and think recovery is an impossibility.

When I was attempting to reduce my gambling with the aim of eventual complete abstinence my counsellor never reprimanded me for gambling but rather looked at how slowly I was getting better at getting closer to my goal.

The important bit in recovery is about remaining positive and sticking to goals. As someone who may be looking in, look at the progress made and encourage those positives.