Alcohol-Related Disorders: Psychotherapy's Role in Effective Treatment

For many people, drinking alcohol is nothing more than a pleasant way to relax. People with alcohol-related disorders drink to excess, endangering both themselves and those around them. This question-and-answer fact sheet explains how psychotherapy can help people recover from these potentially life-threatening disorders.

When does drinking become a problem?

For most adults, moderate alcohol use-no more than two drinks a day for men and one for women and older people-is relatively harmless. (A "drink" consists of 1.5 ounces of spirits, 5 ounces of wine or 12 ounces of beer, which contain