# In which scott evil bares his soul and admits he has a problem **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 4, 2002, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-scott-evil-bares-his-soul-and-admits-he-has-a-problem/135253 "2002-11-04T20:21:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2002, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-scott-evil-bares-his-soul-and-admits-he-has-a-problem/135253/61 "2002-11-09T13:07:53Z")
You can do it. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2002, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-scott-evil-bares-his-soul-and-admits-he-has-a-problem/135253/62 "2002-11-09T15:36:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Coldfire \* > Out of curiosity, a general type of question. Are there any ex-alcoholics that managed to just “cut back”, instead of quiting altogether? The only alcoholic I’ve ever known never stopped drinking, so I have very little experience with this, but the overwhelming majority I’ve read about over here seems to be of the “one drink after 5 years of sobriety, and you’re an acoholic again” persuasion. For what it’s worth, there is at least one “drinking in moderation” program for alcoholics out there, but heck if I can remember the name of it at the moment. Many alcoholics and people involved in treating it seem to think that this just isn’t a wise move; others claim to have had some success. As a wild guess, I would bet that cutting out alcohol completely is safer for most people with alcoholism. ---
**Author:** ![scott\_evil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@scott\_evil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scott_evil)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2002, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-scott-evil-bares-his-soul-and-admits-he-has-a-problem/135253/63 "2002-11-09T17:38:17Z")
It’s called Moderation Management. You’re supposed to abstain from alcohol for 30 days, after which you set some kind of limit. IIRC, MM itself does not recommend its own program for alcoholics, only heavy drinkers. There’s a fine line there, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2002, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-scott-evil-bares-his-soul-and-admits-he-has-a-problem/135253/64 "2002-11-09T19:20:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Coldfire \* > \*\*If I drink 2 beers a night (which is a fair estimate), it doesn’t make my body crave for alcohol when I don’t drink for a couple of days (which also happens). So, either the threshold for physical addiction to alcohol is higher, or the addiction is mainly psychological in its nature (the aforementioned addictive personalities), or perhaps even both. > > In any case, thanks for your frank answers, guys. \*\* People’s response to drugs varies. Since so little is known about the details of alcoholism anyone who has previously had serious problems and quit is taking a big risk in trying any sort of “alcohol management” program. If you keep on doing the same things why should you expect different results? Once I got the hang of it, which can take quite a bit of time, I found that alcohol wasn’t important any more. My main objection is still that setting some kind of limit keeps alcohol consumption in an important place in the daily routine and that is something an alcoholic doesn’t need. ---
**Author:** ![Hugh\_Jass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/4da419/32.png) [@Hugh\_Jass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hugh_Jass)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2002, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-scott-evil-bares-his-soul-and-admits-he-has-a-problem/135253/65 "2002-11-09T19:55:57Z")
Scott It took a lot of guts to bare your soul in front of thousands of (essentially) strangers. I admire your honesty and bravery in posting this. I don’t think we’ve ever had a discussion, or quoted one another, on this message board, but I’ve read your posts, and have noted that you seem to be an all-around good guy. You is good people, don’t forget that. You’re in my thoughts ---
**Author:** ![Regina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d78d45/32.png) [@Regina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regina)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2002, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-scott-evil-bares-his-soul-and-admits-he-has-a-problem/135253/66 "2002-11-09T21:26:20Z")
Scott, Another one you don’t know who has enjoyed your posts but I didn’t realize how much guts you had. I know how difficult it is for someone to own up to the fact that the bad things happening to their mind and body are directly related to alcohol consumption which is out of control, and then to take the further step of realizing that they must gain back that control or they will probably die early. My first (ex) husband was not able to do the second and died at 34. You are too special to allow that to happen to you. I think you are different, stronger and more self-confident, and you _will_ succeed, and perhaps in the future will help others do the same, because you seem like that kind of guy. Don’t think of it as “quitting,” think of it as giving yourself back your life and your control. It’s a gift to yourself. You can handle just fine the trials and tribulations of life while sober. You don’t have to drink to deal with things. Sorry I’m getting preachy. PS to the Limited Use question: For about the last three years up until several months ago I smoked no more than 5 cigs a day. For the past several months I have had 3 a day, sometimes only one or two. I don’t know if this has any bearing on anything. And I owe a lot to Wellbutrin for this recent decline. ---
**Author:** ![Freyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freyr/32/5763_2.png) [@Freyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freyr)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2002, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-scott-evil-bares-his-soul-and-admits-he-has-a-problem/135253/67 "2002-11-09T22:01:31Z")
Hey, **Scott Evil** , Here’s another Doper cheering you on! We have faith in you! If you need someone to talk to, just email me, I’ll be happy to listen! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-scott-evil-bares-his-soul-and-admits-he-has-a-problem/135253.md?page=3)