Rethinking Drinking

William R. Miller, PhD, is Emeritus Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of New Mexico. He introduced motivational interviewing in a 1983 article and in the first edition of Motivational Interviewing (1991), coauthored with Stephen Rollnick. Dr. Miller’s research has focused particularly on the treatment and prevention of addictions and more broadly on the psychology of change. He is a recipient of two career achievement awards from the American Psychological Association, the international Jellinek Memorial Award, and an Innovators Award from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, among many other honors. His publications include 67 books and over 450 articles and chapters. His website is https://williamrmiller.net.Ricardo F. Muñoz, PhD, is Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of California, San Francisco, and Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Palo Alto University. He was also Adjunct Clinical Professor at Stanford University, and on the affiliated faculty in the Department of Psychology at the University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Muñoz was inducted as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in recognition of his distinguished contributions to the treatment and prevention of depression and the development of internet interventions to improve mental health worldwide.

This timely and balanced guide bridges rigorous science with real-world practicality. The authors make complex research understandable and usable, whether you want to reexamine your own drinking habits or support a loved one. Unlike many resources on alcohol, this book respects personal choice. I recommend it for its compassionate, nonjudgmental tone and step-by-step guidance.--Angelo M. DiBello, PhD, Center of Alcohol and Substance Use Studies, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyThis is one book where I don’t mind spoiling the ending: Drs. Miller and Muñoz wish you all the best in choosing your own way. With more than four decades of research, clinical practice, and authorship between them, they’ve learned that a simple binary--drink or don’t drink--doesn’t work for everyone. What we really need is information and guidance that helps us make the best decisions about whether and how we drink. That’s where Rethinking Drinking comes in. By the time you finish this book, you’ll have created an action plan and built the confidence to make your choices a reality.--Derek Brown, author of Mindful MixologyMany people today are rethinking their relationship with alcohol, and this book meets that moment well. Rethinking Drinking is calm, clear, and grounded. It helps you slow down, take stock, and make choices that fit your life, rather than forcing a single answer about drinking. This is a book you can actually use--not just read.--Akhil Anand, MD, addiction psychiatrist, Cleveland ClinicThis book empowers you to make informed choices about drinking that feel right to you. The exploration of the positive things people feel they get out of drinking--and ways to achieve these benefits without alcohol--is unique. I would recommend this book to friends and family members without hesitation.--Kate B. Carey, PhD, Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University School of Public Health-

• PrefaceI. Getting Started1. The Puzzle of Alcohol2. Reasons for Drinking3. Reasons for Not DrinkingII. Understanding Your Drinking4. The Effects of Alcohol When Drinking5. A Personal Checkup6. Choosing Your Own WayIII. Making the Changes You Want7. Setting Sensible Limits8. Keeping Track9. Slowing Down10. On the Spot11. Discovering Your TriggersIV. Getting What You Want without Expecting Alcohol to Give It to You12. The Healthy Management of Reality13. Kicking Back14. Having Fun15. Avoiding the Blues16. Feeling Good about Yourself17. Getting the Sleep You Need18. Tuning In instead of Out19. Quieting Fear20. Forming Relationships21. Keeping Relationships22. Moving AlongNotesIndex