Only about 6 percent of the population that are alcoholic need to quit drinking completely in their recovery process, yet nearly 90 percent of treatment programs and substance abuse treatment practitioners require total abstinence from alcohol. Cynthia Turner is not one of them. ...

Can you still drink if you're an alcoholic?

The short answer is that true alcoholics cannot drink in moderation. There are times in an alcoholic's life when he or she can abstain from drinking. But if you look at their drinking careers at a macro level, there are two characteristics that every alcoholic has.

Why can't I stop drinking?

As the alcohol wears off, the brain has to stabilize again and produces cravings for more alcohol, which might be one of the reasons behind the struggle to stop during a night of drinking. Over time, these circuits can become ingrained, making cravings more difficult — or impossible — to resist.