Nancy Shute and Laura Tangley

In the following viewpoint, Nancy Shute and Laura Tangley explain a new approach to alcoholism: programs that teach problem drinkers how to moderate their consumption of alcohol. According to the authors, many problem drinkers can modify their drinking habits instead of giving up alcohol entirely. Shute and Tangley are reporters for U.S. News & World Report magazine.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. What is the distinction between a problem drinker and an alcoholic, in Shute and Tangley’s view?
2. What advice do most treatment programs apply to all problem drinkers, according to the authors?
3. What evidence do the authors provide to support the effectiveness of brief intervention programs aimed at helping people to moderate their drinking"

There are 40 million problem drinkers in the United States— people whose drinking causes economic...