The Sinclair Method (TSM): Why Everything You’ve Been Told About Alcohol Recovery Might Be Wrong

They told you the only way to beat alcohol addiction was to quit cold turkey and go to meetings forever. They were wrong. Here’s the science-backed approach that could work.

Let’s be honest-when it comes to alcohol addiction, the mainstream recovery playbook is broken.

You know the one:

You hit rock bottom, admit you’re powerless, white-knuckle your way through sobriety, go to meetings, and pray you don’t relapse.

If you slip up, you start over, stacking up those “days sober” like a precarious Jenga tower, hoping it doesn’t all come crashing down.

But what if I told you there’s another way?

A science-backed, medication-assisted method that helps people regain control over their drinking-without requiring them to quit cold turkey?

It’s called the Sinclair Method (TSM).

If you haven’t heard of it, that’s unsurprising.

Traditional recovery spaces don’t exactly roll out the red carpet for approaches that don’t require lifelong abstinence.
But here’s the deal: TSM works. It has a 78% success rate, which is way higher than the standard abstinence-based treatment models.

Harm reduction works!

Let’s break it down.

What Is the Sinclair Method (TSM)?

At its core, the Sinclair Method (TSM) is pretty simple: You take naltrexone, an opioid antagonist, before you drink, and over time, your brain stops associating alcohol with pleasure.
Unlike traditional treatments that demand immediate sobriety, TSM lets you keep drinking, but it changes the way your brain reacts to alcohol. Instead of reinforcing the drinking habit, naltrexone blocks the feel-good effects of booze.

And eventually? Your brain stops caring about alcohol altogether.

This process is called pharmacological extinction-basically, your cravings and compulsions for alcohol fade out because they’re no longer being reinforced.

It’s the opposite of the old-school “just say no” method. Instead of fighting cravings, you rewire your brain so the cravings… go away.

How Does the Sinclair Method (TSM) Work?

If you’re thinking, This sounds too good to be true, buckle up because the science is rock solid.

1. Take Naltrexone Before Drinking

• You take a 50mg dose of naltrexone at least one hour before you drink.
• This is non-negotiable-you have to take it every single time you drink.

2. Alcohol No Longer Feels Rewarding

• Normally, when you drink, your brain releases endorphins reinforcing the behavior.
• Naltrexone blocks this effect, meaning alcohol stops feeling as good as it used to.

3. Drinking Decreases Over Time

• Since alcohol isn’t giving you that same dopamine hit, your cravings naturally decline.
• Over weeks or months, most people drink less and less without trying.

4. “Extinction” of Alcohol Addiction

• Eventually, your brain stops associating alcohol with pleasure, breaking the cycle of addiction.
• Some people eventually quit drinking altogether, while others just drink occasionally and in moderation.

Why This Method Pisses Off Traditional Recovery Spaces

If TSM is so effective, why isn’t it mainstream knowledge?
Well, for starters, it challenges everything the recovery industry has built its foundation on-especially the idea that the only way to beat alcohol addiction is through lifelong abstinence.

Here’s how TSM differs from the traditional model:

Sinclair Method (TSM) versus Traditional Recovery

You take naltrexone before drinking. You must quit immediately
Drinking gradually reduces over time. Abstinence is the only “correct” path
No withdrawal or white-knuckling High risk of relapse and guilt cycles
Backed by neuroscience Based on spirituality & willpower
78% success rate, 10-30% success rate
Now, let’s be clear: TSM isn’t anti-recovery. It’s just anti-one-size-fits-all recovery.
For some people, AA and total sobriety work great. That’s awesome. But for a whole lot of others? The abstinence-or-nothing model is a set-up for failure.
TSM offers a way out of the relapse-guilt-shame cycle by giving people a gradual, science-based way to reduce drinking without quitting overnight.

Who Can Benefit from TSM?

The Sinclair Method (TSM) is a game-changer for those who wrestle with moderation but don’t want to quit drinking entirely.
It offers a science-backed way to retrain the brain, reducing cravings over time without requiring total abstinence.
Ideal for those seeking control rather than complete sobriety, TSM provides freedom from compulsive drinking. This method works best for people who struggle with moderation but don’t necessarily want to quit forever.

Conclusion

The Sinclair Method challenges everything AA and Abstinence-based only treatment programs have forced us to believe about alcohol recovery - and that’s precisely why it works.
Instead of forcing abstinence, it rewires the brain, giving people absolute control over their drinking.
It’s science, not shame, that leads to lasting change. If the old playbook has failed you, maybe it’s time to try something different.
Recovery isn’t one-size-fits-all - TSM proves there’s another way. The question is, are you ready to break free from the cycle?