A Solution for Alcohol Dependency: Discovering the Sinclair Method
Key Takeaways:
The Sinclair Method (TSM) offers a science-backed solution for alcohol dependency without requiring immediate abstinence.
Central to TSM is the use of Naltrexone, a medication that blocks the brain’s reward response to alcohol.
With guidance and support, users can gradually reduce their alcohol consumption and regain control.
Rethink Drink provides resources like a free mini course and one-to-one coaching to help you succeed with TSM.
This method can offer hope to those who’ve tried traditional abstinence-based recovery routes without success.
Understanding Alcohol Dependency
Alcohol dependency doesn’t always look like rock bottom. It can wear a thousand faces: daily drinking that starts creeping earlier, the nagging worry about health or relationships, or the quiet fear that things are slipping out of control.
Traditionally, the path to recovery has been abstinence — quitting entirely, often with the support of meetings, rehab, or willpower alone. But what if you’re not ready to stop completely? What if your brain isn’t letting go that easily?
Enter the Sinclair Method — a medically proven alternative that’s changing how we view and treat alcohol dependency.
What Is the Sinclair Method?
The Sinclair Method (TSM) is a harm-reduction approach that helps people gradually reduce their drinking using a prescription medication called Naltrexone. Instead of quitting cold turkey, you take Naltrexone before drinking, allowing your brain to slowly disconnect alcohol from pleasure over time — a process known as Pharmacological Extinction.
This rewiring process gives the brain a chance to let go of the habit naturally, helping people reduce cravings and drink less over time — often significantly or even entirely.
How It Works: Step-by-Step
Take Naltrexone 1-2 hours before drinking: This blocks the reward response in your brain.
Drink as you normally would: No immediate need for abstinence — just consistency.
Repeat this pattern every time you drink: Skipping the pill breaks the extinction process.
Watch cravings gradually decline: Your brain begins to disassociate alcohol from pleasure.
Choose your next steps: Some reduce significantly, others stop entirely — both are valid outcomes.
The Science Behind Naltrexone
Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist — a type of medication that blocks opioid receptors in the brain. These receptors are also activated by alcohol, which is what creates that “buzz” or euphoric sensation.
By taking Naltrexone before drinking, you disrupt this reward loop. Your brain learns that alcohol no longer brings the expected pleasure, and the craving begins to fade.
This approach is backed by over 90 clinical trials and decades of research, particularly in Europe. It's already been a lifeline for thousands of people who didn’t succeed with abstinence-based programmes.
Who Is the Sinclair Method For?
TSM isn’t a magic fix, but it’s a highly effective option for people who:
Feel stuck in a pattern of regular or heavy drinking
Are not ready to quit alcohol completely
Have tried willpower or abstinence without long-term success
Want a medically-backed way to take control over drinking
You don’t need to label yourself as an “alcoholic” to benefit. The method is flexible, discreet, and designed to meet you where you are right now.
The Role of Support and Coaching
While the medication is central to TSM, support and guidance are what make the real difference.
At Rethink Drink, we provide personalised coaching, education, and tools to help you navigate the process confidently. This includes:
One-to-one coaching sessions
Progress tracking tools
Behavioural change strategies
A free screening call to explore whether TSM is right for you
TSM works best when paired with ongoing support. Having someone in your corner makes the difference between knowing the method and sticking with it long enough to see results.
Success Stories and Hope
Thousands have successfully used the Sinclair Method to regain control over their lives. Some cut their drinking by 50% in just a few months. Others achieve full abstinence — on their own terms and without the trauma of sudden withdrawal or shame.
Many say they didn’t realise how much alcohol had taken over until they felt the freedom of not needing it. That freedom is possible, even if it feels out of reach today.
How to Get Started with the Sinclair Method
We make it easy to begin your journey:
Take our free mini course to learn the basics of TSM and how it can work for you.
Book a free screening call to get personalised advice and explore coaching options.
Start taking back control, one small, supported step at a time.
Final Thoughts
Alcohol dependency doesn’t need to mean a lifetime of struggle or denial. There is another way — one rooted in science, compassion, and freedom of choice. The Sinclair Method offers a realistic, research-backed solution that works with your brain and your life.
At Rethink Drink, we’re here to guide you through it — no judgement, just support. Let’s rethink what recovery can look like, together.
