NCJ Number
76998
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 44 Issue: 4 Dated: (December 1980) Pages: 52-56
Date Published
1980
Length
5 pages
Annotation
Recent insights concerning the nature of alcoholism are presented, and the role of probation officers in helping clients with drinking problems is discussed.
Abstract
In the past, alcoholism was seen as a hopeless, untreatable condition met with most often among skid row bums or persons of a certain nationality, socioeconomic class, or personality type. However, alcoholism is not limited to one type or class of person in society; it is a highly treatable disease, especially if it is diagnosed in its early stages. Alcoholism is now seen as a primary disease involving a broad range of social, emotional, and physical factors. As the disease develops, the alcoholics' day-to-day functioning becomes more problematic. Their memories start to fail and ego boundaries become more diffuse. Alcoholics must then find ways of compensating through the manipulation of significant others in their environment. They usually deny the disease and indicate that their real problems lie elsewhere. The disease affects the alcoholics' families by complicating interpersonal psychodynamics and causing economic problems, physical illness, and emotional isolation among the nonalcoholic family members. The stresses within such a family make them more vulnerable to the normal life stresses that all families and individuals must face. Alcoholism must be treated as a disease. The officers should be well acquainted with their communities' alcoholism treatment programs that use enlightened approaches. Officers can help clients by providing information about the nature of the disease when drinking problems appear to be developing. For more advanced cases, they can help clients recognize the seriousness of the problem; and they can participate in an interdisciplinary and multifaceted treatment strategy while providing ongoing support. Footnotes with references are included.