This writing shares the first author's personal experience with alcohol, the negative consequences of his choices, and the ultimate answering of the question, "Am I an alcoholic and should I drink again?" The decision-making process and the eventual answer come from Blaise Pascal, a 17th-century mathematician. This process is explained and…

Maintains that minority youth who use (or abuse) alcohol in American society deal with using alcohol, being minority, and being young, three dimensions viewed by society with mixed, sometimes hostile and/or fearful reactions. Suggests that examining alcoholism among minority youth involves coming to grips with poverty, education, income, and life…

Asserts that a primary concern to the alcoholic and to those who try to help him is the behavior that causes alcohol dependency. While not disputing the view that alcoholism may be a disease, argues that full responsibility should be assigned to the alcoholic for his behavior. (NB)

Examines factors contributing to and determining adolescent drinking disorders, synthesizing ideas from Fromm-Reishmann, Fromm, and Erikson. Discusses ideas within the framework of Freud's speculative postulation of the "oceanic feeling." Addresses empirically oriented treatment of concrete features exhibited in adolescent alcoholism. (Author/BH)

Discusses the problem of drunk driving primarily as a failure in the process of operant conditioning, with the inappropriate behavior of the drunk driver resulting from a profound ignorance of the potentially tragic consequences of his behavior. Concludes most effective way to understand consequences is to witness autopsies of drunk driving…

Alcoholism research paradigms that use substantial cash incentives to attract participants and that call for alcoholics to consume ethanol in laboratory raise ethical questions. When using such methods, investigators should be obligated to discuss risk-benefit rationales and detail precautionary behaviors to protect participants. Discussion of…

Contends that alcohol educators and researchers focus on group influences and stress individual responsibility to curtail alcohol abuse, ignoring invisible economic, political, and social parameters that promote lucrative industry of alcohol production and consumption. Proposes that economic and political interventions take precedence over…

Responds to previous article by Koocher regarding use of experimental drinking procedures with alcoholic participants. Focuses on risk-benefit analysis, safeguarding participants from harm, linking alcoholic participants with treatment, use of monetary incentives, fostering pathology of the alcoholic family, and relationships between alcoholism…

Alcohol abuse imposes financial, social, and emotional burdens on drinkers and their families. Couples suffering from alcohol-related problems who seek therapy often have expectations of retribution, restitution, and refuge. Although thoughts of retribution are difficult to elicit in therapy, non-drinking spouses often expect to inflict pain on…

Interviews Berenson on his distinctive approach to therapy with families and couples affected by addiction and provides references. Considers background and theoretical influences, and changes over time. Discusses the use of "phasing," collaboration with Twelve Step programs, and integration of a spiritual perspective into family and…

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism awarded contracts to assemble information about practices which identify, refer, and treat employed women alcoholics. In Phase I data were collected on the frequency of use of employee assistance programs by women alcoholics. Findings indicated no great differences between men and women.…

Examines whether an abuser of alcohol can eventually learn to safely manage his or her own intake. Bridging the gap between two perspectives may empower therapists to explore the use of both abstinence and controlled use as a possible means to increase overall success of alcohol treatment. (JBJ)

This paper reviews alcohol awareness and alcoholism prevention efforts on college campuses since the mid-1970s. The concept of responsible drinking which is an accepted part of these college prevention programs is discussed. It is noted that while the responsible drinking concept has been recently called into question, there never was any…

This review examines three theories of alcohol abuse by American males: (1) the sex role theory which states that men drink heavily because American culture accepts and encourages that activity in males; (2) the dependency theory, which interprets drinking as a means by which men secretly gratify their dependency needs while manifesting an…

The discipline policy at Xenia (Ohio) High School deals unequivocally with student drug and alcohol users. Chemically dependent students are forced to get help. (Author/JM)