Alcoholism and the world of work

A specialist in the field of “problem drinking, alcohol abuse and alcoholism” supports the concept of treating alcohol-related problems of employees as a disease. The author, writing at an early stage of industrial attitudinal change, argues in favor of establishment of employee assistance programs; training supervisors to recognize early stages of alcoholism; and providing treatment for employees in a non-disciplinary setting. Such steps are cost effective, in that treatment and recovery can return experienced employees to the workforce. The presentation is a significant pioneering argument for measures (since widely adopted) of identifying and treating the “disease” of alcoholism.