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by Donald B. Ardell, Ph. D.
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Wellness in the Headlines
(Don's Report to the World)

A Wellness Perspective On Alcoholism

Tuesday April 17, 2001

What is the official wellness attitude towards alcoholism? Is it seen as a disease that should be treated, or a legal or moral problem that should be censured?

Neither. As I have mentioned before, there is no official wellness position on anything. Wellness is just a term without a sanctioning body of any kind that might, like the American Medical Association, adopt official positions, set standards of practice, enforce licensure, and otherwise govern the quality and direction of the profession.

This is in no way a fatal flaw of the concept or the wellness movement. In fact, it might be something of an advantage, as it is too early to define the best or most beneficial fashion in which to define, present, and advance wellness ideas, positions and the like. For that matter, consider that no nation speaks for democracy, no priest or minister/rabbi/shaman or witch doctor could effectively represent the "official" position about anything on behalf of all religions.

Even the National Wellness Institute, the closest entity there is to a leadership institution for the wellness concept and movement, does not presume to define wellness attitudes toward alcoholism or other great issues of the day. Some would like the NWI to develop the capacity to perform this role in a credible fashion, but it has not happened yet and, as a trustee of the NWI, I can assure you that it is not likely to anytime soon.

However, leaders, followers, and everyone in the movement do hold opinions on nearly everything, and I am no exception. I'm only too pleased to offer up mine on alcoholism! However, I do so with one caveat, namely, to assure you that my purpose is to make a few points about this topic primarily to encourage you to shape your own wellness-friendly perspective on alcoholism.

How best to view, prevent, and treat alcoholism remain a highly controversial matter with persuasive advocates on polar opposite sides of the "disease/not a disease" debate. This is not the focus of my life work and I do not claim special expertise based upon any original research.

However, IF I had a problem with alcohol, which I don't (except for an occasional glass of Pinot Noir or Cabernet Sauvignon wine, I don't even like the stuff, including beer!), I would adopt a, "I alone am responsible" model. I would not favor the hapless victim perspective that puts the blame on genetics, or the AA notion of powerlessness and dependence upon a vague higher power.

On the other hand, I have no use for censure and moralisms that amount to beating up on the downtrodden. Instead, I favor education, maximum assistance and, after a suitable period of additional responsibility-based outreaches mixed with tough love and natural consequences. If, after all this, the alcoholic continues to indulge in drinking, respect the harsh consequences of the freedom model. That is, back off and respect the apparent desires of the alcoholic to drink him or herself to death.

Freedom sometimes requires that we grant others the right to do that of which we don't approve, provided it does not directly and immediately hurt others. Naturally, the destructive drinking of alcoholics is ruinous to the drinker's family but one can't be forced to do the right thing, or refrain from doing awful things. Just do what you can to prevent the alcoholic who chooses self-destruction from getting behind the wheel of a car or otherwise posing a threat to the well being of others.

What's your "official" or unofficial position on this topic, or just your ideas about a wellness approach to the alcoholism or the alcoholic? As always, I welcome and appreciate hearing from you.

All the best.

Domain: physical
Subdomain: adaptations and challenges

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