The Almacan 1983

Item Type Newsletter/Magazine

Publication Date 1983

Keywords Employee assistance programs--United States--Periodicals; Alcoholism and employment--United States--Periodicals; Drugs and employment--United States--Periodicals; Employees-- Counseling of--United States--Periodicals; Association of Labor- Management Administrators and Consultants on Alcoholism (U.S.)

Publisher Arlington, VA: Association of Labor-Management Administrators and Consultants on Alcoholism, Inc.

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Item License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10713/8059 ~~

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i~ ~'~e o. 13, ISSU2 11 ~ ~ Published monthly by Association of Labor-Management Administrators and Consultants on Alcoholism ~ _~ November 1983 `~~` Chemical Dependence Among Women

By Madeleine L. Tramm, Ph.D. Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union Chairperson, ALMACA Women's Issues Committee

Rapidity of change has characterized the 10 years ago personnel in the field were Insofar as examination of women's EAP movement since its inception, a char- having their consciousness raised about problems reveals multiple drug depend- acteristic which makes our work stimulat- the prevalence and characteristics of women ence, those of us involved in women's ing, yet difficult. Our work is stimulating suffering from alcoholism. Many of us may chemical abuse issues may have been the because advances in research and the char- remember the popularity of Marian Sand- first to witness on a frequent basis a acteristics of successful industrial pro- maier'swell-documented research regard- phenomenon which, increasingly, char- grams and treatment modalities generate ing the characteristics of affected women, acterizes most people in treatment, men a sense of challenge and renewed com- and her popular book, The Invisible AI- and women alike. mitment to our endeavor. It is difficult coholics. In contrast, today it is widely What can be learned from our under- because these very changes constantly appreciated among us that women suffer standing of the special characteristics of cause us to reevaluate our past decisions, in great numbers from dependence on women affected by chemical dependence? and require that we improve on them. drugs, including alcohol, And, although What contributions to our field as a whole Nowhere has the pace of change been our programs still rarely address fully the can these insights make? These are the more rapid than in our understanding of need for services to women, EAPs and questions I would like briefly to address. women afflicted by alcohol and other drug treatment facilities alike are adapting their dependence. For instance, as recently as programs to better reach this population. (See CHEMICAL, p. 10)

"Women For Sobriety" Helps Working Women

By Dr. Jean Kirkpatrick and Dr. Robin J. Milstead Founder of Director of Occupational Women for Sobriety Programming Working women alcoholics can be em- periences, hopes, and encouragement with Women for Sobriety believes that drink- powered to recover through enlightened other women in similar circumstances. ing begins as an effort to overcome stress, action and alife-long program of self-help Women for Sobriety is unique in that it loneliness, frustration, emotional depri- and continued personal growth away from is an organization of women for women. vation, or any number of other kinds of their alcoholism. The most logical locus It recognizes woman's emerging role and harassment. Dependence and addiction re- for intervention in a working woman's her necessity for self-esteem and self- sult. This physiological addiction can only progression of alcoholism is the work place. discovery to meet today's conflicts. be overcome by abstinence. Menta( and The catalytic agents for initiating her re- Women for Sobriety is not affiliated with emotional addiction are overcome with the covery include supervisory, medical, or Alcoholics Anonymous, although its phi- knowledge of self gained through Women personnel staff of management; her union losophy is congruent with AA. Members for Sobriety. counselor, local official, or co-worker; and of Women for Sobriety often belong to Women for Sobriety may be used on an the working woman herself. AA. Each organization, however, has its individual or group basis. Group meetings The most available, economical, and individual purpose and should be kept responsive resource for structuring her separated. (See WFS, p. 9) recovery is a self-help program of group activities and individual actions. There is only one self-help program designed ex- The Challenge of Meeting Treatment Needs clusively for women alcoholics, and it is Women for Sobriety. The generic philo- In a Predominantely Female Population sophical premise of Women for Sobriety By Barbara Feuer is empowerment of the woman alcoholic Program Director-EAP to realize a positive self-image and contin- Association of Flight Attendants ued sobriety, and to facilitate this status in other women. The Association of Flight Attendants because (1) they are predominantly fe- Women for Sobriety is an organization (AFA) has a membership of over 21,000 male-87 percent;(2) they work with min- whose purpose is to help all women re- flight attendants. who are employed by 14 imal supervision—daily job supervision is cover fronn problem drinking through the airlines and based in 27 cities in the U.S. often nonexistent; and (3) their work discovery of self, gained by sharing ex- Our members are a unique work force (See AFA, p. 11) Women, Work, and Drinking THE ALMACAN Published by: The Association of Labor-Management Patterns Administrators and Consultants on Alcoholism, Inc. By Dana E. Pack 1800 North Kent Street Director, Outpatient Services Arlington, VA 22209 Koala Center, Nashville Telephone (703) 522-6272 Executive Officers By mid-1978, one out of every two women have the stress of role identity Thomas P. O'Connor women 16 years old and over was working problems as well as other work-oriented President or looking for work. Many of the nearly stressors: (1) inadequate, inconvenient, John J. Hennessy 43 million women in the work force by the and expensive child care arrangements Vice President—Operations end of 1978 could be expected to have often produce tension and frustration for Betty Reddy Vice President—Administration undergone other changes as well. The U.S. the working mother and may also cause Dick Stanford Department of Labor found that women difficulties on the job (Focus on Women, Secretary were working for the same reasons men 1980);(2) not only do women remain con- Jennifer L. Farmer have always worked; they were interested centrated in dead-end, nonsatisfying jobs, Treasurer in earning a wage in order to support but '`fully employed women continue to Regional Board Members themselves or others. earn less than fully employed men" (U. William H. Yost Whether the incidence of drinking among S. Department of Labor, 1978);(3) "about Eastern Region Representative women is approaching that of men and, 1 out of 10 women workers was head of Austin V. Gibbons more importantly, whether it can be viewed the family (1975) (U.S. Department of Eastern Region Vice President Deborah W. Smith as a permanent shift related to their chang- Labor, 1976); and (4) in addition to her Southern Region Representative ing employment status requires much em- job, the working wife very frequently has Wiltlam J• Cook pirical exploration. Sandmaier has noted entire responsibility for the care of the Southern Region Vice President that compared to the housewife who drinks home and family(Focus on Women,1980). Gary E. Fair heavily, the employed woman with a drink- Blau has opined that the structure of Central Region Representative ing problem has been ironically bypassed the sex-segregated labor market makes it Glenn Horstman in both popular and scientific literature on clear that the work world operates to the Central Region Vice President Jack Rose female alcoholism (Sandmaier, 1980). As disadvantage of women. In 1975, she noted Sandmaier points out, this is an unusual Western Region Representative that well over 40 percent of women are Duane E. Rogers oversight since half of all adult women in either employed or looking for work, but W ern Region Vice President the United States now work outside of the even women who work full-time earn only William .Dprkin home. Further, she notes that the 1975 60 percent of the amount earned by full- International Regional Representative NORC survey of American drinking pat- timeworking men (Blau, 1975). Even more Charles F, Pikington terns established that both working and troublesome than the current statistics is Internaticx~~eBion Vice President unemployed women had substantially higher the fact that the situation has not improved Committee Board Members/ rates of alcohol problems than women who during this century. Gross(1968) has noted Charipersans Mary LoL ~ ~ had always been housewives. In fact, both that occupational sex segregation was as of were more than twice as Annual N~t~ g Site Selection these groups serious a problem in 1960 as it had been Committee likely to develop drinking problems as in the early 1900s. He warns that we do Donald W. Magruder housewives. not have the luxury of telling ourselves, By-Lawg'~Dm~nittee It appears, too, that the employed single despite public pronouncements to the con- James J• Roth female may be more prone to develop a trary, that the situation facing women in Consultants~ommitt ee drinking problem. Gomberg (1977) re- the work world is not too bad or that it is Dan C. Smith viewed data gathered from one employee getting better. Although some gains have Developmen~Comm i ttee alcohol rehabilitation program (Illinois Bell been made by females in the labor force, Sandra Pertekel Turner Education Cofi~ittee Telephone) and noted that separated or the evidence indicates that much remains divorced women used the rehabilitation Edward Small to be done if the institutional practices that Ethics Committee program three times more often than did operate against the female worker are to Suzanne E. Hallenberg men in the program. One explanation for be overcome. Unfortunately, these prem- Insurance Committee the nonuse of the program by married ises, although suggestive, have not been R.E. "Andy" Anderson women has been offered by Greenblatt and fashioned into an articulate theoretical po- Labor Committee Schuckit (1976). Devoting a section to sition on the relation between employment James F. Edwards women and alcohol, they concluded that and drinking incidence. Legislative Committee women with drinking problems are fre- Given the lack of theoretical focus in Michael J• O'Brien quently protected by their husbands from Membership Committee the literature, the tentativeness with which Edgar P. Marchesini facing the consequences of their drinking. findings about the drinking practices of Special Projects Committee There are a variety of premises from women must be approached, and the lack Walter Reichman which to post explicit relations between of systematic research attention to the Research Committee employment and drinking incidence among question raised in this study, a descriptive James J• Murphy women, especially if one takes into ac- study of an exploratory nature seemed Standards Committee count research on their problem drinking most plausible. To aid in that exploration Uwe Gunnerson and alcoholism. Curlee (1960:1970), for potential relations between several other Treatment Committee Madeleine Tramm example, has examined life events with factors and drinking incidence needed to Women's Issues Committee regard to the onset of problem drinking in be examined. These included age, marital stare both men and women, She found that 30 status, education, children, religious pref- Thomas S. Delaney, Jr. percent of women in contrast to 8 percent erence, religious attendance, and social Executive Director of men reported that the onset of heavy participation. Of these, only ale and ed- Judith Evans drinking was associated with a specific life ucation were found to potentially a~'ect Associate Director event. Research has shown that working (See PATTERNS, p. 8) Women, A Multidimensional Experience

By Mary Ellen Kane Manager, Personal Assistance Program Kemper Group

During my seven years working as a place is that, generally, many women work special problem of dealing with an alco- Personal Assistance Counselor I've come in such routine, low-level jobs that even holic spouse, they are still dealing with the to the conclusion that women who are though they are suffering from an addic- socio-cultural aspects of being female that alcoholics or spouses of alcoholics have tion,they are able to perform at acceptable make it more difficult to extract themselves different problems than the male alcoholic, levels, Also,, male supervisors may be from the enabler role. I see my role as not simply because they are women. The reluctant to refer female employees if they only educating them about alcoholism and changing role of women in modern society suspect alcoholism because of the stigma their role in it, but also as helping them has created conflicts for most women. For attached; and, possibly, women are better overcome many of these detrimental fe- example, women will say they want to be able to "manipulate" their male supervi- male patterns that inhibit their ability to independent, but they also want to be cared sbrs. (Due to our systematic disciplinary grow and self-actualize. for and dependent as in the myth of the procedures at Kemper,I feel that this does traditional sense. Women seem to be not hold true any longer, except in rare Woman—Other Living Problems plagued by self-doubt and fears of respon- incidences.) sibility, while at the same time, they feel One problem as I see it, is that most Let's look at women's problems, with- they are responsible for any problems in identification and treatment programs are out the added problem of alcohol, in order their family or interpersonal relationships, modeled on data collected from male al- to identify specific women's issues: inde- Whether I am counseling a woman alco- coholicsand do not take into consideration pendence verses dependence, career verses holic, awoman whose spouse is an alco- the needs of women for increased sense their desire for marriage and/or children, holic, or a woman who~has~ other living of self-worth and individual identity. Un- and craving for intimacy verses a fear of problems, I see the same role conflicts and fortunately, the treatment very often rein- intimacy. In addition, many of the women search for self. Women's. search for iden- forces the low self-esteem and female role who talk to me are struggling with the loss tity and self-worth, I believe, must be conflicts. While she may be free of alco- of the myth that someone will always be discussed and furthered=~n~iX kind of holism, she continues to suffer emotional there to take care of them, and they are counseling. pain because the role conflicts were never frightened of the idea of having to reor- ~_ addressed during treatment. ganize their lives and develop a separate Women, as ~lco\ones identity. The women alcoholics T counsel feel Women, As Spouses of Alcoholics Married women returning to work in helpless, betrayed, unc~ a n of how to Most occupational alcoholism programs financial need are resentful that their family ask for help, and rejected~~oved ones. do not address the needs of family mem- takes them for granted: Often they find They suffer from extreme guilt and low bers, especially women who are spouses that they now have two full-time jobs— self-esteem. Much of this underlying guilt of alcoholics. While I don't believe that homemaker and employee. Many of these and low self-esteem were ,press before sexism is the primary cause, I do believe women gave up jobs to marry and raise a the advent ofalcoholism. Alcoholism merely that most programs are run by recovered family in compliance with the cultural exacerbated the problem. male alcoholics who view the problems norms. It is very difficult-`for this` mother/ A prevalent theory of whyy✓omen drink associated with alcoholism with a much wife, now job holder, to develop her own is that they have sex-role conflicts. They narrower focus—mainly the alcoholic. Very identity as a person. behave in a manner that is culturally ac- often these male counselors don't feel Divorced women with dependent chil- ceptable for women on the surface, such comfortable dealing with women who have dren are also in a difficult position. Very as being submissive and- dependent, less alcoholic husbands because the situation often the child support that was awarded adventurous and competitive, and more is too close to their own personal experi- is not forthcoming. These women grew up easily hurt and emotional than men. But ences. and married, never planning that some day underneath, they have masculine strivings, they'd be self-supporting, much less the and drinking alcohol helps them to quell Forty-three percent of my caseload has been family members support of one or more children. They are the masculine strivings and acquiesce to of alcoholics, many of whom exhibited either job or frightened of the situation they find them- the feminine role. This, along with a con- health problems. selves in and, for varying reasons, are tinuous conflict as to their adequacy as Most of the job problems cen- tered around absenteeism, unable to see alternatives. Once the male women, which is so rigidly defined in our tardiness, moodiness, poor interpersonal relation- leaves their lives, some even feel they are culture, helps to put these women in a ships and poor attitude. Even though a nonentity. downward spiral of alcohol and drug abuse. these women are competent and It has been fairly well documented that indispensable Many young college women find them- to their families, they still suffer a period of depression/crisis often occurs constant selves pulled apart by contradictory assaults on their self-worth by prior to the onset of problem drinking in questioning thoughts and emotions. They feel strongly themselves, "Am I a poor a female. Very often she seeks professional wife, home- committed to work, yet dream about giving maker, and mother? Maybe I'm just help and many doctors/psychiatrists over- an up their careers for marriage and mother- all-around failure as a women." This con- look the symptoms out of ignorance of the hood. As they approach their late twenties, tinual inner assault on self undermines any disease and make a stereotypical diagnosis a form of panic sets in about whether to person's ability to cope. offemale complaints. They prescribe tran- opt for more responsibility in their jobs or quilizers or other forms of depressants, Many of the women I deal with fall into back off and take a secondary position. If which only add to the alcohol-dependent the category of "enabler." Looking at the they are married, this conflict arises around woman's problems. characteristics of the enabler, I can't help the issue of motherhood. If they are single, Even the identification of female alco- but identify them as the traditional, learned the conflict stems from whether or not holics has been difficult due to the "pro- female traits. super responsible, others they'll be married or facing the rest of tectionism" built into our society, which first, .powerless, compliant, and manipu- their lives alone. This panic extends well makes it easier for women to drink in lative. into their thirties. I have seen intelligent, secret. An additional factor in the work Even though these women have the (See MULTIDIMENSIONAL, p. 8) Union Women Conference Focuses on Organized Labor Role By Anna Padia Human Rights Coordinator The Newspaper Guild

"The working woman alcoholic or drug vide referral to women alcoholics. Ste- Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) abuser has been hidden, ignored, and ne- reotyping alcoholism as a "man's" prob- and the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile glected for over 200 years in the U.S. and lem; societal attitudes toward women Workers Union (ACTWU). for centuries longer in other countries. drinkers; the lack of sensitivity to women ACTWU represents 501,000 members, Hopefully, it will not take an additional in some treatment programs; and the all- 66 percent of whom are women, and has 200 years to address the special needs of male staffing in some alcoholic treatment developed various "mechanics to deal with working women who are troubled by al- centers—these were just a few of the the problems unique to women members" cohol and other drugs." problems identified in diagnosing and treat- in the union. According to Roger Herman, With these words, Joyce D. Miller, pres- ing the female substance abuser. associate director of the Health Assistance ident of the Coalition of Labor Union Dr. Robin Milstead, CLUW conference Program, the basic model for an employee Women(CLUW), officially opened a two- co-chairperson, put forth some suggestions assistance program is a male model and is day conference on "Substance Abuse and for a new approach and individual actions not always useful for women. The me- Working Women" held in Washington, that will, she feels, help in eliminating chanics used by ACTWU, however, have DC, May 5 and 6. The conference was some of the barriers women substance improved referrals—especially self-help sponsored by CLUW. abusers face. referrals among women. They include the Miller, speaking to the audience of 200, In her book, "Empowering Women Al- establishment of health centers in two pointed out that "this conference repre- coholics to Help Themselves and Their major U.S. cities; the use of an insurance sents an important first step in focusing Sisters in the Workplace," she suggests carrier to distribute letters to every mem- on the problems involved in developing that when developing an assistance pro- ber receiving a disability check which innovative approaches in early identifica- gram, materials should show an awareness promote the. union's assistance program; tion and referral for women workers with of the male-female differences; more fe- and a family therapy program which, he substance abuse problems." male counselors and directors should be said, is especially helpful in working with Miller,,who is also a vice president of utilized; additional supportive services such close-knit Hispanic families. "Not only do the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile as child care should be put into place; and union-based Employee Assistance Pro- Workers Union (ACTWU) and the first a process of identification and referral grams(EAPs) have a better chance of woman vice president of the AFL-CIO should be used rather than the formal reachin~~or~en than predominantly man- Executive Council, said that occupational referrals. Milstead also feels that confron- agement-based EAPs;" Herman said,"but .programs in industrial settings have not tational techniques should be constructed because oft~~ union's makeup as reflected proven as effective for women as for men so as to be less stressful on women. Other in our programs; unions are also able to in terms of early identification and referral constructive approaches to use when deal- reach minority-group women, which is a to treatment. The ratio of referrals of ing with the woman substance abuser might vastly udder-~~rved population." women to men generally varies from 1:4 include self-help groups for women only; Another unionised program that has to 1:15, yet statistics show that out of the proper training for those in the work place had a great deal~f success in reaching its 49 million women who work outside the who will be doing the referrals, a net- female work force ,was presented and ex- home, 4.9 million are alcohol and drug working system with services and re- plained liy`~at~iara Feuer, Association of troubled. sources that offer a holistic approach and, Flight Attendants Employee Assistance "Organized labor," she said, "has al- finally, a program that includes job pro- Program Director (see accompanying ar- ways been in the forefront of the fight for tection and confidentiality. ticle). Feuer said that during the first two its members' health and welfare. Our goal Milstead suggested various actions union years of the union's program, 18 percent is to help in turning troubled women into members could take, through their unions of all referrals came from management, 30 the healthy, vibrant women they can be." or as individuals, starting with an exami- percent were selfreferrals, and 47 percent Other speakers representing organized nation of their personal attitude toward came from peers. The crux of the program, labor at the opening session were Ray alcohol and drug abuse and women, and she said, is a peer referral model, which Andrus, national staff representative in the making a site visit into a treatment program focuses on early identification and preven- Community Services Department of the or center. tion and depends almost exclusively on AFL-CIO, and Berkley Watterson, inter- In addition to utilizing the usual union the co-worker relationship. national representative from the United resources, collective bargaining, and leg- The program was started in 1980, with Auto Workers (UAW). Both speakers fo- islative and education programs, she sug- a grant from the National Institute on cused on the need for unions to develop gested establishing a committee in each Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). union-based programs or to negotiate joint CLUW chapter to work with working The key element in the program is the labor-management programs. Andrus pre- women who have alcohol and drug related flight attendants who volunteer to work on fers this type over amanagement-based problems. the EAP committee to service the union's one, because the employees themselves 21,000 members from 14 different airlines will have some say in how the program is in 27 cities and 20 states. The membership Union-Based Programs set up and implemented, and he feels that in AFA is 80 percent female. if jointly managed, it will limit potential According to Dr. Milstead,"some union- Each volunteer and each lead volunteer management misuse of the program. He based programs report a high percentage receives basic and advanced training on also suggested that referrals come from of women clientele. These are unions that how to recognize signs of problem behav- trained shop stewards and that manage- have substantial numbers of women and/ ior; understanding the disease of alcohol- ment contact the union representative prior or employ women staff, supervisors and/ ism; women and alcoholism treatment; to making any recommendation or referral. or union counselors, and/or exert positive aftercare; and finding practitioners and As speakers throughout the conference action on the program." facilities in their respective areas. Ad- noted, there are several barriers which Two such programs highlighted at the vanced training includes leadership and make it more difficult to identify and pro- conference have been put in place by the administrative skills and the related skills needed to meet womens' particular con- cerns. In apost-conference interview, Feuer Women and Alcohol stated that "other EAPs lose in not rec- ognizing the inherent power of using co- From The National Institute on workers. This is the change agent, the Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism `someone' who promotes change, and it works." The proportion of women who drink been shown to drop considerably with age. alcoholic beverages has increased in recent Divorced and separated women have shown Women for Sobriety decades, putting more women at risk for a higher incidence of heavier and problem developing problems with alcohol. While drinking than single or married women, "Women alcoholics have problems di- the real magnitude of women's alcohol and widows appear to drink less than any rectly related to their gender," said Dr. problems has been masked by a negative other marital status group. Employed Jean Kirkpatrick, founder and executive social stigma associated with female in- women and unemployed women looking director of Women For Sobriety, Inc. toxication, changes in women's status and forjobs appear to have a higher percentage (WFS), and keynote speaker at the con- social roles have recently increased aware- of problem drinking than women not in ferenceluncheon. ness and contributed to bringing female the work force. Relative to economic sta- WFS is a self-help program for women drinking problems into sharper focus. tus, agreater percentage of women in alcoholics, in an all-women setting. It was Conservative estimates of the number higher socioeconomic,subgroups drink than founded in 1975 after Kirkpatrick's own of adult women with alcohol related prob- women in lower socioeconomic groups. 28-year battle with alcoholism. lems range from 1.5 million to 2.25 million. Family investigations have revealed that "Women face different problems as al- These figures suggest that a substantial women alcoholics are likely to have a coholics than men," she said. "The most number of women are affected by problem parent (especially a father),, spouse, or significant difference is why women drink drinking. sibling who is an alcoholic or a problem or take drugs. Problems of women alco- The majority of the research concerning drinker. Race and ethnic background may holics reflect the prob~ms of women in the effects of alcohol on humans has fo- influence a woman's susceptibility or con- general. They have terrily low self-es- cused chiefly on men, with the resulting straint regarding alcohol use according to teem. They're not living tAeir lives for information used to design treatment and the norms of her culture. themselves. They are someone's wife, prevention strategies for both men and There are several theories concerning someone's mother, someolne's employee. women. Studies which have assumed that the psychological influences that can affect It's hard for them to see themselves as alcoholism affects men and women simi- women's drinking behavior. One, based capable, confident people." larly have left important sex differences on a study of 255 men with findings that Kirkpatrick feels that these differences unattended. were assumed to apply equally to women, must be taken into accodnt in the recovery Current research on women alcoholics proposes that women who become alco- of women from alcoPlalisEr► or drug prob- has, however, indicated several patterns holics drink to satisfy dependency needs lems. More clearly, those differences are regarding women's alcohol consumption. that were forbidden expression in adult expressed in the need feelings of self- Compared to men, more women appear to society. Since it is easier, however, for value and self-worth, an the need to abstain from drinking alcoholic beverages, women to express dependency needs and expatiate feelings of guilt and humiliation. Among those women who do drink, the dependent behavior as a sanctioned com- The WFS program was designed to help incidence of heavier and problem drinking ponent of the female role, it is unlikely women do more than abstain fry alcohol appears to be considerably lower than for that women need to gratify dependency or drugs. It helps them develop that sense their male counterparts, and fewer women needs through alcohol. Another study sug- of self-esteem and positive attitudes in are alcoholics. The increase in women's gests that women alcoholics have low self- everyday life or, as, Dr. Kirkpatrick states alcohol consumption appears to occur more esteem and a poor self-concept and drink in her book, "Turnabout: Help for a New at moderate, rather than heavier drinking because of feelings of inadequacy and a Life,"anew philosophy of life. levels. Research has implied that women sense of futility about "making do" for The program has chapters across the become problem drinkers at a later age themselves. Other research conducted with country and its main focus is on group than men and develop drinking problems men and assumed valid for women, pro- meetings and the committment to Thirteen more rapidly than men, but this may be posed in 1972 that individuals drink to Statements of Acceptance, which provide attributable to the fact that researchers satisfy their need for power over others. positive action through a learning of self have been less sensitive and less aware of The applicability of this theory to women and a way of viewing and living life dif- women's problems with alcohol in general. drinkers was tested in studies using female ferently than the earlier defensive behav- Evidence suggests that drinking among subjects. Findings did not support the ioral responses. ❑ teenage females is increasing and this raises theory that women drink to feel powerful, the risk of exposure to alcohol abuse and but rather indicated that women drink to Alcohol and Highway Safety Laws: may be an indicator of drinking problems enhance feelings of"womanliness" or tra- A National Overview, 1981 among women in the future. Studies also ditional femininity. It further hypothesized indicate that alcoholism in women more that some women drink to stifle conflicts Statutory materials available up to 31 often appears as a response to crisis or generated by failure to meet their own or October 1981 are provided in this overview stressful circumstances, such as divorce, cultural expectations of sex role behavior. of national alcohol and highway safety an unhappy love affair, a death, a child Several studies conducted between 1970 laws. Information is presented for each leaving home, postpartum depression, and 1975 lend support to the theory that state under the following topics: (1) pre- gynecological problems, or menopause. sex role conflicts and tensions contribute liminary breath test; (2) state approaches Social factors, as well as sex differences, to women's drinking problems. and procedures regarding implied consent seem to influence alcohol use among One recent research study indicates that blood alcohol concentration (BAC) tests; women. These factors include age, marital alcohol affects women differently because (3) BAC test after fatal and nonfatal traffic status, employment, economic status, of their physiology. A given dose of al- accidents; (4) scope of police authority family background, and race. Women re- cohol, calculated proportionately by body regarding BAC tests; (5) defendant's op- port taking their first drink at a higher weight, will produce a significantly higher tions in BAC testing procedures;(6) BAC average age than men. There also appears level of alcohol concentration in the blood levels as evidence in state courts;(7) driver to be a higher incidence of heavier and of a female than in a male. It is suggested screening, rehabilitation, and sanctions; problem drinking in women in the 35- to that this may be attributable to the fact and (8) legal age of consumption of beer, 64-year-old age group, whereas the pro- wine, and distilled spirits. ❑ portion of women who drink at all has (See ALCOHOL, p. 6) ALCOHOL (from p. 5) creating more difficulties during treatment. between male and female employees' Many women are unaware of the potential drinking problems call for adaptations of that men have a higher percentage of water dangers of combining alcohol and drugs, policies and programs to fit women's needs. content in their bodies than females, and and it has become apparent that women, The federal government has taken positive therefore a greater capacity to dilute the doctors, pharmacists, counselors, and steps in this direction. There are currently alcohol ingested into their systems. The families need more thorough education in three ongoing studies supported by the study further indicated that varying hor- the area of polydrug abuse in order to National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and monal levels in women may affect alcohol more effectively deal with this problem. Alcoholism to measure the prevalence of levels in the blood and the rate of metab- Half of all adult women in the United alcohol related problems among women in olism of alcohol. Blood alcohol concentra- States are now in the labor force and for the occupational setting. The studies will tion may also vary according to a woman's most of these women, working is an eco- test the most effective mechanisms for menstrual cycle. Consumption of alcohol nomic necessity. There is evidence that identification, referral, and aftercare of by women just prior to menstruation pro- working women have substantially higher female clients at several occupational sites, d»ced significantly higher levels of alcohol rates of alcohol related problems than with the purpose of documenting replicable concentration in the blood than at any housewives. This may be attributable to a program models. other time during the menstrual cycle. variety of pressures within the work en- A number of factors have served as According to their findings, women taking vironment which create situations favor- barriers to treatment for women with al- oral contraceptives have been shown to able to the development of alcohol abuse. cohol problems. Women may remain sen- metabolize alcohol significantly slower than Women may often feel frustrated and sitive to the social disapproval associated women not using oral contraceptives. trapped in typically female jobs which may with drinking in public and make efforts Therefore, women taking oral contracep- be low-paying, low status, and unchal- to conceal their drinking in the home or in tives remained intoxicated longer. lenging; women in higher level jobs may the work setting as well. Their drinking Other risk factors concerning alcohol have to work twice as hard to prove may be less obvious, therefore, and less use and women's health are becoming themselves as their male peers; married subject to outside intervention which might apparent. A number of investigators have working women may face the burden of help them come to terms with alcohol found a relationship between alcoholism maintaining a role as an employee and a abuse. Medical professionals frequently and a high incidence of various gyneco- role as housewife, which may promote sex have tended to disguise female alcoholism logical-obstetrical problems such as infer- role conflicts; and in general, women may under less embarrassing diagnoses or re- tility, miscarriages, and hysterectomies. have more exposure to social settings in mained unaware and unquestioning—ef- Another health concern is that alcoholism the working world which involve the use fectively eliminating treatment. Families has been associated with depression and of alcohol. often try to be protective of a female suicide attempts. in women. A review of a In view of the large number of women problem drinker, preventing her from con- number of studies on alcohol-related liver entering the work force, it stands to reason fronting her problem and seeking treat- diseases indicates that, compared to men, that their drinking behavior would become ment. Another protective act which less- female alcoholics risk developing liver dis- more visible, and that there would be more ens who Weds chances for alcohol ease at anearlier age, after a shorter period opportunities for intervention in their lives intervention is police reluctance to arrest of drinking, with a lower level of alcohol with respect to alcohol related problems. women fob a~cohol related offenses. This consumption, and appear to have a higher For a variety of reasons, however, it has reluctance -ceases opportunities for risk of dying once the liver has been appeared more difficult to identify and treat women to incur court referrals to com- injured. There is controversy, however, the female than the male problem drinker munity treat►~►ent agencies. Alcoholic about whether women are inherently more in an occupational setting. The woman mothers have fe~lt7~stramed from entering at risk than men for developing these liver alcoholic typically tries harder than her treatment p~gra~s-due to both a lack of problems. male counterpart to conceal her drinking available child care services during their Women alcoholics appear to be at spe- problem. Supervisors or fellow workers treatment and a reluctance to reveal their cial risk concerning polydrug use and ap- may consciously or subconsciously ignore condition to relatives or social service pear more likely than men to be cross or deny the existence of a female co- agencies that could provide child care. addicted—dependent on both alcohol and worker's alcohol problems. Many super- Women also feel a threat of losing custody one or more drugs. They are also at risk visors or co-worker's who do acknowledge of their childreal by admitting and seeking for incurring harmful physical reactions the existence of a drinking problem often help for alcohol problems. Women alco- which may result from combining alcohol try to "protect" the woman from the holics are more likely to be divorced or with drugs. A 1977 National Institute on discomfort confrontation might bring. There separated than male alcoholics and may Drug Abuse national survey reported that is some evidence that women alcoholics often face added economic barriers as women in the. general population are pre- lose their jobs more often than men be- single heads-of-households, responsible for scribedpsychoactive(mood altering) drugs cause of their alcohol problems. There is the support of themselves and their fami- by physicians almost twice as often as also an apparent phenomenon that women lies. Loss of income during treatment, as men. Women are frequently prescribed problem drinkers often tend to quit work well as child care or treatment costs may tranquilizers, antidepressants, and am- as opposed to seeking help for their alcohol prove prohibitive to women. phetamines to relieve feelings of boredom, problems. A lack of available treatment facilities tension, fatigue, pressure, and Loneliness. Rates for women's referrals to occupa- geared primarily to women alcoholics has Physicians many times are unaware of the tional alcoholism programs have been re- also served as a treatment barrier. The patient's underlying drinking problem or ported as consistently low, although there majority of alcoholism programs are de- may hesitate to approach it. In a culture are indications that female referrals are signed for males with male program direc- where women are often viewed as weak now on the rise. Hence, careful exami- tors and counselors. Women in treatment emotionally and prone to "nerves" or nation of the approach and treatment strat- need the support of female role models in "depression," women are likely to receive egies used in job-based programs becomes terms of treatment staff and other recover- a diagnosis indicative of emotional dis- increasingly important. Programs have been ing women. The attitude of the therapist turbance rather than alcoholism, and are historically geared toward male employees toward women and alcoholism is a very apt to be prescribed mood altering drugs and based on data and experience with important and influential treatment con- to alleviate the problem. Private practi- male problem drinkers. Although available cern. Both male and female counselors tioners have also been known to treat evidence suggests that women may be need to be aware of their own attitudes alcohol problems with tranquilizers, which responsive to confrontation strategies em- and values regarding sex role stereotypes can increase the risk of cross addiction or bodied inmost of the existing occupational and how their attitudes may affect a wom- serious health consequences, ultimately alcoholism programs,the many differences an's treatment progress. Some positive steps are now being taken Pregnant Women in Public in the area of treatment of female alcohol Health Clinics Targeted for Dues Increase abuse. The Comprehensive Alcohol Abuse Campaign and Alcoholism Prevention, Treatment, There will be a general increase in and Rehabilitation Act of 1970, as amended the membership dues in ALMACA As part of a national in 1976, requested states to identify the public awareness effective January 1, 1984. After that program promoting need for prevention and treatment of al- good maternal health, date, individual and associate dues more than cohol abuse and alcoholism by women and 8,000 public health clinics na- will be $65. For both categories, this tionwide will be distributing provide assurances that prevention and information represents an increase of$15 per year. to pregnant women cautioning them treatment programs within the states will about While associate dues were adjusted health risks associated with be designed to meet such needs. The excessive to be the same as individual dues in drinking. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and 1981, this represents the first general The materials were prepared by Alcoholism has funded 30 women's treat- the dues increase since 1979 when indi- ment programs since 1972. The Depart- Department of Health and Human Services vidual dues were increased from $40 (HHS) and the Licensed ment of Health and Human Services has Beverage Infor- to $50. mationCouncil identified women as one of several groups (LBIC)as part of an overall The decision to raise the dues at campaign entitled "Healthy to receive special attention in the field of Mothers, this time was initiated at the Executive Healthy Babies." Other sponsors of alcoholism and alcohol abuse. Goals of a the Committee Meeting in Parsippany, campaign include the National Institute of recently announced initiative include re- New Jersey, last June. The Executive Child Health and Human searching alcohol problems among women, Development, Committee instructed Executive Di- the American College of expanding supportfor treatment programs, Obstetricians and rector Tom Delaney to prepare a plan and launching a nationwide program of Gynecologists (AGOG), the March of to use the increased revenue to expand Dimes, and Gerber outreach and education about women and Products Company. services to the membership. This plan The purpose of the alcoholism involving inZlustry, labor, vol- campaign is to reach and the dues increase were approved disadvantaged and low-income untary agencies, and national women's pregnant by the ALMACA Board of Directors women being treated in public health care organizations. The National Center for at the October meeting in Minneap- facilities nationwide. These facilities will Alcohol Education has developed a treat- olis. The dues will be used to develop be receiving posters in English and Spanish ment training package to tnhance the ca- a research and information capacity on a series of health care messages, pacity of treatment prQ~rams to plan, im- such in the national office, upgrade the as on the need to be of plement, and monitorprac~ices and services aware the effects office administration, and increase of alcohol. Along with the designed to meet the needs of the alcoholic posters, HHS the resources for regional and na- hopes to put into the hands of women throughout the nafton. Organiza- pregnant tional conferences. women approximately six million post- rions have been form~tto~specifically deal In a related development,the mem- card-size information cards on the same with alcohol abuse and women. Women bership committee and the national subjects. for Sobriety, a nationwide program of office have revised the membership The posters now group support for women founded in 1976, being distributed on application. Most of the revisions are the effects of alcohol has 300 self-help groups, and over 700 all- advise pregnant designed to provide better inforrna- women that "There are women groups of Alcoholics Anonymous times when drink- tion for the membership committee ingand have been formed. i dreams don't mix ...When you're to do its review of applications. The pregnant,ask your doctor about drinking." Women's alcohol abuse and problem new application will also list the new The accompanying information card ex- drinking have begun to receive the special dues schedule. Future distribution of plains the potential risks attention necessary to simulate further associated with membership applications should uti- excessive drinking during research in the areas of both treatment and pregnancy such lize the revised application so that as heart defects and mental retardation in prevention. In order to plan comprehen- applicants will pay the right amount. the unborn baby. The sive prevention programs for women, it is materials further The January renewal notices that will advise that "No one is sure how necessary to learn more about the nature much be mailed out on December 15 will alcohol it takes to harm an unborn of women's alcohol problems. Future stud- baby. list the new dues. With small amounts, the risks may be ies concentrating on the distribution of small, but as the number of drinks a day various types of alcohol problems within increases, so does the risk different sociocultural subgroups are re- to the baby." The information quired. Prevention strategies for women card advises pregnant women to consult with their Herbert Martey Named need to focus on the drinker's environ- physician "to improve the chances of having "Man of the Year" ment, availability of alcohol, settings for a healthy baby." ❑ drinking, social responses to drinking, le- Herbert A. Marley, Director of Alco- gal controls, early intervention, and edu- holism Programs at South Oaks Hospital cation. Studies are needed that will identify Recommended Reading (Amityville) has been named "Man of the Year" for 1983 by the Friends of the Long women's drinking patterns and any special Goodwin, D.W. Alcoholism: The Facts. New characteristics of women's drinking and York: Oxford University Press, 1981. Island Council on Alcoholism for his "out- employ samples which are large enough standing achievement' in the field of al- Facts are given about alcoholic beverages, al- coholism. to allow analysis of differences in drinking cohol metabolism, alcohol's effects on the body and drinking problems across various Martey has been with South Oaks since and behavior, and the history of alcohol use. 1970, and helped establish the numerous subgroups. Prevention programs should Alcoholism is defined, and its symptoms, course, sensitize the public to women's drinking and effects on women and babies are described alcoholism treatment services at the hos- problems and encourage early, careful by the author. The risk factors of alcoholism, pital. Those services include short-term confrontation of women with alcohol prob- the connection between alcoholism and depres- and long-term inpatient care, detoxifica- lems. It is necessary to go beyond treat- sion, the role of heredity in the development of tion and rehabilitation, community clinics ment efforts and reach women through alcoholism,and the theory of alcoholic addiction held without charge, a speakers bureau, are examined. Alcoholism prevention and spe- an outpatient department, the Training preventive measures before the negative cific therapies are discussed. consequences of drinking result in serious Program for Alcoholism Counseling, ed- health, social, and economic losses. ❑ Availability: Oxford University Press ucational courses, and a specialized serv- 1600 Pol(itt Drive ice for compulsive gamblers. There is also Fair Lawn, NJ 07410 a 24-hour hotline for information and ($11.95) referrals. ❑ PATTERNS (from p. 2) While alcoholism is not indicated by a guard against use of alcohol and/or other chemicals, which always the potential any discernible influence of employment higher incidence of drinking, alcohol-re- has edu- of culminating in over-reliance, on drinking incidence. lated problems are, and counselors, cational people, Whereas we cannot say that an increase Data were obtained from a questionnaire information and referral causes alcoholism, we can mailed to a sample of Knoxville, Tennes- EAPs, crisis intervention workers, doc- in incidence contributing see women. Total sample size was 500. tors, nurses, lawyers and others must stress conclude that it may be a sign. An This number constituted approximately 1 this relation to the women they serve. factor and is certainly a warning percent of adult females living in Knox- EAP consultants/programs focus on de- increase in incidence among women who work is another warning sign that we who ville. Return rate was 34 percent. clining job performance, recognizing that represent the new profession need to heed. The study was designed to test the personal problems may be contributing to Hirsch's rec- relation between women's participation in the decrease in performance. Job perform- We need to support Joseph "Woman and Alcoholism," the labor force and their incidence of ance .may be adversely affected by finan- ognition in drinking. The findings showed that age, cial, marital, and family problems. These that women are not society's angels who education, and employment were statisti- problems may be precipitated or exacer- when they fall, fall disturbingly far. Rather, cally associated with drinking. The follow- bated by an increase in drinking. A focus they are complex individuals with feelings, ing conclusions can be made: (1) there is on the broadbrush aspects of the EAP strivings, beliefs, interests,jobs, and, yes, problems. a moderately strong, statistically signifi- might increase its usage by working women. other work- cantrelationship between employment and Effective, operative EAP and wellness As a working woman,I urge women many of the drinking when no other variables are in- programs can serve to afford alternate ing to recognize that troduced;(2) the relationship between em- coping mechanisms for their employees— problems are alcohol-related. As a field ployment and drinking becomes statisti- again ameans of offsetting alcohol-related professional, I believe and I challenge you cally non-significant when age is introduced problems, not alcoholism, with an aware- to believe that it is our mandate to insure ❑ as a control .variable; and (3) a strong, ness that such programs may also safe- that they receive treatment. statistically significant relationship was found among women with a high school MULTIDIMENSIONAL (from p. 3) education or less. Among women with more than a high school education, the assertive women completely devastated by leaves her feeling powerless and helpless relationship between employment and these feelings even to the point of contem- to correct the situation, which results in drinking becomes statistically non-signiR- plating suicide. depression. I doubt whether depression cant. I see very little women's liberation ideas will ever be eradicated, but maybe women The value of any academic study is in young women, except in how they can be helped t~view their situations more limited at best.' Often within the domains pursue their sexual lives. While the young realistically -and be given the support to of systematic research, more attention is female may believe she is liberated because explore some of the alternatives they may paid to the research design than to the she feels free to engage in sex without not havebeen capable of considering, findings generated by the study. guilt, she is often trapped into trying to As counselors in EPA Programs, we In this the new profession, where the please a man instead of asking for what need to bP~sensitive to the needs and loftiest research breaks down unless it has she so desperately wants, which is love, conflicts of~ien who come to us for some practical application and utility, I affection and respect. help.. We must help her gain a better self- have sought "to keep it simple." In es- image and 1ea~n how to accept responsi- sence, what does all this mean to the shirt Women's Issues bility for -her pwn—welfare. If a woman does not respect herself or feel self-worth, sleeve counselor who provides services No matter if a women is an alcoholic, a she will most likely remain in a state of for female clients? spouse or family member of an alcoholic, subservience, self-hatred and resentment. Agencies and organizations that deal or just trying to make it in the corporate I believe that equality is a state of mind. with primarily female clients can draw world, I see many of the same common We need to op~n~up that door to her mind, upon the data that pinpoints particularly symptoms and characteristics of detri- so that she will be able to explore her working women with a high school edu- mental female behavior. To list the most potential as a women and as an individual cation or less and working women in gen- prevalent, these symptoms/characteristics human being. ❑ eral as operating in an environment char- are: low self-esteem, guilt, always ready acterized by more stress than that of the to assume responsibility for whatever hap- Alcohol Abuse Major Problem traditional housewife and typically by a pens, fear of being alone, a compulsive higher incidence of drinking. need for a love relationship (even though Among Elderly in United States The increased incidence of drinking may for them such a relationship has negative In 1920, fewer than 5 percent of the point to an ineffective coping mechanism consequences), self-doubt, fears of rejec- population was over 65 years of age; that relied upon by women when faced with tion, afraid to ask for what they need, and proportion has now risen to over 10 per- dual responsibilities,'increased stress, work- feelings of depression. cent—about 22 million persons—making related pressures, etc. Depression is a term frequently used the elderly the second fastest growing No cause-and-effect relation exists be- when discussing women's problems. Stud- population group in the U.S. tween stress and alcoholism. No cause- ies show that for every male diagnosed Evidence suggests that alcohol is the and-effect relation exists between drinking with depression, there may be two to six foremost substance ofabuse by the elderly, incidence and alcoholism. However, there times as many females. I see a strong followed by drugs obtained legally through is acause-and-effect relation between correlation in my observations of women prescription over the counter. Alcohol drinking incidence and alcohol-related with Seligman's theory of learned help- problems are especially common among problems. An increase in incidence yields lessness as a primary reason for female widowers, singles, those with a history of an increase in drinking-related problems— depression. He defined it "by the way in police difficulties, and those living in dis- for example,.physiological problems com- which the individual learns to construe the advantaged areas. mon to women such as fetal alcohol relationship between activity and out- More information on alcohol problems syndrome, cardio vascular problems, pan- come, which is that he or she is helpless and the elderly is presented in Alcohol creatitis, gastritis, general neglect; job- and all efforts will be in vain." For me, Topics In Brief, Alcohol and the Elderly related problems; legal-related problems, this epitomizes what many women expe- (RPO 254). Single copies are available free such as domestic violence, child abuse, rience throughout their entire lives. Often of charge from the National Clearinghouse DUI,vehicular homicide,crime in general; a woman's investment in her relationships for Alcohol Information, Dept. FF, P.O. and often, alcoholism. is so powerful that any loss or disruption Box 2345, Rockville, MD 20852. O WFS (from p. 1) complementary to ongoing programs. It •Communication within the group is can be utilized in either organized or un- lateral rather than vertical. are led by a moderator, one from the group organized work sites, all occupational cat- • Group programs are based on egal- who is a recovered alcoholic of several egories, and any work force regardless of itarian participation rather than au- years sobriety and who is thoroughly in- size or composition. Participation is open thoritarian processes. formed on the WFS program. to any working woman alcoholic, including • Learning theory is more prevalent Membership in Women for Sobriety re- the cross-addicted woman. Recovering in self-help groups than psychoan- quires adesire to stop drinking and a women family members and friends of all alytical theory. sincere desire for a new life, employees may also be EMPOWER par- 4. Self-help groups represent the most The WFS Acceptance Program is sum- ticipants. feasible and economical approach to marized in the following 13 Statements. The goal of the Employee Managed serving working women with alcohol/ 1. I have a drinking problem that once Program On Women Employees Recovery drug problems. had me. is to empower women alcoholics in the • Self-help groups can be imple- 2. Negative emotions destroy only my- work place to recover from alcoholism and mented in any work place. self. maintain their sobriety through the dis- • Unions and employers may provide 3. Happiness is a habit I will develop. covery of a new way of life. supportive resources for the wom- 4. Problems bother me only to the The programmatic objectives of EM- en's groups on anon-control basis. degree I permit them to. POWER are: • Self-help groups have the propens- S. I am what I think. 1. To meet the need for innovation in ity for perpetuation on a cost con- 6. Life can be ordinary or it can be occupational programming for women tainment basis. great. employees with alcohol problems. The most unique aspect of the EM- 7. Love can change the course of my 2. To complement ongoing occupa- POWERProgram is, it is administered and world. tional programs and stimulate the operated by women workers. It can be 8. The fundamental object of life is development of additional programs. assimilated into ongoing programs, but emotional and spiritual growth. 3. To provide aself-help approach to remains autonomous and separate from 9. The past is gone for~v~r. sobriety for working women alco- the formal occupational program, the 10. All love given returns two-fold. holics. grievance process, and the wage and hour 11. Enthusiasm is my daily exercise. 4. To utilize the Women for Sobriety negotiations. It may be based on-site at 12. I am a competent woman and have approach as the primary group and the work place or remote in the commu- much to give others. individual program For recovery of nity. 12. I am responsible for myself and my women alcoholics. The EMPOWER Program for working sisters. 5. To facilitate improved work perForm- women is premised on the self-help pro- The motto of WFS is ance in working women alcoholics. gram of Women for Sobriety. The WFS "We are capable and confident, caring 6. To coordinate Program activities with Group Moderator serves as the EM- and compassionate, a~~yys willing to management, labor, and community POWER Program Coordinator on a vol- help another, bonded together in services systems as appropriate. unteer basis. Unobstrusive and coopera- overcoming our disease of alcohol- The advantages of the WFS self-help tive support for the EMPOWER Program ism." group approach of the EMPOWER Pro- should be provided by management and gram include the following: labor. Such support may include the sub- In 1980, WFS formally enteredthe oc- sidizing of training programs, providing cupational field when Dr. Mi~stead devel- 1. Self-help groups can supplement ex- meeting space if requested, and supplying oped the EMPOWER Program for working isting resources of occupational pro- informational materials of the WFS self- women. Essentially, EMPOWER is a way grams related to community service help program to EMPOWER participants. to utilize the Women for Sobriety self-help systems. Coverage in the internal employee com- recovery program within, in addition to, • Self-help groups are more readily munication systems of the company and or instead of, existing EAPs. available to working women in union is also an expression of benevolent Traditional EAPs often fail to address communities with few alcoholism support without qualification or con- the needs of working women with alcohoU programs. straints. drug problems. The factors affecting work- • Self-help groups can be utilized It is essential that all employees and ing women as related to EAPs and alco- throughout the triage of community their families are informed about the EM- holism treatment are documented in Dr. health, social services, and POWER Program. Employees may have Milstead's book Empowering Women Al- alco- holism programs. alcohol abusing family members who could coholics to Help Themselves And Their •Eligibility criteria for participation benefit from EMPOWER. The mailing of Sisters In The Workplace. The purpose of are minimal and group size does a letter into the homes of employees would article is to briefly describe the EM- this not depend on caseload quotas or be helpful. Employers may also insert Program. Additional information POWER staffing factors. letters, flyers, and other informational ma- EMPOWER and the Women for So- on 2. Self-help programs on substance abuse terials in employee pay envelopes. Efforts briety Program may be obtained from the can be utilized by the women workers to publicize the EMPOWER Program authors through WFS, P.O. Box 618, themselves within or contiguous to should be made in cooperation with the Quakertown, PA. 18951. the work site. Program Coordinator. • They allow the individual to affect The 'primary functions of the EM- EMPOWER Program The her own recovery. POWER Program Coordinator are liaison The EMPOWER Program is a new ap- • They provide peer support to women and communication. In work settings that proach to an old problem, alcoholism in with alcohol problems. utilize more than one WFS self-help group, the work place, in which women are the • They facilitate self-referrals and/or the EMPOWER Program Coordinator may participants, clientele, and benefactors. It an acceptance of informal referral be selected from among the WFS Group represents an innovation in occupational among working women alcoholics. Moderators, or the responsibility for pro- programming. Its focus is solely on women. 3. Self-help groups represent alternative gram management may be rotated among EMPOWER—an acronym resulting from approaches to traditional therapeutic the Group Moderators. Employee Managed Program On Women groups. The EMPOWER Program Coordinator Employees Recovery—departs from tra- • A professional group leader is not has no official position within the respec- ditional occupational programming, but is required. (See WFS, p. 10) WFS (from p. 9) CHEMICAL (from p. 1) be to generate broaderinsurance coverage for families of the chemically dependent. tive work setting. Company and Union Most importantly, the changing trend in Research has established a significant cor- officials may participate in the Program as drug use patterns from alcohol only or relation between women dependent on individual group members recovering from primarily, to multiple substance abuse, drugs (including alcohol), and other family alcoholism and related substance abuse. compels ALMACA to take a leadership members afflicted by the same problem. But, they have no special status other than role in the professions and domains of all In addition, because of women's role as as working women alcoholics who utilize substance abuse. The organization's public nurturer, even where other family mem- EMPOWER. image should be one oftreating all chemical bers are not drug dependent, the delete- Most EMPOWER referrals will be self- dependence; and, coversely, EAPs should rious effects may be painfully apparent. referrals, although informal referrals may be recognized as capable of effectively Both patterns cause us to consider the be accepted from the usual sources within referring persons afflicted by substance desirability of broader insurance coverage a formal occupational program. Also, re- 'abuse, including narcotics and "street for families of the chemically dependent. ferralsmay bemade from community serv- drugs," Several issues require consideration. On ices systems through the EMPOWER Pro- One implication of a leadership role by the one hand, advocating extensive cov- gram Coordinator. ALMACA concerning chemical depend- erage for non-dependent family members Confidentiality of the individual woman ence generally will be to increase our role may escalate insurance costs, thus opening who is informally referred to the EM- and visibility in industry. As long as we the field to the criticism that we contribute POWER Program must be safeguarded at are identified with "alcoholism only," in- to skyrocketing health care costs. On the all times. The decision to break anonymity dustry and the press will fail to recognize other, to treat the afflicted family mem- is at the discretion of the participating the identity of alcohol with other drugs, ber(s) only may perpetuate the disease. woman exclusively. and, consequently, the relevance of our The answer may be found on some middle In work places having no established organization. The cover story in a recent ground: advocating intensive care for the EAP, the WFS Director of Occupational issue of Newsweek illustrates this lack of chemically dependent, while incorporating Programming may be utilized to provide recognition: "Most EAPs are still geared an extensive family treatment component consultation in the development and im- more toward alcohol abuse than drug prob- into provider programs. plementation of the EMPOWER Program lems.... But the anti-drug campaign has Finally, a third contribution to our field and an overall EAP if requested. Other already spawned amini-industry of its generated by consideration of women's Occupational Program Consultants may own: a growing number of drug `consult- chemical dependence is that these insights also be utilized to assist in the planning of ants' are running educational seminars for should cause us to weigh the advisability EAP's. However, utilization of the EM- employees and employers, conducting of special programs. Changing trends in POWER Program should involve WFS for searches and undercover operations, and drug use, and the lack of public funds optimal results. ❑ setting up treatment programs" (p. 53, comp ed to 1A years ago for special pur- August 22 Newsweek). pose pro a~ns, suggest that EAPs and We must remember that ALMACA was treatment providers alike should broaden Nominees Sought for created to develop departments within in- their capa~y to deal with subgroups, Marty Mann Award dustry that would receive referrals based rather_ thamak,away to create special on job-related problems—including illegal programs for special groups. Women who activities at the plant site; its roots were are che~ica'1~ dependent have special The quest for nominations for the Third the occupational alcoholism programs,often needs; so ~ enBlacks, gays, and the Annual Marty Mann Award has begun, funded by government alcoholism agen- disabled. ~'Frese~ pecial needs must be according to Stephanie Abbott, president cies. addressed through. variable strategies of of the National Foundation for Alcoholism Another benefit to ALMACA of taking outreacfi~nd treatment. But the complex- Communications. The NFAC, in cooper- initiative in the domain of chemical de- ity of the disease, lack of funds, and ation with Alcoholism/the national mag- pendence generally will be closer ties to changing patters of chemical dependence azine, sponsors the annual event in the treatment providers. My experience re- suggest the inadvisability of creating spe- memory of its namesake, Marty Mann, veals that treatment providers today serve cial interest E~1Ps or treatment providers, founder of the National Council on Alcho- primarily polydrug abusers, and that they because by so doing we decrease com- pioneer holismand an inspiring leader and receive a minority of their female patients munication, and~risk the danger of devel- in the field of educating the public about from EAPs. By better acknowledging the oping strategies which may be soon out- this major.national health problem. problems of multiple drug abus~an out- dated,ormay divide us. Rather, our efforts Anyone may nominate an individual for growth of sensitivity to women's issues— should be directed toward making EAPs some specific activity or service during the ALMACA will more closely match both and treatment providers alike more knowl- previous year, one exemplifying excel- its interest and its referrals to those of edgeable about and responsive to all pop- lence in alcoholism communications. The treatment providers. ulations, including women. This approach screened by a na- nominations are then A second contribution to the field\ena- will strengthen our services, and strengthen tional reviewing board and 12 Medalists bled by insights into women's issues could our field. ❑ are selected as finalist nominees, to be voted on by readers of Alcoholism/the Something Are you an alcoholism national magazine. professional? Then you need The award is for a specific contribution, right is to know this! In 24 months— which may have taken any form of written, happening referralsfrom Employee spoken, or visual communications. Itmust Assistance Professionals have had a clearly measurable impact on at Melwood tripled! And our female a wide audience and must have occurred census doubled! between April 1, 1982, and August 31, Something right is happening 1983. Nominations will be accepted until at Melwood Farm. be post- Ask Bob Witl, our Director of December 15, 1983, and must Occupational Health marked no later than that date. Services about it. Additional information about the nomi- magazine, Stu Brownell, Exec. Dir. natingprocess isavailable inthe Eari H. Mitchell, M.D., Med,Dir. or from NFAC,352 Halladay, Seattle, WA ~VIeIWOOd P.O. Box 182 Olney, MD 20832 98109. ❑ Farm (301) 924-5000 10 AFA (from p. 1) Because they too are female flight attend- That alcoholic women tend to have suf- ants, our EAP committee members are fered more childhood trauma than men schedules are irregular and vary consid- often perceived by a troubled member to may well be linked to the more heavily erably from month to month. be more accessible and better able to stigmatized status of female alcoholism.~4~ In 1978, when the union decided to start understand and help. As women, they Thus, as a woman progresses along the a member assistance program, they rec- often have an advantage when approaching path to recovery, other issues also emerge. ognized that the preceeding work condi- a confused and troubled female co-worker. These issues, which may well affect a tions would render ineffective a program Once a troubled member avails herself troubled flight attendant's continuing so- based on supervisory or shop steward of the services of the AFA EAP, she will briety, include sex-role conflicts, feelings identification, confrontation, and referral. find that whenever possible, treatment fa- of failure and powerlessness that can lead Instead, AFA developed and implemented cilities and professional help are geared to to depression, a history of sexual abuse a peer referral model that uses trained her specific needs. Ofcourse, the challenge and/or physical violence in either her fam- flight attendant volunteers as change agents for the EAP committees is to seek out ily of origin or present situation, or both. to motivate troubled co-workers to seek those treatment facilities and professionals Our EAP committee members are trained assistance for EAP-related problems. who are philosophically committed to pro- that it is important for alcoholic women to By using trained peers as potential change vidin~ quality services in their programs. have the opportunity to address these agents, AFA's program was able to capi- This includes taking into account child care critical issues during treatment. Philo- talize upon several factors unique to the arrangements, health and sexuality semi- sophically, we believe that the therapeutic flight attendant population. A study of the nars, assertiveness training, and long-term alliance between our clients and the treat- flight attendant subculture by research aftercare services. Unfortunately, in the ment community is enhanced by using consultant and anthropologist Joan Volpe alcoholism field, support for women's pro- treatment professionals who are sensitive revealed that flight attendants display a grams has been lagging at best, and finding to the needs of our members who need cohesiveness that goes far beyond the such programs located in the same com- help. ❑ typical industrial group identity. Flight munity as the client is difficult at best. attendants not only work together in a Several other important criteria are con- Footnotes confined space, but lodge, eat, and so- sidered when treatment resources are se- Em- lected, including ratio of male to female (1) M. Shain and J. Groeneveld, (ed.), cialize with other crew members during ployee-Assistance Programs, Lexington rest periods. These combined personal, patients, number of women on the treat- Books, Lexington, Mass., 1980. professional, and social relationships place ment staff, specifically as counselors and (2) McClellan, Keith, An Overview of Occu- them in an excellent jion~tion to notice therapists, and the availability of women's pational Alcoholism Issues for the 80's, often minute changes in behavior that may groups. Elizabeth Aries noted that women Journal of Drug Education, 12(1), p. 15, signal the beginning oFa poEential problem. in all same sex groups share a great deal 1982. Shain and Groeneveldvalidate this advan- with each other. In mixed groups, how- (3) Aries, Elizabeth, Interaction Patterns and tage in finding that social behavior rather ever, women had minimal contact with Themes of Male,Female and Mixed Groups, than job performance per se is the common other women and allowed men to domi- Services for Alcoholic Women, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, indicative signal of a p em employee nate. This social interaction among women fits old patterns of sex role stereotyping 1979. used by employers withPs.~'> (4) Sandmaier, Marion, The Invisible Alcohol- AFA EAP committee members are with men dominating in mixed groups.~3> ics: Women and Alcohol Abuse in America, trained to recognize generalsjp~ns of po- This type of phenomenon can have serious McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York, tential problems, i.e. emotional/psycho- implications for the woman alcoholic who 1980. logical, alcohoUdrug, maritallfamilial, etc., is already struggling with issues related to and refer troubled members to the appro- low self-esteem, learned helplessness and priate treatment professionals. They there- feelings of inadequacy in dealing with re- forehave the opportunity to intervene(and lationships with men. Aries' study also this is especially effective with alcohol- noted that over time, the women were related problems) at an early stage, before more interested in the all-women's groups, DENVER a troubled employee's problems begin to and looked forward to those sessions more noticeably affect her or his job perform- than to mixed group sessions. The men, ance. Disciplinary measures have usually interestingly, benefitted more from the IS not been instituted at this time, and often, mixed group by becoming more personally there is no involvement from management oriented and less competitive, while fe- whatsoever. The ability to identify patterns males felt more restricted in the mixed ALMACA '84 of problem behavior and to intervene early group setting.~3~ on enhances the possibility that the trou- bledmember will receive assistance before there is more serious later-stage job per- formance deterioration. The nature of our program thus "embraces the premise that -~ THE EAST SIDE CIIVTER the work place is an access point leading to treatment and resolution of EAP-related For Short Term Psychotherapy problems."~2~ The Women's Occupational Demonstra- Offers An Innovative Social Therapeutic Approach To Crisis. tion Project research found that "because Individual, group, couples and family therapy of the real lack of trust in. confidentiality expressed by female employees, the stand- ard employee assistance program is not For more information write or call: Ms. Debra Pearl, MSW the best mechanism for getting women to 114 E. 84th St. seek help." Women's groups, or other New York, NY 10028 similar mechanisms, were recommended. (212) 570-6664 This leads to another fortuitous character- istic of the AFA EAP. The vast majority West Side Office of our EAP committee members are 316-4069 women—as are the population they serve. Delaney 1Vleets With NIAAA Director Niven Br~~~ner On Wednesday, October 12, AL- MACA Executive Director Tom De- laney met with the new director of Recovery Center NIAAA, Dr. Robert G. Niven. De- laney acquainted Dr. Niven with AL- MACA and assured him that AL- When Chemical Dependency is the Problem MACA will continue to work with and You Want a Solution NIAAA staff on occupational alco- holism concerns. They discussed the NIAAA research activities and the ❑ Total medical care need to involve more qualified re- searchers in the occupational alco- ❑ Employee assistance consulting holism field. Dr. Niven said he be- lieves that occupational efforts are ❑ A.A./N.A. oriented treatment modality with one of the best ways to intervene early emphasis on spiritual recovery with the disease of alcoholism and direct the person to help. They also ❑ Comprehensive family program discussed the relationship of the pro- vider network to occupational pro- ❑ Aftercare service for a minimum of two years grams. Located in a gracious, quiet setting in suburban Atlanta

Nominations Committee Contact: Carole Ann Young Selected 3180 Atlanta Street, S.E. Smyrna, Georgia 30080 404/436-0081 The Nominating Committee to select candidates for ALMACA national elec- tions next summer has been picked. In accordance with the ALMACA bylaws, ~~ each regional vice president picked one person to serve on the committee. The selections are: We've kep tit sires_ p le. Central Region—Jay Campbell, North- west Bancorporation, Minneapolis, Min- II we do is treatment. nesota; A If your patient needs golf, swimming, or fads and frills, we can't Eastern Region—Brendan Sullivan, '' `1 ~ help you. Massport, Logan Airport, Boston, Mas- sachusetts; In nearly 25 years of treating alcoholism, we've learned a lot and International Region—John A. Cal- have grown with the times ... ~ , laghan,Aetna Life and Casualty Company, Hartford, Connecticut; ut at Caron Foundation, we haven't shifted our focus ...it's Southern Region—Dorthy E. Windham, ~ still on the 12 Steps of AA and the basics of recovery, and our Group Plan Clinic, Houston, Texas; and, B ;~ staff is committed to it. Western Region—Gary Atkins, Lock- We've heed Missile and Space Company, Sun- learned that a good treatment experience is an important nyvale, California. first step. We also know that a good support system—in the home and on the job—greatly increases the chances for recovery. That's why we em- The Committee met during the 1983 phasize family treatment, and place such importance on the cooperation ALMACA Annual Meeting in Minneapo- between our staff and you, the referring professional. lis. As its first order of business, the committee selected Gary Atkins as its chairperson. ~ all to learn more. (215) 678-2332, Ext. 185. The election of ALMACA national of- ~.J: ficersand regional representatives will take place next summer and the nominating rrr committee will develop a slate in the spring. ~~~ ~ .. rr:r.: In the coming months, The ALMACAN THE CARON ~ ~ -s will provide a detailed schedule of the nominating procedure and information FOUNDATION- about the committee activities. However, members should be thinking about candi- (Formerly CHIT CHAT FOUNDATION) dates and may contact the committee Box 277, Galen Hall Road, Wernersville, Pennsylvania 19565 members or Executive Director Tom De- 'Telephone:(215) 678 -2332 laney, if they have any questions or Richard W. Esterly, Executive Director suggestions. ❑

12 AMSA Seeks Abstracts • Full time physician •Professional counseling staff Abstracts are requested for the 15th • Psychiatric consultant •Family Program Annual Medical-Scientific Conference of • Registered nurses • Affer-care program the National Alcoholism Forum to be held in Detroit, April 12-15, 1984. The conference, entitled "Clinical Ap- plications of Alcoholism Research," will be conducted by the American Medical Society on Alcoholism (AMSA) in coop- eration with the Research Society on Al- coholism (RSA). Abstracts in the following areas are requested: special populations (minorities, youth, the aging, women, the public ine- briate), medical complications of alcohol- ism, psychiatric complications of alcohol- ism, physiology of addiction, treatment approaches, and nutrition. Abstracts will be published in the Feb- ruary, 1984, issue of "Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research," and must be submitted camera-ready on special repro- duction paper. Abstract forms and further information may be obtained by writing to: Medical-Scientific Conference Coor- dinator, AMSA,733 Third Ave., 14th floor, New York, NY 10017. Deadline for receipt of abstracts is De- cember I5, 1983. ❑

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Employee Assistance Program Director The Catherine McAuley Health Center (CMHC) is a multi-unit divi- sion of the Sisters of Mercy Health Corporation(SMHC). CMHC is seek- ing an Employee Assistance Pro- Together, gram Director to develop and imple- ment an Employee Assistance we can turn lives around. System for the Health Center. CMHC currently includes St. Joseph Mercy Both of us share a vital responsibility, helping rehabilitation incorporating A.A., N.A., Hospital, a 558 bed acute care teach- people rebuild their lives through rehabilita- AI-Anon and other related support systems. ing medical facility and Mercywood tionprograms. A medical staff around the clock to monitor Psychiatric Hospital. CMHC is build- We're Bowling Green Inns. Our alcoholism the physical aspects of the recovery process. ing two Chemical Dependency Fa- and drug abuse recovery programs progress An administration sensitive to the demands in a loving, supportive environment, where of the diseases we're treating. And 2-year, cilities. residents find themselves reaching for a hug intensive goal-directed aftercare for con- Minimum qualifications are: mas- instead of a bottle. tinuing recovery. ters degree in social work, counsel- We have a uniquely experienced Human potential shouldn't be ing or related experience required; team of full-time counselors, certi- kept bottled up. By working 3-5 years clinical and administrative fied insubstance abuse treatment. together, we can set it free. experience including budgeting. Step-by-step individual and family Bowling Green Inns are approved by GRAMPUS and most group health insurance plans. IF you have questions about insurance Submit resume to: Making lives whole again. coverage, we can easily verify eligibility. Anne Casaua/Employment St. Joseph Mercy Hospital P.O. Box 995 BOWLII`~G CREE1~I I1~II~IS Ann Arbor, MI 48106 Private treatment centers for alcoholism and other drug addictions. (313)572-4063 P.O. Box 337, Bowling Green, FL 33834 P.O. Box 417, St. Tammany Parish, LA 70448 A Unit of the Catherine McAuley (813)375-2218 (504)626-5661 Health Center Metropolitan General Hospital 495 Newark Road, Kennett Square,PA 19348 7950 66th Street, N., Pinellas Park, FL 33565 (215)268-3588 Equal Opportunity Employer (813)546-2261

13 Education/Conferences ~.,abor and Management November November 14, 15, 16, Washington Uni- ~~• • • versity, St. Louis, MO, EAP Update: Success Strategies for Managers. State-of- Employees with alcoholism and chemical addiction problems react the-art skills and knowledge for expert- favorably to timely intervention such as expert residential care. ap- enced EAP professionals: realistic Because of positive experience with the Breakthrough Program, many proaChes to day-to-day Concerns and praC- Organizational Referral Systems acknowledge Breakthrough at Gracie tiCal problem solutions in established Square Hospital* as superbly appropriate for the education, counseling programs. Contact Jan Burggrabe, Cam- and care of these valuable employees. pus Box 1085, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130; phone: (314) 889-6731. The Breakthrough Program shares a common goal with referring organizations: facilitating the return of the individual to the employment November 17 and 18, Washington Uni- setting, better prepared to manage the job as well as personal life stresses versity ~ St. Louis MO, Marketing EAP. ...without resorting to alcohol or drug use. Tested marketing skills and techniques applied to EAP, and inside tips on suc- Breakthrough is utilized by numerous organizational referral systems. cessfully generating new EAPs in varied Other individuals are referred by family or community agencies. For settings. Contact Jan Burggrabe, Campus additional information about Breakthrough call (212)988 -4400, or write us. Our Organizational Consultant can answer questions about BOX 1085, Washington Un1VeTSlty, St. establishing a Referral Liaison System between your organization and Louis > MO 63130'> phone: (314~ 889-6731. Breakthrough. November 18-19, MarCon West, com- munications and marketing conference for Monica Uhight, Executive Directar professionals, treatment programs, and Jim O'Donnell, Corporate Marketing Director volunteer organizations, San Diego, CA. For more information, contact MarCon West, 2100 N. 105th, Seattle, WA 98133; the BREAKTHROUGH PROGRAM telephone (206)-282 -2699. at Gracie She Hospital November 20-23, Second Annual Na- 420 East 76th St~eec. New York, ►v.v 10021 tional Conference on Alcoholism and the Family, Western Edition, San Diego, CE~1. *JCAH Accredited Licensed by the New York State Division of Alcoholism Presented by the National Foundation for Alcoholism Communications. For more information, contact FamCON West II, 352 Halladay Street, Seattle, WA 98109; ~, telephone (206) 282-4698. December ~ \`._ .~ December 7-10, Alcoholism and Drug Abuse: Problems in Clinical Decision- ~~Mom ~ ~y d~ Making, presented by the College of Phy- sicians and Surgeons ofColumbia Univer- you tak~~,ll sity and the Smithers Alcoholism Treat- ' ~ ~» went and Training Center of St. Luke's- ~ ~ ~'~ t~OSe pl~~~: Roosevelt Hospital Center. Contact Dr. ~". Elizabeth C. Gerst, Continuing Education E~j~" ~ ; PeoP le with an alcohol or drug ~ problem aren't the only ones who suffer. Center,630 West 168th Street, New Yorks j~` So do cheirfamily and friends. NY 10032; telephone (212) 694-3682, ~ ~ t` If someone in your family—or someone you care about—is running away from life through alcohol or dnigs, JanUa~y call us. We have a proven program that helps people regain a healthy control over January 26-28,the Institute for Rational- , ~ [heir lives. The person with the problem doesn't Emotive Therapy, New York City, a 3 day ~ ~ think they have aproblem—so how will workshop entitled "EIIlp10}~ee ASS1Sta1lCC They ever get help for id The only way ~ ~ ~ they're going ro get she help [hey need is TC8111111g PCOgC3111. ~"OP I1101'8 1(1fOPITl8t1011, through people who care about them. contact Dr. Lockie McGehee at the Insti- ~ ~ People like you. ~a Callus roda We can hel tute for Rational-Emotive Therapy, 45 East ~~~~1 J'~ ~''~~ e Y' P' 65th Street, New York, N.Y. 10021,(212) 535-0822. ~~ June ~ NEB/~..DAY June 4-7, The Fifth Annual National Conference on Employee Assistance Pro- s •.,; 5~~~~~a~~~EsCENTER gramming, Contact Bethany Medical Cen- ~, rn.~~g~, c~i~ mo~i Free ; ter, The EAP Conference, 51 North 121th ~..~oo.5nz_~~oo B25 North Center te10~ a Street > Kansas City, Kansas 66102> ~ Oaybrd, Michigan 49735 phone (913) 281-7648. ❑ (517)732-1793 „ 14 A Member Cwporalbn o/ ~heAtivenlisl Neallh System The Washington Arena: A Roundup of Political News and Views

The Washington Arena is by Jay Lewis editor, The Alcoholism Report, and Director Washington Office, The Johnson Institute

A new system of reimbursement under the cost-based to afixed-priced system based In addition to constituency groups, the Medicare program was stirring keen and on diagnosis related groups (DRGs). American Medical Association, the Amer- widespread concern among alcoholism Field attention focused on the DRG for ican Psychiatric Association, and the Joint representatives who perceive the plan as alcohol dependence, under which reim- Commission of Accreditation of Hospitals giving short shrift to alcoholism treatment bursement is pegged to an 8.1 day length voiced concerns about the alcohol-related with potential negative ramifications of stay and would average about $2,300. DRGs. throughout the field. The Health Care Most commenters contended that HCFA The AMA warned that the system, by Financing Administration(HCFA) was in- in devising the weights used in calculating providing too low a rate of reimbursement undated with comments critical of the way reimbursement used data from hospitals for rehabilitation with its longer lengths of alcoholism treatment is handled under the that failed to distinguish between detoxi- stay for patients, "could cause severe regulations of the new prospective pay- fication and rehabilitation. The result, it financial problems" for those hospitals ment system, which were issued Septem- was argued, was a length of stay and providing such services. The New York ber 1. reimbursement rate that was too long and State Division of Alcoholism and Alcohol More than 600 comments related to too much for detoxification and too short Abuse was even blunter, declaring that the alcoholism were filed by the October 17 and too little for rehabilitation. (See WASHINGTON ARENA, p. 16) deadline set by HCFA—ranking among the top areas of concer-p in sheer volume of responses to the controversial regula- tions. The rules are designed to carry out provisions of a law enacted earlier this year revolutionizing the ~vay reimburse- ment is made for Medicare. Payment, under the new method, shifts _from the

Provider Briefs ~~

WalterReichman, Ed.D., has~~en named an Associate by the consulting firm of Paul Sherman and Associates. 'The firm spe- cializes in the area of corporate executive performance. One of the services of Paul Sherman and Associates is Executive Case Management, a program of intervention for cases of executive performance prob- lems developed by Dr. Paul Sherman, president and founder of the firm. Dr. Reichman, says Sherman, will work with him on a wide range of executive perform- ance problems and the way in which they affect the organization, and will direct all research activities. Bloomingdale's has become the first The Magic is known retailer to offer an executive stress management referral program to its exec- On Again in '84 utives. The store has contracted with Em- ployee Counseling Programs (ECP), to provide counseling for its 'referred em- Fifth Annual ployees. Recently, over 30 branch store National Conference on and personnel managers met with ECP staff for an all-day session, in which they Employee Assistance Programming learned to recognize patterns of on-the- job behavior that might indicate a need for Sponsored by Bethany Medical Center referral. Father Martin's Ashley at Oakington in Kansas City, June 4-7, 1984 has been dedicated as Maryland's newest, nonprofit treatment center for alcoholics. For Information: The EAP Conference Center, Bethany Medical Ashley is located on the upper reaches of Center, 51 North 12th Street, Kansas City, Kansas 66102,(913) 281 -7648. the Chesapeake Bay near Havre de Grace Maryland, and currently has facilities to care for 38 patients. ❑ WASHINGTON ARENA (from p. 15) the Senate, $46,363,000. As a result of the As expected, Mr. Reagan signed the bill action, NIAAA will have to scale back into law on October 31. "immediate effect of the proposed rate plans to fund new and cmpeting research • William E. Mayer, M.D., who has will be the closing of many responsible grants this fiscal year from 92 awards to been Administrator of the Alcohol, Drug and effective hospital alcoholism rehabil- about 60. Abuse, and Mental Health Administration itationservices or,worse yet, their uniform The funds are contained in the big Labor- (ADAMHA) since August, 1981, has left exclusion of Medicare patients from ad- HHS-Education appropriations which his post to take on a new assignment at mission." Congress sent to the White House for the the Pentagon. President Reagan nominated On Capitol Hill, lawmakers also ex- President's signature October 20, the first Mayer on October 18 to be Assistant concern on behalf of the alcohol- pressed time the big money bill has made it that Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs. ismtreatment community. Sen. Orrin Hatch far in five years. Since 1977, Congress has When Mayer is confirmed by the Senate, (R-UT), in a letter to HHS Secretary stopped short of final passage of the bill a formal search is expected to be launched Margaret Heckler, said recent studies have and incorporated funding into a stopgap for a new Administrator at ADAMHA. indicated that inpatient detoxification av- continuing resolution. Mayer's departure is seen as a distinct erages five days, while rehabilitation can require three to eight weeks, and added: "While I am fully supportive of the concept of prospective payment, we need to assure that appropriate treatment will be provided with neither the federal gov- ernment nor the patient short-changed." Rep. Les Aspin (D-WI) voiced similar sentiments in a letter to Heckler. Urging where do begin? the HHS Secretary to reconsider the al- you cohol DRGs, he said the DRG for alcohol dependence "does not seem to take into account the full needs" of alcoholic pa- i tients. ~3.,. Heckler, responding to Aspin's letter, promised that her Department would re- view the DRGs for alcoholism treatment "with a view toward making modifications if warranted by the data." j NIAAA Director Robert Niven told The Alcoholism Report that the prospective payment system as applied to alcoholism **,~ is one of his top priorities during his inaugural period in office. He is in the midst of discussions with HCFA officials in an effort to explore possible approaches to concerns raised by the field. One of the possible options, he said, is a temporary exemption of alcoholism programs along the same lines by which psychiatric facil- ities are now excluded from the DRG system. } • Congress completed action on appro- priations for the federal alcoholism and drug abuse efforts for fiscal year 1984, 'r.~ u~. marking the first time since 1977 that it ~+i~~ ,i„ . has passed a regular funding bill for the Department of Health and Human Serv- ices. The alcohol, drug abuse, and mental health services (ADMS) block grant was allocated $462 million—seen by field in- Education. terests as a victory of sorts. Constituency Our solution-oriented films help you groups with stakes in the ADMS block were stunned by the conservative level of t0 re1CY1 OUt t0 tYlOSe 111 Cr1S1S. For funding approved by the House for the counseling, employee assistance and ADMS block—only $439 million, and were pushing for the $469 million passed by the alcohol/drug abuse programs. Ca11 or Senate. The joint conference committee write for our catalog of human reconciling House and Senate versions resource films. eschewed the usual formula of splitting the difference and came up with a final figure closer to the Senate than the House. ~~%~ Funding for the alcoholism research pro- FMS PRODUCTIONS INC. gram of the National Institute on Alcohol We make Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) was set the job easier. at $43.2 million—$2,590,000 below Presi- 1777 N. Vine St., Suite 501, Los Angeles, CA 90028 dent Reagan's request for fiscal year 1984. 213/461-4567 outside California 800/421-4609 The House had approved $40 million, and

16 loss to the alcoholism field, for which the in Geneva which for the first time devoted recommendation is antithetical to the 60-year-old psychiatrist has been an out- its Technical Discussions to alcohol con- Administration's approach to the drunk spokenpartisan during his tenure. Mayer's sumption and alcohol-related problems. driving problem. It favors offering incen- interest in alcoholism was demonstrated • The Presidential Commission on Drunk tives to states to enact stiff drunk driving by his stepping in as Acting Director of Driving reportedly will recommend that laws, rather than penalizing them for not the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse Congress enact legislation amounting to a complying with proposed federal stand- and Alcoholism during the recruitment for federally mandated minimum drinking age ards. a new Director—a duty he assumed while of 21. The recommendation was approved Meanwhile, the Administration opposed carrying on his regular ADAMHA respon- by the panel for inclusion in its final report legislation by Rep. James Florio (D-NJ), sibilities. Mayer is generally credited for during an executive session in Atlanta in that would make illegal the sale of alcoholic the record budget requests for alcohol September. According to Commission beverages in interstate commerce to any- research submitted by the Reagan Admin- Chairman John Volpe, the recommenda- one under 21. Like the highway trust fund istration, as well as for heading offattempts tion will be for legislation which would bar approach, Florin's bill also amounts to a to dismantle ADAMHA and shift its re- federal highway trust fund aid to states federal minimum age. Diane K. Steed, search activities to the National Institutes that don't enact and enforce a minimum Administrator-designate of the National of Health. age of 21 for all alcoholic beverages. Such Highway Traffic Safety Administration Mayer made a farewell appearance be- a law would be tantamount to a federal (NHTSA), said the Administration does fore the NIAAA Advisory Council in Sep- minimum age in the same fashion as the not believe any additional federal legisla- tember, at which he assured the field that 55 m.p.h. speed limit, also a condition for tion isneeded, noting that there is currently his departure did not signify any loss of receipt by states of federal highway money. a strong trend among the states to raise interest in alcohol concerns by the Admin- The Commission's final report is expected the minimum age. istration orany weakening ofHHS support to be released early in December. The (See WASHINGTON ARENA, p. 18) for the continued existence of ADAMHA and its three Institutes as autonomous entities. • The World Health Organization(WHO) has designated NIAAA as its first Inter- national Collaborating Center for Research and Training on Alcohol Problems. The formal designation. tool~~pla~e November 2 during ceremonies at the Pan American Health Organization in W~hington, DC. The move follows ~ipereasing activity by WHO in the alcohol area, including 1982 sessions by the World Health Assembly Puffing the Pieces Back Tog ether... . . T'he Program for Alcoholism Counseling &Treatment Individualized Assessment & Byattending our proven New Day program Treatment for Alcohol and Drug a1 night—after the work day. Forthe individual—or company— Addiction whocan't afford work days lost~for in-hospftal ~r` ` J J D\` J • Medically Supervised treatment, our N.I.T. E. program is the answer ~~\/ / In-patienVOut-patient Care (New Day Intensive Treatment—Evening). ~~V TM • Crisis Intervention This reimbursable program costs afraction --~& ~~ • 24-Hour Emergency Assistance of an in-hospital stay, yet iYs every bit as cEN7ERS, iNC.~ • Accredited for Insurance Coverage effective for most individuals. • Free Family Information Programs suesrnNCeAeusesea~ces If you'd like help for yourself—or someone ~' Medical Director: George S. Glass, M.D. you're concerned about—give us a call. HINSDALE HOSPITAL Call for Our Free Brochure (713) GGG-9811 2616 S. Loop West,Suite 887 225 • Houston,Tx (312) -2800 77054 120 N. Oak Street Hinsdale,Illinois 60521

17 WASHINGTON ARENA (from p. 17) Criteria for Articles Submitted to ALMACAN The ALMACAN is intended as a 4. Take whatever space you need to House Subcommittee At hearings by the vehicle for keeping ALMACA mem- tell the story. However, understand on Tourism, and Transporta- Commerce, bers informed in all areas of interest that space obligations may cause tion during October, the National Council to them. This involves more than the article to be edited befor pub- on Alcoholism, the National Safety Coun- merely printing news affecting the lication. Therefore, state all the cil and Mothers Against Drunk Drivers field. It involves service as a platform essential material in the beginning were among groups testifying in support for the exchange of views and for the of the story. of Florin's bill. statement of informed opinion by in- 5. For the author's information, 1'/z industry groups op- Alcoholic beverage dividual ALMACA members. pages of typewritten copy equal posed it. Among other objections, they Persons wishing to submit articles approximately 1 column of typeset contended the bill was unconstitutional on to the ALMACAN are requested to copy. grounds that the 21st Amendment, which follow these criteria: 6. Photographs are very desirable. repealed Prohibition, left to the states 1. Do not submit materials that have They MUST be accompanied by a power to regulate alcohol beverage sales, been or be published else- caption. ❑ wi❑ including setting the purchasing age. where. 7. The copy deadline is the 15th of 2. If there is a time element, such as the month preceding issue. desired publication in a given 8. Send your manuscript to the Denver is month, state this in the covering Editor, the ALMACAN. ALMACA '84 ~e~ter. 9. Consult a copy of the AI.MACAN 3. Submit 1 copy only, typewritten to see style and formal used. and double-spaced.

the Group . Recovery Centers of America

'~~,, ,. Combining caring people and medical expertise—

,.. Call or write our headquarters or one of our centers ~, for a free brochure that explains our program and philosophy and for the location of additional centers

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Recovery Centers of America 1010 Wisconsin Ave., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20007 202/298-3230 n :„nsrnro.r ~~ rvoro~a~ na•~r~~~d r.~,v<-.m~s~.~. ~,~~.

Recovery Cen[era At Smithers the group is the Hospital Renewal Unita primary vehicle for treating Fair Oake South Alianl Community Hospital Doctors' Hospital of Pinole alcoholism. Smithers offers l.akehursi, N.J. Salinas, CaliL Pinole, Calif. zayss7-nano nosia2n~osai n ~si7za-soon consultation and education, in- Fenwick Hall dustrial Johns Island, S.C. liaison services, detoxi- Century City Hospital Renewal Hospital of O)ai R03/559~24G1 fication, rehabilitation, and a Los Angeles, CaliL Ojai, Calif. full range of out-patient pro- Recovery Center of Marin County Z~3~Z7~-QZ48 805/69 G-5567 Mill Valley, Calil. gramsspecially designed for the 41u/388-0660 Dominguez Valley Hospital Ontario CommuNty Hospital working alcoholic. For the full The Mendowa Recovery Center Compton, CaliL Ontario, Calif. siory write: Evcxn Leepson, lndus- Gambrils, Md. 217/G39~2664 714/984-2201 301 /923~60'l'2 tria! Liaison, SMITHERS,428 W. Sarasota Palms Hospiml Doctors Hospital of Lakewood— 59, NY, NY 10019. Sarasota, Fla. Clark Avenue Division Or call 212-554-6577. 817/3fi6-6070 Lakewood, Cali[. 1~3~HGfi-9711 Serenity Lodge Chesapeake, Va. 604/543-G8N8

Smithers Fully ni'crrAilcd by the Jnint Commisi ~n Ai~a~redilallun ~d Iluspilal>. 'fheY ~r al~Vr~ive~ by I~~~rlic'iP.~11iiH ~riv,~le inAiriil~~~l .loll Nr~~~il~ I~isl~i~al in~i~ran e ~ilan~ anal m~~rl IrY Medii~ar.~ .iiiJ C'I1A\11'Uti.

10 Wien the alcoholic becomes your concern.

Edgehill Newport is devoted to the alcoholic's effective recovery and confident return to productive living. A private, 160-bed residential treatment facility in Newport, Rhode Island, Edgehill offers a 28-day program for both the male and female alcoholic and a weekend treatment program for family members. -JCAH accredited, Edgehill Newport is approved as a treatment facility by most health insurance plans, and is particularly responsive to the Employer and EAP needs.

~g~~ii 1 V ~~p~i {. 2(X/ Harrisnn:lcenu~~, J'ct~~port, K.L U28~90 ~1/ll 84y-5700

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19 A magazine written and edited for everyone in all phases of business, labor, industry, government, edu- cation,treatment, service and health care organizations involved in helping the distressed worker and their families lead productive lives.

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