“Functional alcoholic” is a destructive term that everybody has heard. Generally, the term is used by those who are aware of the alcoholic’s drinking pattern, but wish to avoid feeling responsible for confronting it by denying its problematic impact.
There is no such thing as a functional alcoholic just like there is no such thing as functional cancer. This term is an example of enabling. It is a term of convenience created by enablers. In a sense, all alcoholics -- if they’re alive -- are functional. It’s a matter of degree. This term is destructive because it helps the alcoholic avoid being confronted and it works for the enabler quite well.
Functional alcoholic means the coworkers behavior doesn’t bother you. Indeed, others may see the same alcoholic as quite dysfunctional -- particularly family members. Don’t use this term to describe alcoholics.
Do you need a supervisor or employee substance abuse awareness training for employees? Visit the two hour DOT Drug and Alcohol Training Program for Supervisors for Reasonable Suspicion at http://workexcel.net/reasonable_susp.hml
There is no such thing as a functional alcoholic just like there is no such thing as functional cancer. This term is an example of enabling. It is a term of convenience created by enablers. In a sense, all alcoholics -- if they’re alive -- are functional. It’s a matter of degree. This term is destructive because it helps the alcoholic avoid being confronted and it works for the enabler quite well.
Functional alcoholic means the coworkers behavior doesn’t bother you. Indeed, others may see the same alcoholic as quite dysfunctional -- particularly family members. Don’t use this term to describe alcoholics.
Do you need a supervisor or employee substance abuse awareness training for employees? Visit the two hour DOT Drug and Alcohol Training Program for Supervisors for Reasonable Suspicion at http://workexcel.net/reasonable_susp.hml
